2011 ULSU Fee Referenda
In the summer of 2010, the ULSU Executive embarked on a review of its fee
structure upon learning of acute budgetary strains within ULSU budgets that
threatened student services with future cutbacks. The Executive learned that
ULSU fees on average were 18% below the national average of schools of a
comparable size. Recognizing this and the needs of students, the Executive
Council chose to ask students via referendum to approve a fee increase in order
to sustain and enhance student services.
The ULSU made the unenviable choice to ask students to increase fees because
the existing fee structure was not sustainable and threatened student support
such as club funding, travel and conference grants, along with several other
services. Rather than face future cutbacks to student services the ULSU asked
its students to vote on the referendum questions.
In the end, a majority of students voted in favour of sustained and improved
student services, ensuring that in the future all students at the University of
Lethbridge can continue to access extraordinary services.
The ULSU General Election & Referendum process began February 7, 2011 and ended
on March 11, 2011. The total voter turn out was 25%, with the Residence
students having the highest participation of 63%.
QUESTION #1 - ULSU FEES TIED TO CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI)
Whereas the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU) fees currently do
not account for annual increases in inflation. And whereas this will inevitably
result in cutbacks and reductions of current student service offerings, the
ULSU wishes to pose the following question to its membership:
“Do you authorize the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union to tie the
annual student fees it collects to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as
determined by Statistics Canada, using 2011 as the base year for calculation,
in order to account for annual inflation?”
RESULTS:
YES votes: 919 vote - 54%
NO votes: 781 votes - 46%
QUESTION #2 - ULSU FEE INCREASE
Whereas increased enrollments at the University of Lethbridge, and increased
membership of the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU), has produced
strain on the ULSU Operations Budget, and whereas the ULSU favours increasing
levels of student services, the ULSU wishes to pose the following question to
its membership:
“Effective Fall 2012, do you authorize the University of Lethbridge Students’
Union to implement a one time increase in the annual fees it collects for
operations to result in the following charge:
Full Time Students
From: $47.44/year ($23.72/semester) to: $57.44/year ($28.72/semester)
Part Time Students
From: $23.86/year ($11.93/semester) to: $28.86/year ($14.43/semester)?
RESULTS:
YES votes: 982 votes - 58%
NO votes: 723 votes - 42%
2008 Results for the ULSU Fee Referendum
Two Questions were presented to the U of L student body during October 20-22,
2008.
First Question:
Effective September 2009, do you, authorize the University of Lethbridge
Students' Union to implement an increase in the annual fees it collects for
Operations, to result in the following change:
Full Time Students
From: $42.54/year ($21.27/semester) to: $47.44/year ($23.72/semester)
Part Time Students
From: $20.86/year ($10.43/semester) to: $23.08/year ($11.54/semester)
YES VOTES: 901 58.93%
NO VOTES: 628 41.07%
Second Question:
Do you further authorize the University of Lethbridge Students' Union to
subsequently tie the annual student fees it collects on the basis of the
Consumer Price Index for the Province of Alberta, as determined by Statistics
Canada, using 2008 as the base year for calculation, in order to account for
annual inflation?
YES VOTES: 743 48.82%
NO VOTES: 779 51.18%
Thank you for voting!
For Information on fees that were presented to the student body please download
the following pdf’s:
