Kwantlen Student Association

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Kwantlen Student Association
Established 1981
Institution Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Location Surrey, British Columbia
Members
Affiliations
Homepage http://www.kusa.ca

The Kwantlen University College Student Association (Kwantlen Student Association or simply KSA) is the students' union of Kwantlen Polytechnic University located in the South Fraser region of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. As an elected student body the KSA contributes to Kwantlen's community life, and allocates student funds to advocacy, social, cultural and entertainment programs for students[1].

Contents

[edit] Background

The Kwantlen Student Association was founded under the Society Act of British Columbia in August 1981 after the opening of Kwantlen College after it split from Douglas College.

Since the early 1980s the KSA has also been affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Students (the KSA is currently attempting to leave the CFS along with several other student unions) [2]. For a brief period of time in the late 1990s, the KSA was the only Student Association in Canada to have held membership within both the Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations at the same time[citation needed].

[edit] Governance structure

[edit] Membership

The highest authority within the Kwantlen University College Student Association lies with the membership of the Kwantlen Student Association. Membership is mandatory.

Members exercise their authority through special and general resolutions at general meetings as well as through elections and referenda. Ultimately, the membership delegates its authority over the day to day operations of the society to an elected Board of Directors (Council), which is bound to operate under a Constitution and a set of Bylaws[3].

[edit] Constitution

The Kwantlen Student Association's first constitution was adopted on August 10, 1981[citation needed] , and the society at that time was known as the Kwantlen College Student Society or KCSS.

Minor amendments to the constitution were later made in 1983, and the society also changed its name to the Kwantlen College Student Association or KCSA[citation needed].

The Kwantlen Student Association's current constitution was adopted by the membership on April 25, 1995[citation needed], and the society also changed its name to its current name, the Kwantlen University College Student Association otherwise simply known as the KSA.

[edit] Council

Each year in February Kwantlen students may run for and elect a Council to a one year term of office that spans April 1 to March 31[4].

Council consists of the five executive members as well as elected officials from each Kwantlen campus. Council has also created a number of non-voting seats[5].

Council is responsible for, and exercises full control over the affairs of the Society while the executive members assist with the management of the day to day operations of the society. Council holds regularly scheduled meetings at least twice each month, excluding the months of July, August and December[6].

The membership also allows Council to create Regulations, which are described as being "...those operational rules and regulations" that help govern the day to day operations of the society. Finally, the membership allows Council to create Policies, which represent positions, views or opinions that the society may take from time to time on various issues Council feels are relevant to the membership[7].

[edit] Standing Committees

Standing Committees of Council assist the executive members in shaping the general direction of the Society, as well as advising Council on a variety of issues relevant to students.

[edit] Member services

The KSA operates a cafe, a fitness centre and a social justice centre on campus. It employs an ombudsperson, distributes dayplanners, and provides advocacy services as well as funding for campus clubs, events, conferences, and political special interest groups. Through the KSA students and other members of the Kwantlen community are also eligible for special discounts including bus and train passes; discount movie tickets; and other seasonal offers.

[edit] KSA fees

All Kwantlen students as members are charged fees collected by the university college on behalf of the KSA as per the Section 21 requirements under the College and Institute Act[8].

[edit] Locations

The organization's main office is located at the Surrey Campus of Kwantlen University College. The society also has offices and provides services at two of Kwantlen's three satellite campuses in Langley and Richmond. However, the KSA does not have an office on the Cloverdale campus. The KSA does not own a student union building.

[edit] References

  1. ^ KSA Mission Statement. Kwantlen University College Student Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  2. ^ kwantlen student association | www.cfstruth.ca
  3. ^ Society Act, Part 2 — Changes in Constitution and Bylaws. Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
  4. ^ Article 8: Elections, KSA Bylaws. Kwantlen University College Student Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  5. ^ Article 5: Council, KSA Bylaws. Kwantlen University College Student Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
  6. ^ Article 12: Meetings Of Council, KSA Bylaws. Kwantlen University College Student Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  7. ^ Article 1: Interpretation, KSA Bylaws. Kwantlen University College Student Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
  8. ^ Section 21, College and Institute Act. Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links