The summer is nearly over, and soon we will all be back at VST, with new friendships, experiences and challenges ahead of us.
In preparation for the upcoming school year, please make sure that you have read carefully the VST information and registration package you’ve already received in the mail. If you just skimmed though quickly, you may have missed some important changes!
VST is moving forward with changes in policy and procedures, reflecting21st century realities of computerization, ATS accreditation and fiscal accountability. As your VSTSA Executive, we support many of these changes but feel it important to MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THEM. The “way it always was” may not be the way it is now. Please note the highlights we have included below.
Fees
You must pay student fees as listed below upon registration by cash, check, or Visa/Mastercard. The Accounting Department strongly urges that you pay $600 at the time of registration. This is a ballpark fee arrived at by earlier projections of what student fees would be this year. Although we are pleased to see that student fees are lower than anticipated, Accounting has recommended that students pay the $600, with the amount above student fees being applied to tuition.
If you will be unable to pay fees upon registration, you must make arrangements with the Accounting Department beforehand. You will NOT be allowed to enrol otherwise! Also, you must register and pay fees at VST before UBC will issue your new U-Pass/ ID card.
VSTSA fees $40.00
AMS fees $65.50 (Full time; $48.75, part time)
Health & Dental Plan $187.00* (Full year)
U-Pass $184.00**
VST ID card $10.00
* You must pay the $187 when registering. If you are opting out, your $187 premium will be refunded by Accounting when you bring your opt-out slip from the Studentcare office in the SUB.
** Check the AMS website at http://www.ams.ubc.ca/ or VSTSA’s website for opt-out criteria.
Also, please note that Taylor Centre fees ($50.00) will appear on tuition statements this year but will be included in student fees in the future.
Be sure prior to enrolling that you have a financial plan in place – we have been told that there is are not many bursary funds available this year, and that students should not count on receiving one.
Subsides and Bursaries for Health & Dental and U-Pass Fees
Funds to pay for all or part of these fees are available for students who meet eligibility criteria. Applications are located online and must be submitted before deadlines. Check the AMS website at http://www.ams.ubc.ca or VSTSA’s website for links. You are still responsible for student fees listed above, and any bursaries or subsidies would come to you later in the term.
International Students
For non-Canadian students needing assistance with health and dental insurance questions or other information, please contact UBC’s International House for a wide range of assistance services. Visit their website at http://www.international.ubc.ca/
Health & Dental Plan
Returning students will know that last year VSTSA administered the Health & Dental Plan. We are happy to announce that our only role this year is to liaise with AMS with regard to policy. Please note that the Accounting Office, specifically Victoria Woodward, is entirely in charge of fee collection this year, and the Studentcare office in the SUB is available to handle questions and problems.
Harassment Policy
Over the past year, a committee has been in place to draft a VST harassment policy. Copies of the 17-page draft will be available in the VSTSA office. This policy will be reviewed by the Faculty Association, Staff Association, Board of Governors, as well as students. You are invited to provide input to committee members Ken Macqueen, Glenys Huws, or Dawn Hermann. Alternatively you may email private comments to VSTSA at vstsa@vst.edu or initiate a discussion on the VSTSA message board at our website. Input is needed before the end of September!
Book Co-op
Many of you have asked for a student book cooperative. This year we begin this initiative with our own on-line version. You may begin posting books for sale or to give away, as well as items you are looking for, at our website.
VSTSA Meetings and Governance
Because of our busy agendas and the ever-increasing number of scheduling conflicts, attendance at VSTSA meetings has been too low to achieve the quorum necessary for voting on issues. The Executive has been exploring possible solutions to facilitate greater student participation and input on critical issues. To make it easy for students to get involved without having to attend meetings, we will be using our website to provide information, minutes of meetings and discussion boards where students can raise issues and propose solutions. To make these changes, we must revise our constitution, so this issue will be a primary one from the start of the school year. Please help us by expressing your opinions and voting when this issue is presented.
Communication
We will be making greater use of email, web discussion and website information this year. If you do not have computer or Internet access, please sign up to use VST’s Taylor Centre and get an email address so that you are in touch with the Student Association. Please email VSTSA at vstsa@vst.edu with new email addresses and updates. If all else fails, let us know if you do not have Internet access and we will send information to you via snail mail.
Please check our website around September 1 for last minute updates! www.oocities.org/vstsa2002
Blessings on your final weeks of summer! See you in September!
Liz Ruder Dawn Hermann Barbara Boruff
VSTSA Executive