Funding sources; student fees
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[edit] Research Brief for Common Energy Climate Trust (CECT) Integrative Project Group: Student Fees as a Source of Funding
What would be the implications for the CECT if it were to receive principal funding through student fees?
For the CECT to be realized, a principle amount of funding must be secured. One option to secure this funding would be through student fees. Levied by the University of Victoria with tuition, students fees are the given to the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) for administration. Student fees currently sum $66.20 per full-time student per semester, and include a variety of funds, services, and programs, such as society operations, a building and capital fund for the Student Union Building, membership fees for the Canadian Federation of Students, and many more. See [here] for a complete breakdown of student fees.
For a group or organization to receive student fees, it must be voted on by the membership through referendum. Although a referendum can be set for any time throughout the year, the traditional time for a referendum is during the UVSS Board of Director elections, typically scheduled in the second week of March.
[edit] Getting a Referendum Question on the Ballot
There are two methods to get a referendum question on the ballot. The first is to submit a motion to the UVSS Board of Directors and get the Board of Directors to vote in favour by two-thirds majority. The second is to submit to the Board of Directors a petition, signed by 10% of the current membership, in favour of putting the proposed question on the ballot.
[edit] Funding Amount
Currently funding for different groups and organizations are as low as $0.50 per semester (UVSP, Daniel Jacobs Bursary, International Student Award) and as high as $19.00 per semester (Society Operations). For organizations of a similar nature to the CECT project, funding ranges from $0.50 to $5.00 per semester. $0.50 per student, for roughly 16,000 full time students, would yield approximately $8,000 per semester, and approximately $20,000 over the entire school year (there are considerably fewer registered students in the summer). By the same numbers, $5.00 per student would yield approximately $80,000 per semester, and approximately $200,000 per year. When considering how much funding to levy, the CECT should consider the direct benefit to students.
[edit] Funding Administration
If the CECT were to successfully secure student funding through referendum, they would need to set up a payment scheme with the UVSS.
[edit] Recommendation: Need Projects that Directly Influence Students
This brief concludes with two recommendations. First, the CECT should only pursue funding through student fees if the projects will have a direct positive impact on the students who fund it. Although it is the responsibility of every citizen to contribute to projects that will help reduce CO2e emissions and promote sustainability, students are already paying tuition and student fees, and are sensitive to increases in fees. If the benefit of the project to them is unclear, they will likely resist supporting it. Students also may resist supporting a project which will not be complete until they have completed their degree. The nature of the projects the CECT will be supporting is critical to deciding whether or not to pursue student fees. If the prospective projects will resonate with students, referendum funding should be pursued.
Second, the CECT should use a petition to get the referendum question on the ballot. Although making a presentation to the UVSS Board of Directors would likely be less work and yield the same immediate result, a petition will foster more support, and increase the likelihood of winning. Climate Trusts, revolving funds, and the nature of the projects the CECT will be funding are not easily understood. By directly speaking with students and explaining the nature of the CECT and the scope of possible projects, more support will be generated.
[edit] Appendix 1 - The UVSS Policy Behind Getting a Question on the Referendum Ballot
[edit] UVSS Referenda Policy
Source: University of Victoria Students' Society Constitution and Bylaws
4.7 Referenda
- In addition to Annual, Semi-Annual, and Special General Meetings, the members may vote on resolutions concerning the business of the Students' Society by means of referendum.
- Referenda may be called at any time between the months of September and April inclusive by:
- a majority vote of a quorate meeting of the Board of Directors, or
- a requisite of ten percent of the membership; or
- as otherwise required by the Society Act of British Columbia.
4.8 Notice for General Meetings or Referenda
- The Board of Directors of the Students' Society shall not give less than fourteen calendar days notice of a general meeting or referenda.
- Sufficient notice shall be deemed to have been given by the posting of not less than one hundred notices upon notice boards under the jurisdiction of the Students' Society, and not less than one half page advertisement in the official students' newspaper which shall include the following:
- the time, date, and location of the meeting or the referendum, and the date by which the mailout ballots must be returned to be considered duly cast.
- the proposed agenda for the meeting or the resolutions for the referendum.
