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Academic Support
Students pay a lot of money to attend UBC, that's why it's really important that UBC supports our academic needs. As your senator, I've spent the last year pushing the university for recorded lectures and other academic supports. If re-elected, I will continue to push for better academic support.
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Recording Lectures
As your senator, this year I bought a presentation regarding recorded lectures and their importance to the Dean of Arts. If re-elected to senate, I will work alongside the VP AUA and other senators to achieve this goal due to the importance it has for all students.
Firstly, I will push for an investigation into all Faculty Restricted Teaching Spaces (RTSs). These are teaching spaces that belong to a particular faculty and may lack the lecture capture technology needed for recording classes. Through an investigation, Senate will be able to better assess the costs and time needed to make universally recorded lectures possible.
Secondly, I will push for all lectures to be recorded , starting with courses required for degrees, before expanding it to universal lecture recording. -
Exam Concessions
UBC’s V-102 policy defines exam hardship as “three or more formal examinations within a 24-hour period.” This misses out on addressing those who have two or more exams in a 12 hour period. As a senator, I will work on addressing this issue by fighting for a formal review of policy V-102 to create more student friendly,
and to make the definition for exam hardship “2 or more formal examinations within a 12-hour period” to accommodate students in STEM fields with more extreme exam schedules. -
Posting Past-Syllabi
Students want to make informed choices when applying for courses. Posting syllabi from prior years helps students know what content, assessments, and grade distribution to expect. As your senator, I brought this issue to the faculty of arts, and will continue to work towards ensuring all courses post past-syllabi if I am re-elected to serve you on senate.
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Resources for Students
Part of ensuring students are supported academically is making sure that we have the resources to succeed. Resources like a 24-hour Library, an Exam Database, and Affordable Textbooks will make sure that students at UBC have what we need to do our degrees and enjoy our time at UBC.
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24-Hour Library
For years, students advocates have been pushing for a 24-hour library on campus. The issue that has stalled progress on this is the lack of work-learn funding for the UBC Library, which has affected the library’s ability to hire student workers. As VP External, I will push for greater work-learn and library funding from the federal government. I will use Senate advocacy, alongside my work as VP External, to push for not only a 24-Hour library but also the funding needed to make it happen .
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Exam Database
Many universities provide databases of past exams. This way, students know what to expect from their professors. It makes studying more straightforward, and helps students pick classes.
If I am re-elected to senate, I will work with the AMS VP AUA to ensure that UBC creates a database of past exams , so that students can make informed decisions regarding studying. -
Affordable Textbooks
Educational resources should be accessible and low-cost, however many classes still require expensive textbooks. On average UBC students pay $1,200 a year for textbooks, which adds greatly to the cost of education. As your Senator, I brought a proposal for more open-access and free educational resources to the Faculty of Arts.
Firstly, I will push for a cap on textbook costs to keep resources affordable.
Secondly, I will work with the VP AUA and other senators to require more classes to use free or open access educational resources .
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Accessibility
As the VP Academic of the Disabilities United Collective, I made sure to put out a survey to see what change students wanted to see regarding accessibility at UBC. Disabilities can have major effects on someone's university experience, and as your Student Senator I will continue to advocate for these community-inspired changes.
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LR7 Disability Policy Review
UBC’s LR7 Disability Policy review is theoretically scheduled for 2025. This policy affects accessibility efforts throughout academic spaces on campus. If re-elected to Senate, I will push to make sure the LR7 Review is used to improve accessibility.
Firstly, I will push to make sure Disabled Student Representation is present on the committees working on LR7 Review. -
Exam Accommodations
Exams are hard enough, having a disability makes it harder, not to mention how issues with the Centre for Accessibility can impact students’ exam experiences. This year, I’ve spoken at Senate regarding making supplemental examinations more accessible. If re-elected I will push to increase exam accessibility.
Firstly, I will push for the LR7 Disability Policy to allow for self-certification, thus accommodating for students with temporary injuries or conditions .
Secondly, I’ll have the CfA automatically book students for accommodated exams , taking the pressure off of students from sending their accommodations letters to professors and TAs.
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Transparency
This year's AMS drama made one thing very clear; our student representatives need to be more transparent. I've been committed to transparency from the beginning, and have used my monthly Senate recaps to help students understand what work is being done. If re-elected, I will continue to focus on transparency so that students are informed and have a say in what Senate does.
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Student Senate Caucus Social Media
This year, I tried time and time again to create an Instagram for the Student Senate Caucus so that you, the students, would hear about our work. Unfortunately, AMS drama bled over into the SSC and the constant changing of co-chairs made transparency work infeasible.
As the current co-chair, if I am re-elected to Senate I will transition the upcoming senators with social media presence that allows them to connect with students -
Community Feedback
I became the co-chair of the Student Senate Caucus in January. Immediately, I began consulting with organizations and faculties on UBC. Prior to the election, I met with CUPE 2278, the EUS, KUS, and VSEUS to discuss how student senators can best serve their faculties. Not only have I included these recommendations in my platform, I will also ensure I create a comprehensive report for next year’s SSC co-chairs.
Additionally, I will push for the Student Senate Caucus to host town hall events where students can meet their Senate representatives, learn about Senate’s works, and directly impact the work Senate does. .
Also, as the 2023-2026 triennium of senate is coming to an end, we need to refresh our goals for the next three years. If re-elected, I will push for a survey to be sent to all students to inform what causes the student senate caucus should focus on. This way, you get a say in what the senate will work towards.
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