MASU Students’ Administrative Council Meeting Minutes
The Students’ Administrative Council met on June 27th, 2022, beginning at 6:04 pm via Zoom.
Call to Order: (6:04 pm)
- Chairperson Nowlan called the meeting to order.
Land Acknowledgement
- The land acknowledgement was done by Chairperson Nowlan.
Approval of the Agenda
- BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Minocha-Mckenney, seconded by
Councillor Mittal) that the Monday, June 27th Agenda of the Students’
Administrative Council be approved.
Approved by MAJORITY
Approval of the Minutes
- BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Mittal, seconded by Councillor Huynh)
that the Monday, May 23rd Agenda of the Students’ Administrative Council be
approved.
Approved by MAJORITY
Presentations
- Councillor’ing 101 by Councillor Minocha-Mckenney
- A brief overview of the roles and responsibilities of councillors within the
Students’ Administrative Council.
Reports
Note: all councillors reported a surplus of hours worked in the past month due to an
abundance of conferences and meetings that took place during this period.
- Councillor Minocha-Mckenney
- During June, Councillor Minocha-Mckenney prioritized executive and staff
training and has noted that a staff training session will take place at the
beginning of July.
- Councillor Minocha-Mckenney has also prioritized learning about different
forms of strategic planning, intending to present his work concerning this topic
at the next meeting of the Students’ Administrative Council.
- In response to the current issues surrounding New Brunswick EI, Councillor
Minocha- Mckenney asks students to fill out the anonymous form the MASU
has made available through social media regarding the impact this change will
have on them. Councillor Minocha-Mckenney stated that the NBSA board has
met to discuss options. The goal is to elongate the program for one more year
to allow students to form an alternate plan to finance their education.
Discussion:
- Councillor Krueger: Congratulations on becoming the chair of the board for the
NBSA, and thank you for the update. Regarding the plan to call for an extra
year of NBEI, in the case that it does not get extended, is there any way we, as
the MASU, can access funds to support students who would have relied on
NBEI?
- Councillor Minocha-Mckenney: I have recently been in conversation with the
university to see what they can open up on their ends for financial assistance.
Accessing funds through the university would be more likely than accessing
emergency funds from the MASU.
- Councillor Lesser: I hope to meet with the university soon to see what
resources they have available. This is because the university has more
resources to deal with this issue than the MASU due to their alumni and
fundraising capability.
- Councillor Krueger: Thank you. Secondly, Councillor Lesser, do you have any
ideas for proposing a framework in which students may access this funding?
- Councillor Lesser: I am considering restricting this funding to students who
have received it in the past, and prioritizing people with provincial and federal
loans.
- Councillor Delaney: Councillor Lesser, may there be a consideration for
first-year students who were planning to go onto NBEI, but have not in the past.
- Councillor Lesser: That is a good thing to keep in mind; thank you for bringing it
up.
- Councillor Warr
- During June, Councillor Warr prioritized working on orientation and residence
leaders/executive's plans and proposals. Councillor Warr also commented on a
collaboration between the MASU and International Orientation.
- Councillor Warr plans to prioritize preparing for pride week at Mta and
continuing her work with orientation and residence team leaders.
Discussion:
- Councillor Krueger: Thank you for your hard work. Question, what do you
expect to be the similarities and discrepancies between the training for the
house executives and the RA’s/AD’s?
- Councillor Warr: It is still too early to say for certainty; however, through the
discussions that have taken place so far, there will be a lot of overlap, but there
will be some aspects that only RA’s/AD’s receive. However, there will be a
reconstructing and reframing of how this training takes place.
- Councillor Krueger: In relation to Shinerama, should we expect to see the same
type of events we saw last summer?
- Councillor Warr: I do not know a lot about information concerning Shinearama;
however, I do know there was a karaoke event this past weekend.
- Councillor Minocha-Mckenney: Actually, the Shine Chair reports to the general
manager, which then comes to me. The Shine Campaign is not moving as fast
as we hoped. The conference that all the shine chairs hold every summer has
yet to happen; therefore, we were off to a slow start. However, with the
assistance of Councillor Lesser, we have begun our events, and more events
are to come.
- Councillor Huynh
- During June, Councillor Huynh prioritized building relationships with other
student unions in the region and with the CASA.
- Councillor Huynh has also continued operating the bike co-op and food box
smoothly.
- Councillor Huynh’s future priorities include advocacy for the Sackville hospital
and focusing on issues surrounding of-campus housing.
Discussion:
- Councillor Penley: Has there been any thought given to how to go about
affordable housing initiatives?
- Councillor Huynh: I am sorry to say that I was not able to make it to a recent
meeting that addressed this issue. However, it is on my radar.
- Councillor Minocha-Mckenney: Unfortunately, I could also not attend this
meeting, but I know that the university is counting on the MASU and other
community groups for this initiative.
Councillor Mittal
May Report
- In their first month, Councillor Mittal took control of the MASU website and all
social media, created new email signatures for all executive members, set up
guidelines for media requests and set up media interviews concerning the
Harper Hall renovations.
- Councillor Mittal has also begun updating the MASU branding guidelines with
the intention of finishing them for their following report. Furthermore, Councillor
Mittal plans to begin work on the new MASU Marketing Strategy plan.
June Report
- During June, Councillor Mittal focused on creating numerous graphics, updating
the iconography section of the branding guidelines, took various meetings and
made statements on behalf of the MASU concerning the new Mount Allison
budget and Azar case.
- Councillor Mittal is currently prioritizing communications regarding the
discontinuation of NBEI.
- Furthermore, Councillor Mittal met with the Allisonian editor concerning the
creation of this year's yearbook.
- Councillor Lesser
- In addition to attending numerous conferences during June, Councillor Lesser
focused on reviewing and revising drafts of policies and planning staff training
(which is to take place in July).
- Regarding the COMM 3321 partnership, Councillor Lesser is currently waiting
on approval of the CEWIL grant.
- Lastly, Councillor Lesser is currently prioritizing the matter of the
discontinuation of NBEI through the organization of meetings with the university
to discuss the scale of the impact and what can be done to aid the students'
financial stress.
Business Arising from the Minutes (no business)
New Business (no business)
Open Forum
- Councillor Minocha-Mckenney: If anybody has any comments or questions
concerning NBEI connect, please contact one of the executive members
directly or through the anonymous submission to let us know.
- Councillor Penley: Regarding reaching out to students: what is your advice on
the best way to hold office hours during the summer? Or the best way to reach
out in general?
- Councillor Minocha-Mckenney: Regarding office hours, you may hold them to
your own comfortability and preference. It is easier to hold office hours in the
fall, but we can support you in giving you space to hold them.
- Councillor Mittal: You can reach out to me to tell me about your plans, and I can
help communicate them onto the MASU social media, both now and throughout
the year. I encourage senators to push the NBEI communication and feedback
because it is related to academics.
Reminders (no reminders)
In-Camera (no in-camera)
Adjournment:
- The Chairperson adjourned the meeting upon the completion of the agenda at
7:26 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Paige Meisner
Secretary (Deputy Chairperson)