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CASA OVERVIEW

CASA OVERVIEW. AGENDA. FUTURE FOCUS. ORGANIZATION. ADVOCACY. VISION. CASA will achieve an accessible , affordable and high quality post-secondary education system whose students enjoy an excellent quality of life. MISSION.

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CASA OVERVIEW

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  1. CASA OVERVIEW

  2. AGENDA FUTURE FOCUS ORGANIZATION ADVOCACY

  3. VISION CASA will achieve anaccessible, affordable and highqualitypost-secondary education system whose students enjoy an excellent quality of life. MISSION • Through itsmember-drivenstructure and grass-roots approach, CASA’s mission is to advocate for students throughpolicydevelopmentandresearch, awarenesscampaigns, governmentrelationsandpartnershipswith other stakeholders. ORGANIZATION

  4. ORGANIZATION • Founded in 1995 • STUSU joined in 1999 • Leadership is made up of students • Operate national organization on a yearly budget of ~ $580,000 • 24 Member Schools representing 300,000 students • STUSU membership fee 2013-2014 as full members $8,388 or - An average of $3.17 a student per year.

  5. Organization • Champions PSE investments to government, public, and media • Conduct regular meetings with Members of Parliament, staff, and departments on your behalf • Provide your associations access to 5 staff to help support, advise, and connect your association on political topics • Help to coordinate a local message federally • Support the coordinating of local student advocacy CASA meets with GPC Leader Elizabeth May CASA providing testimony to Senate Standing Committee on Banking Commerce, and Trade Delegates meet with Ryan Cleary, MP. & PSE Critic

  6. Board of Directors 2012-2013 Amanda Nielsen, Board Chair Lauren MacLean Treasurer Shane Potter Secretary Strategic Plan Missy Chareka Director-at-Large Adam Garcia Director-at-Large Raphael Jacob Director-at-Large Ben Gunn-Doerge, Director-at-Large

  7. CASA Staff Jon Champagne – National DirectorMichael McDonald – Manager of Stakeholder RelationsRob LeForte – Government Relations OfficerViviane Bartlett – Policy and Research OfficerPatrick Snider – Policy and Research OfficerEllen Wightman – Office Manager

  8. Overview: Strategic Plan Policy & Research Advocacy Communication Membership

  9. Decision Making • There is a wide spectrum of opinions on what would be perfect • The keystone of the discussion is providing members with education, and ownership • CASA then throughout the year helps associations build momentum for their ideas through both research and government relations

  10. Foundations YEARLY OVERVIEW Advocacy Policy and Strategy Annual General Meeting

  11. National Transition Goal • Ensure members are better educated to make a decision on what the advocacy priorities are for the year and to take ownership of the organization • Education, Education, Education (Ensure you know how to use CASA resources )

  12. Policy and Strategy Goal • Provide members a forum for educated debate and discussion • Begin advocacy year earlier • Ensure members are set up to succeed

  13. Research Priorities 1. Implementing a national mental health strategy (Q21) 2. Open Educational Resources (I09) 3. Youth Employment Strategies (Q03) 4. Credit Transfer and student mobility in Canada (Q22) 5. Expanding PhD Fast Track Residency Through the Federal Skilled Workers Program (A34) 6. Creating a grant for Graduate Students with High Financial Need (F06)

  14. Policy Asks 1. The federal government pursue campaigns aimed at decreasing the stigmas associated with individuals suffering from mental health issues 2. CASA advocate that the federal government work with provincial authorities, by establishing a formal line of communication, and by providing various support mechanisms, as well as increased funding, to ensure the proper implementation of the MHCC’s recommendation to “increase comprehensive post-secondary mental health initiatives that promote mental health for all students and include targeted prevention efforts for those at risk.” 3. CASA advocate that Health Canada implement a pan-Canadian strategy, in consultation with provincial governments and stakeholders, aimed squarely at mental illness detection, prevention and intervention for post-secondary students. 4. CASA call upon the federal government to lift the 2% cap on funding increases to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program and ensure financial assistance for all eligible First Nations and Inuit learners based on actual costs incurred for tuition, travel and living expenses, and indexed annually to reflect rises in both tuition costs and the cost of living 5. CASA advocate that the federal government eliminate the expected parental contributions, or short of this, that the assessment reflect the real contribution parent make toward their child’s education 6. CASA advocate that grants issued by the CSGP be indexed to CPI, so as to maintain the purchasing power of the grant over the duration that a student is eligible

  15. Policy Asks 7. That the Government of Canada begin granting off-campus work visas to international students studying part-time 8. That the Government of Canada issue multiple entry visas for international students during their study 9. CASA advocate that the Government of Canada promote the advancement of OER development within the country 10. That the tri-agencies and Governor in Council mandate an official student position on each of the councils governing the tri-agencies, to be filled by a student engaged in active research 11. CASA recommends that government fully exempt in-study income from the assessment of borrower assets in the Canada Student Loans Program. Short of this, CASA advocate that offsetting between the study period income and scholarship exemptions of the need assessment criteria of the Canada Student Loan Program be permitted, and that students may exempt up to $3,500 of either scholarship awards or study period income in a proportion of their choosing. 12. CASA recommends the federal government adjust the federal portion of the weekly student loan limit to $245 from $210, to match the corresponding increase in CPI since the $210 was set in 2004, with proportionate increases to the yearly and total cap. CASA recommends the federal government index the loan limits to CPI in subsequent years 13. CASA recommends the federal government re-evaluate the asset assessment criteria to re-classify the following as non-liquid financial assets and exempt them from assessment: Principal Vehicles; Up to $2,790 in Registered Retirement Savings Plan investments for each year the student’s age exceeds 18; and savings or investments, including term deposits, mutual funds, and bonds, of up to $10,000

  16. Advocacy Week: Goal • Put members in front of decision makers to advocate on our collective issues • Raise awareness • Gain valuable input through debate and discussion

  17. Annual General Meeting Goal • Review our work and highlight success and discuss losses • Set a course for the coming year and review strategic plan metrics • Finalize policy or research work

  18. Why Focus Federally ? Approximately $16 billion worth of reasons Canada Students Loan Program Canada Student Grants Program Granting Councils (SSHRC /NSERC/CIHR) First Nations / Metis / Inuit Provincial Transfers Knowledge Infrastructure Program ... ... ... ADVOCACY

  19. Student Leaders have met with: • This advocacy cycle *160 meetings with MPs, Sen., Staffers • 3 Leaders • 4* Cabinet Ministers • 3 Assistant Deputy Ministers • PMO • Director General, CSLP • Advisors, Min. Finance • Participates on Advisory Panel on International Education Chair:Dr. Amit Chakma • Participants in the development on a National Youth Strategy CASA meets with NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair CASA meets with Former LPC Leader Bob Rae CASA Press Conference, National Press Gallery

  20. Some of Your Work

  21. Essentially ... It starts with you

  22. Recent Advocacy Points • Increasing Canada Student Grants • Embracing and promoting Open Access to publicly funded research • Protecting Students Intellectual Property • Student Representation on Tri-Agencies (Granting Councils) • Canada Student Loan Program reform • Remove 2% cap on Post Secondary Student Support Program CASA meets with Megan Leslie, MP CASA meets with PM Harper CASA meets with GPC Leader, Elizabeth May

  23. Negotiation of the transfer payments 2014 • Election 2015 • Open data / education resources • Apprenticeships and trades • Mental health • Youth Employment FUTURE FOCUS

  24. Strategic Plan Advocacy & Policy draft updates • Recruitment • An ever changing environment for student centred advocacy support FUTURE FOCUS

  25. Questions? www.casa-acae.com

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