President's Page, OUSA GA

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PRESIDENT’S PAGE Nick Shorten VP (Finance)

Mary Koziol President

Joe Finkle VP (Education)

John McIntyre VP (Administration)

MSU attends OUSA fall General Assembly Highlights of the bi-annual meeting include lectures from oppositional government critics, as well as discussion of specialized universities and the proposed Ontario Online Institute. Joe Finkle VP (Education) vped@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 24017

This past weekend, delegates representing the McMaster Students Union (MSU) attended the General Assembly of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). The General Assembly is the highest governing body of OUSA, responsible for long-term direction for the organization. OUSA is a provincial lobby organization that is comprised of seven member schools; McMaster, Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier, Western, Windsor, Brock and Queen’s. In total, OUSA represents over 140,000 students to the provincial government and post-secondary education stakeholders.

This year’s fall General Assembly was held at Brock University. On the agenda were three policy papers, two government submissions, as well as a discussion as to the future policy direction of the organization. On Friday, two guest speakers poignantly articulated their vision of post-secondary education to the Assembly - the critics of Training, Colleges and Universities from the both the Ontario New Democratic Party and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, Rosario Marchese and Jim Wilson, respectively. Both spoke bluntly about their parties’ PSE priories and delegates responded by asking some tough questions on issues ranging from university accountability, to promoting internationalization, to ensuring the accessibility and

affordability of a post-secondary education. Throughout the weekend, delegates were separated into one-hour breakout sessions to discuss the three policy papers, future policy and student success. The morning was spent critiquing OUSA policy on International Students, Accessibility, and Student Financial Aid. The afternoon was dedicated to Student Success, future policy and a continuation of Student Financial Aid. These comments and concerns were taken to the Steering Committee (of which I am a member), who applied them to the papers. The conference ended with a long, but very productive plenary session, which saw the papers and submissions debated, discussed, amended and finally approved. They are

now official OUSA policy and will be the backbone of our lobby efforts at the end of the month, when representatives from each OUSA school will meet in Toronto to speak with provincial politicians and sector stakeholders about postsecondary education. The government submissions approved by the General Assembly focused on the Ontario Online Institute and Academic Transformations. The first submission made recommendations as to the look and feel of the proposed new Ontario Online Institute, as well as how the Institute could provide the best quality education for students wishing to utilize the system. The idea behind this institute was put forward in the government’s Throne Speech and OUSA has been leading the way in shaping the debate

Research funding opportunity provides a career test-drive USRA awards students the chance to take on an invaluable summer research activity John McIntyre VP (Administration) vpadmin@msu.mcmaster.ca ext. 23250

The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) provides undergraduate students in all faculties (and the Arts & Science program) with the opportunity to receive funding to complete a 15 week full-time, research-based activity over the summer. This opportunity offers students the chance to obtain meaningful summer employment within their academic field. As a student that has taken advantage of research opportunities throughout my time at McMaster, I cannot urge you enough to apply for programs like this. Many students these days find themselves applying for a Master’s degree in their field because they lack the practical experience to know whether or not their potential career is a good fit. Programs like the

USRA help students figure that out, by providing the avenue to validate a potential career choice and actually contribute to an important pool of research. This past Wednesday, the 2010 USRA Award recipients gathered in CIBC Hall to display their research accomplishments from last summer. The projects ranged in scope from gene regulation, to analysis of the stigmatising social effects of HIV/AIDS, to the decision making power of a school of fish. As an organization that represents students from all corners of campus, this program is particularly meaningful to the MSU, as it helps to enrich the student experience at McMaster. Applications for 2011 USRA Awards need to be submitted at the beginning of February, so drop by your Associate Dean’s Office and empower yourself to apply your education this summer.

The President’s Page is sponsored by the McMaster Students Union. It is a space used to communicate with the student body about the projects, goals and agenda of the MSU Board of Directors.

www.msu.mcmaster.ca

on the issue. The submission on Academic Transformations refers to a book published by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) regarding an issue called Differentiation. This term refers to the specialization of universities into distinct niches (research focus, undergraduate teaching focus, etc). The content of the submission remains in closed session, as was formally requested by the Office of the Premier. The assembly also approved a policy that will be presented at the OUSA spring General Assembly which includes; Aboriginal Students, Ancillary Fees, Early Outreach and Cost Inflation. I myself am focusing on ancillary fees, so if anyone would like to help me out with the exciting world of ancillary fees, please drop me an email.


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