University Affairs

Students' Society of McGill University

Author: VP UA

  • Board of Governors, Unpaid Internships & Student Support: February 9th Council Report

    SSMU Executive nominations are now open! Find more information on requirements and the nominations process here. Check out our February 9th Report to the Legislative Council to learn more about the busy upcoming month of advocacy projects.

    Recent UA highlights:

    • Submitted motions to February 15th Senate meeting regarding formal recognition of Black History Month & review of Board of Governors practices
    • Circulated joint letter from McGill Communities Council (MCC) regarding concerns with Board of Governors (related to recommendations from SSMU research report)
    • Bringing Policy against Unpaid Internship, revised Equity Policy and revised Indigenous Solidarity Policy to SSMU Legislative Council this week (first readings)
    • Currently determining best means to address ongoing issues with implementation & communication of new “stepped care” model in Student Services
    • Working with Social Equity & Diversity Education (SEDE) Office, Campus Life & Engagement (CL&E), Scholarships & Student Aid Office (SSAO), Enrolment Services & other units to develop more targeted student support programs (first generation students, students from foster care, etc)
    • Open Educational Resources Researcher is presenting at Legislative Council meeting this week!

    Winter goals completed to-date (italics = since last report):

  • Striving to Place: The First Generation Student Experience at McGill University

    SSMU University Affairs has released a new research report, entitled Striving to Place: The First Generation Student Experience at McGill University. This document examines current issues faced by first generation students at McGill as well as targeted recruitment, retention, and support strategies in place at other institutions. A survey of student experiences and existing programming indicates that McGill University provides no dedicated support resources for this population, nor do they currently collect relevant demographic data beyond financial aid applications.

    The report makes clear that much more can be done to promote educational access and success for first generation students at McGill. Proposed recommendations include developing dedicated financial aid opportunities; conducting targeted outreach and recruitment; creating specific student mentorship and psychoeducational initiatives; and collecting comprehensive data on student admissions and experiences. Any questions regarding the report can be directed to the VP University Affairs.

  • Do my Job! Exec Info Session, Shadowing Program, & January 26th Council Report

    Think you could be the next VP University Affairs? This is your chance! Executive nominations open on Monday, January 30th, and we’re hosting a SSMU Executive Info Session for you to learn more about the role. In addition, you can now sign up for our “A Day in the Life” shadowing program in order to spend a day (or an afternoon) with any Executive and see what their job really entails. Finally, as always, you can check out my bi-weekly Report to the Legislative Council for the latest updates on UA projects & responsibilities.

    Recent UA highlights:

    • Asked Senate question regarding Board of Governors reform at the January 18th meeting
    • Met with Deputy Provost & university committees to advocate for faculty mental health literacy training
    • Meeting with VP Student Life & Student Services to discuss issues with transition to stepped care & student consultation going forward
    • Working with McGill Communities Council (MCC) to address concerns with Board of Governors & advocate for recommendations from SSMU research report
    • Met with Social Equity & Diversity Education (SEDE) Office, Campus Life & Engagement (CL&E), Scholarships & Student Aid Office (SSAO), & Enrolment Services regarding student diversity in enrolment
    • Attended AVEQ Members’ Assembly in Chicoutimi & provided student feedback on government consultations for university sexual violence legislation

     

    Winter goals completed to-date (italics = since last report):

    • Organized Student Senator Info Session
    • Hosted Add-Drop “Know Your Student Rights” campaign
    • Completed research report on first generation students at McGill

  • Winter is Here: Term Goals & January 12th Council Report

    Happy New Year and welcome to the Winter term! I hope that you enjoyed your holiday break and are feeling refreshed. This week, we’re running our semesterly “Know Your Rights” campaign to inform students of their academic rights at McGill. You can check out our website and Facebook event to learn more.

    In addition, if you’re interested in learning more about the role of a student senator and/or SSMU Executive, we’ll be hosting info sessions on both topics later this month! The Student Senator Info Session will be on Monday, January 23rd from 5:30-6:30pm and will feature a presentation on university governance, the senator role, and perspectives from your 2016-2017 senators.

    Start-of-year highlights:

    • Submitted Senate question regarding McGill governance best practices;
    • Launched Winter Add-Drop “Know Your Rights” campaign;
    • Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE) holding a Ratification General Assembly for their new collective agreement on January 9th;
    • Providing feedback on terms of reference for Sexual Violence Policy advisory committee (implementation plan) & campus study panel (review of existing policies e.g. Code of Conduct);
    • Preparing research report on support for students coming from foster care;
    • Library Improvement Fund made first round of allocations in early December;
    • Met with staff from Office of Innovation in December regarding adopting a humanitarian licensing framework for health innovations (as per our Global Access to Medicines Policy);
    • Met with project manager for Promenade Urbaine construction to discuss accessibility issues;
    • Hired Harmful Military Technology Researcher to begin work this term.

    Check out our January 12th Council report to learn more about plans for the Winter term.

     

  • Final Fall Update: December 1st Council Report

    How is it almost December already? Procrastinate from your exam studying by reading our December 1st Council Report to learn where planned projects have landed this term!

    Stay tuned for a January progress report along with revised goals for the Winter 2017 term.

    Recent UA highlights:

    • The McGill Policy against Sexual Violence was unanimously approved by McGill Senate on November 23rd (now awaiting final approval by the Board of Governors on December 1st);
    • We are recruiting volunteers for the January Know Your Rights campaign; sign up by December 9th!
    • Student Services has implemented a new category of “urgent appointments” for Counselling and Mental Health Services, beginning December 1st;
    • We submitted a question regarding Faculty internship programs to the December Senate meeting;
    • The Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE) has reached a tentative agreement with the administration; more details will be announced in the coming weeks;
    • The VP UA is currently working with Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) & the Associate Vice-Principal (Innovation) to implement a global access licensing framework for health innovations;
    • We are recruiting for a new Harmful Military Technology Researcher; apply by December 8th!

    Fall goals completed to-date (italics = since last report):

  • Late Semester Slowdown: November 14th Council Report

    It’s that time of term: days are getting shorter, policies still aren’t writing themselves, and it’s hard to find energy to keep pushing projects forward. But the work continues, and you can check out the details in my November 17th Council Report. Also, don’t forget to vote for the SSMU Fall Referenda and General Assembly Ratification, ballots for which can be found at www.ssmu.simplyvoting.com!

    Recent UA highlights:

    • The final draft of the McGill Policy Against Sexual Violence, including many of our recommended changes, will be presented for approval at the November 23rd Senate meeting
    • We met with Student Services & the Dean of Students to voice our concerns with new medical note policies (documentation will only be provided to students already followed by a clinician or who qualify for restrictive “safety appointments”)
    • The VP University Affairs participated in a 3-day cyclical review of Enrolment Services (Service Point, Exams Office, Registrar, Admissions, & more), during which they provided detailed input based on student consultation
    • Senators submitted Senate questions regarding campus accessibility during construction & university regulation of unpaid internships
    • We continue to update the Student Rights website & develop Faculty association partnerships in preparation for the January “Know Your Rights” campaign (volunteer recruitment launching soon)
    • Mid-term performance evaluations are in-progress for portfolio student staff

    Fall goals completed to-date (italics = since last report):