MASU Students’ Administrative Council
Meeting Minutes
October 19th, 2020
1. 1. Call to order: 5:32pm
2. Land acknowledgement
3. Approval of the Agenda
BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Burke, seconded by Councillor Ferguson) that the Monday, Octoner 19, 2020 Agenda of the Students’ Administrative Council be approved.
Motion to add an item to the agenda by Councillor Bubar, seconded by Councillor Nowlan
Motion to remove item from agenda by Councillor Mckenney, seconded by Councillor Nolan
• ALL IN FAVOUR of agenda, AGENDA APPROVED
4. Special Presentations
a. Budget Presentation by Chris Milner & Robert Inglis
i. The approval of the budget typically happens earlier but with COVID-19 the dates were pushed back. This presentation will be taken through various board committees for October 23rd, looking for approval on November 6th.
ii. Budget development process for 2021-2022 will start in November.
iii. Explanation of the different funds (operating fund, ancillary fund, endowment)
1. Operating fund covers majority of costs, ancillary fund comes from residence and dining, the bookstore, conferences, MTA Camps and the bookstore
iv. Highlights Operating Budget
1. Based on 2082 students paying full-time fees for the year
a. 651 new students as of Oct. 1
b. 260 international students for this year, up from 222 2019-2020
c. Tuition increase of 4.5% for domestic and 2% for international
d. Looking at 2% increases going forward
e. Put a lot more emphasis on financial aid
2. Many activities not happening or significantly altered this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, budget adjusted
3. Reduction of these budgets of $500 000
a. Mostly one-time changes and will need to go back into the budget next year
4. Workforce adjustments have reduced costs by $500 000
5. Budget includes one-time costs of $1.55 million of COVID-19 costs related to preparing the University for the fall term
6. Financial aid increased by $450 000, additional scholarships and rebates
7. Increased labour costs in facilities to provide 24/7 security
8. Increased academic resources in Aviation and Community Engaged Learning
v. Highlights Ancillary Budget
1. Based on 676 students, significant decrease
2. Residence fees increased by 2%
3. Meal plan fees reduced by 5%
4. $220 000 additional costs related to COVID-19
5. Conferenced and the Pond not operating in 2020-2021
6. Bookstore sales significantly down this year
vi. Budget deficit
1. Deficit of $1.1 million, University had a $222 000 deficit in 2019-2020 (operating)
2. Ancillary deficit of $1.2 million
3. Deficits will need to be paid back in future years
4. Significantly better than earlier projected
Questions/Comments
- Councillor Mittal: It was mentioned that financial aid was increased, does this include the Mountie2Mountie fund?
o Robert Inglis: $850 000 total, half from operating, half from Mountie2Mountie
o Chris Milner: The $450 000 quoted was the operating budget.
- Councillor Mittal: In terms of residence budget, is there a plan to enforce having students stay on campus for the Winter semester?
o Robert Inglis: No, there will be no plan to enforce students to stay on campus. They are free to stay or go.
- Councillor Richardson: Where are the funds allocated for the health ambassadors?
o Robert Inglis: Not from a grant but a generous donor who has been helping with COVID-19 costs, that is the special purpose fund.
- Councillor Blakney: I know there is a temporary budget but has there been a decrease in spending?
o Robert Inglis: It is too early to tell.
- Councillor Nolan thanks Robert and Chris for coming and presenting.
b. Presentation by Melody Petlock
i. Melody Petlock gave an updated SHARE presentation to Council.
Questions/Comments
- Councillor Nowlan: Can you elaborate on the peer education program?
o Melody Petlock: Typically, SHARE volunteers will help to do parts of the presentations to other students but this is a little different this year.
- Councillor Williams thanks Melody Petlock for coming and presenting.
5. Approval of the Minutes
BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Mittal, seconded by Councillor Nowlan) that the Minutes from the October 14th, 2020 meeting of the Students’ Administrative Council be approved.
• Minutes are approved with one abstention.
6. Councillor reports
a. Councillor Di Lonardo (Graduate Student Representative)
i. New position on council
ii. Goals
1. To advocate for Masters students
2. Improve the Masters community
3. Update communication between MASU and the graduate students
4. Improve visibility and inclusivity
b. Councillor Nowlan (Councillor-At-Large)
i. Goals
1. Sexual harassment awareness
2. Divest action
3. Provide support toward clubs and club sports to encourage more participation and access in the pandemic
4. More community involved events to integrate Sackville with campus more actively
c. Councillor Bidder (Arts Senator)
i. Goals
1. Collaborate with Nadine to update Arts students
2. Help facilitate open communication and feedback between students and faculty about how the semester is going
3. Inform student body on the position
4. Be an active listener and voice for student body
5. Advocate for student mental health
d. Councillor Tobin (Science Senator)
i. Has started work on one of the three senate committees they are involved in
ii. Goals
1. Develop new MASU policy aimed at providing course-credit to mandatory lab sections
2. Have scholarships and bursaries be more accessible and easier to retain past first year
e. Councillor Cormier (Social Science Senator)
i. Working on right now:
1. Wrote a letter to Social Science department head
2. Raised concerns about Winter reading week
3. Committee work
ii. Goals
1. Work with Councillor Burke and the rest of student senators to work on collaborative issues
2. Governance review committee
f. Councillor Roberts (Social Science Senator)
i. Goals
1. Inform students about academic resources
2. Make applying for experiential learning credits more accessible
3. Push for students to get credit for experiential learning even if they are getting compensated
4. Push for follow through on mental health support
g. Councillor Mittal (International Student Representative)
i. Goals
1. Create comprehensive document that outlines all resources for international students and other out-of-Sackville studets
2. Coming up with an email list for all international students
3. Pushing for more clarity between his position and international student coordinator position
4. Create virtual spaces for international students
5. Make mental health resources more accessible for international students
6. Make the position known in the MtA community
h. Councillor Bubar (Indigenous Senator)
i. Councillor Bubar raises awareness about the fishing issue in Digby, Nova Scotia in which non-Indigenous fisherman have been harassing and attacking Mi’kmaq fishermen. The issue is serious, people have been assaulted, terrorized, buildings have been burnt down and vandalized.
ii. Resources for what we can do to help
1. Post and share photos and videos with hashtags #Treaty1752 and #wearewatching
2. Share content from Indigenous people
3. There is a drop-box in the student centre for requested items for people on the frontline (hats, coats, mittens, non-perishable items, etc.)
4. Places you can donate (e-transfers accepted here)
a. Frontline supporters: 1752frontline@gmail.com
b. Support the fishermen (funds for destroyed traps, legal fees, etc.): monicah@sipeknekatik.ca
Questions/Comments
- Councillor Nowlan: Is there a way we can share this with the community?
o Councillor Bubar: You can get in contact with the ISSG directly (issg@mta.ca).
7. Business arising from the minutes (no items)
8. New business
a. The Varsity Project Club Constitution
BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Thorburn, seconded by Councillor Mckenney) to approve the constitution of the Varsity Project Club.
• Motion approved with two opposition and one abstention.
9. Open forum
a. Councillor Mittal brings up the scheduling issues some students have been having due to the variety of course delivery and amount of assignments/due dates. Councillor Burke and Councillor Whiteway confirmed that they have heard about the issue and are working on resolving it with the directors of each science department.
10. Reminders
a. Councillor Thorburn
i. Use the form sent out via email to apply to be an NBSA delegate!
b. Councillor Williams
i. Submit degree audit for graduates!
ii. Submit your reports for next meeting!
11. In Camera (no items)
12. Adjournment
BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Tobin, seconded by Councillor Thorburn) that the meeting of Monday, October 19, 2020 Agenda of the Students’ Administrative Council be adjourned.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:43pm.
