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Student Engagement

Expires: April 30, 2027

1. Facts

  1. Undergraduate students are the largest stakeholder at the University of Alberta.
  2. The University of Alberta has stated the importance of student involvement in building an inclusive university.1
  3. According to the published document “A Reflection on the State of Academic Governance at the University of Alberta, “The University of Alberta is governed collegially, which is grounded in a belief that faculty, students, and administration should have equal opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.”2
  4. Involvement opportunities can lead to improvements in the mental, physical, and social health on campus and the larger community.
  5. Undergraduate students are required to balance their academic, personal, and professional lives along with their representative activities.
  6. Experience in campus or community-related activities provide students with the skills necessary to further develop their leadership, networking, and problem-solving abilities among others.
  7. The University of Alberta Student Participation Process Handbook (UASPPH) is a tool that was created conjointly by
    University administration, the Students’ Union (SU) and the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) in 2015. This document sets out guiding principles, a continuum of student participation, and process with regards to engaging students on campus about changes and issues.
  8. Integrating a wide variety of student voices within committees and boards at the University of Alberta is essential to effective Undergraduate representation.
  9. Undergraduate student associations are self-governing organizations that advocate for the students they represent. They derive their delegated authority through the Students’ Union from the Post-Secondary Learning Act.3
         - Student associations are responsible for working collaboratively to represent their shared constituencies.
  10. Student engagement supplements the educational experiences of students through experiential learning.4

2. Resolutions

  1. The Students’ Union shall advocate for the inclusion of student consultation and representation in any projects, policies, and processes that may have an impact on the student experience.
  2. The Students’ Union shall advocate against the elimination of undergraduate student representatives at any level unless doing so has direct benefits to students.
  3. The Students’ Union shall advocate for increased training and support for undergraduate students at all levels of
    University Governance.
  4. The Students’ Union shall advocate for fair and reasonable academic accommodations for students who participate in University governance committees and processes.
  5. The Students’ Union shall hold the University of Alberta Administration, Faculties and Departments accountable to the consultation process outlined in the Student Participation and Process Handbook (SPPH).
  6. The Students’ Union shall direct Faculty Administration to consult with respective Faculty Associations regarding issues
    affecting a specific faculty before coming to the Students’ Union.
  7. The Students’ Union shall direct University of Alberta International to consult with the International Students’ Association regarding issues affecting undergraduate international students before coming to the Students’ Union.
  8. The Students’ Union shall actively communicate to the University the value of student representatives in collegial
    governance and effective decision making for our campus community.
  9. The Students’ Union shall advocate for reducing barriers to student participation in University governance, especially for
    underrepresented groups.
  10. The Students’ Union shall advocate for the University of Alberta to invest in initiatives and opportunities that promote student engagement.
  11. The Students’ Union shall set a high standard within the University community to engage student representatives on projects, policies, or processes that impact students on all campuses.
  12. The Students’ Union shall advocate for the review and renewal of the Student Participation and Process Handbook (SPPH) when this is both necessary and logistically possible.
  13. The Students’ Union shall advocate for the Student Participation and Process Handbook (SPPH) to be included within the University of Alberta Policies and Procedures Online (UAPPOL)

3. References

4. Consultation Pathways

  1. Council of Faculty Associations (CoFA) Senior Board
  2. International Students’ Association (ISA)
  3. Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU)

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