Positions Book Reform

Currently, all CSU positions voted by the student body are set to expire every 4 years due to a previously passed referendum question. This leads to lengthy ballots because previously voted on positions must be re-voted on. This includes positions on anti-racism, student rights, migrant rights, LGBTQIA2+ rights, climate change, tuition and mental health that had to be re-voted on.

Note: Any individual position can still be re-sent to referendum independently and be re-voted by the students.

Do you support eliminating the 4-year expiration policy on current and future positions?

CEED Referendum Question

Do you agree that the fee levy of $0.35 per credit presently charged to all undergraduate students and allocated to CEED Concordia (formally known as the “Concordia University Volunteer Abroad Program”), a non-profit student-run organization, for the purposes of:

 

expanding Concordia’s campus in Uganda, East Africa, allowing students from all four faculties to participate in volunteer activities at these new campuses

 

be used in the future for the purposes of:

 

expanding Concordia’s footprint in developing countries, allowing students from all four faculties to participate in experimental learning activities at these new campuses”

Student Building Referendum Question

The Concordia Student Union has been dedicated and committed for over two decades to build and operate its own student center/building. A fee levy was established in 1990’s to make this project a reality. Several universities in North America have already acquired similar student spaces such as UBC and University of Toronto,

Talks and negotiations have been ongoing with Concordia University to develop such a center in the SGW area. The land area cannot be divulged at this time due to confidentiality agreements. However, this site is outstanding.

The center would provide Concordia undergraduates with their own dedicated space for events, social gatherings, and new services. Included, would be new quality spaces for Clubs and Associations, an auditorium and additional state of the art study spaces. The space would provide the CSU with an additional 40,000 sq/feet of space for undergraduates.

Do you agree to mandate the CSU to continue to negotiate with Concordia for the realization of this generational project?

sent to referendum on 2020-06-10

The CSU believes every department at the University should have at least one (1) student association representative sitting on its departmental council; student representatives should have full speaking, voting and moving privileges as full members of council. The CSU will take whatever measures appropriate to ensure adequate student representation on all University bodies.

sent to referendum on 2020-06-10

The CSU recognizes that intersectional identities create different marginalized experiences and that women and gender non-conforming people experience barriers based upon class, ability, race, gender expression, religion, ethnicity, etc. The CSU respects perspectives and values the representation of women and gender non-conforming folks who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. The CSU shall therefore operate in ways that empower those mentioned above. The CSU also recognises the importance of listening and recognising all identities and recognizing the different barriers that each face. The CSU supports the inclusion of the “Centre for Gender Advocacy” in any University committee, working group, task force, or other deliberative body that reviews or engages with topics of sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or violence. The CSU encourages an intersectional feminist approach towards all future endeavours and therefore supports that priority be given to someone who has lived experience at the intersection of different systems of oppression in roles that demand in.

sent to referendum on 2020-06-10

The Concordia Student Union stands in solidarity with Idle No More, its legitimate treaty-based concerns, and its efforts to create change through the facilitation of much needed nation-wide popular education regarding the plight of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The CSU, at all future meetings of Council, must begin with a statement of formal recognition that Concordia University is located on Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) land. The CSU will also work with the Concordia University administration towards integrating sustainability and indigenous studies courses in all undergraduate programs.

sent to referendum on 2020-06-10

The CSU calls for respect and kindness towards all religious and cultural minorities in our community and calls on the Concordia University community to foster a safer and more inclusive space for people of all cultures and religions as an act of solidarity internationally and equal opportunity for all. In coherence with this devotion the CSU opposes the rise of fascism and its current manifestations through white supremacy. The CSU supports anti-racist work on campus and in the broader community by actively identifying and challenging racism, and changing systems, organizational structures, policies, practices and attitudes with the goal of establishing greater equity. The CSU also denounces government legislation such as The Charter of Values, Bill 21, and all other laws which prohibit individual freedoms and the rights of religious and cultural minority groups. The CSU recognizes that systemic racism differs from individual acts of racism by the presence of systemic policies, practices and economic and political structures which place minority racial and ethnic groups at a relative disadvantage.

sent to referendum on 2020-08-26

The CSU opposes antisemitic rhetoric and culture present at Concordia University and within the Montreal community. The CSU opposes Holocaust denial, being the act of denying the existence of the Holocaust. The CSU also opposes antisemitic remarks and harassment and calls on all levels of government to recognise and address the challenges that Jewish people face not only within the boundaries of the school, but within the Jewish community at large.

sent to referendum on 2020-10-14

Do you support the implementation of Studentcare’s integrated virtual telemedicine service for all Concordia University undergraduate students, and implementation of a $19.52 per semester starting in January 2021? Students will be able to opt-out of the service and fee during a designated opt-out period independent of the main plan in the Fall and the Winter.

sent to referendum on 2020-10-14

CJLO 1690 AM, Concordia University’s radio station, has been in operation since 1998, and broadcasts on the AM frequency since 2008. It is currently supported by a fee levy that was approved in 2011. CJLO is seeking a change in its fee levy to improve its infrastructure, including emergency broadcasting capabilities, online streaming, improving access to programming, and to account for inflation.
Do you agree to change the fee levy for CJLO 1690AM from $0.34 per credit to $0.43 per credit, annually adjusted to the Consumer Price Index of Canada, to be collected from all CSU members? The fee levy will be effective with the Winter semester of 2021 (2020/4) and billed in accordance with the university tuition billing and refund policy.

sent to referendum on 2020-10-14

Do you support the CSU working towards the creation of a new service dedicated to supporting the mental health of students?

sent to referendum on 2020-10-14

Do you support the CSU investigating the adoption of an undergraduate representative council distributed proportionally among the faculties with specified seats allocated for minority groups?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Concordia University put in place an automated test monitoring system called ‘Proctorio’, a mandatory plug-in on your computer for certain assessments. This software can take over your webcam, track your eye movements, record your screen, manipulate your privacy settings, and more. Students have reported how this method of test monitoring is invasive, discriminatory and unreliable. The CSU Executive Team and other student advocacy groups have been raising these concerns regarding procturing in discussions with the administration for months, but the administration has been slow to make the relevant changes to improve student learning. Acknowledging these circumstances, we ask the following question:

Do you believe Concordia University should end the use of intrusive online proctoring software?

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, courses were adapted for an online semester. Many students reported increased workload, increased stress and anxiety, struggles with adapting to an online learning environment, lack of support for accessibility issues, amongst other concerns. Because of these reasons, many students have expressed how they are not performing up to their full academic potential and how the factors that made pass/fail necessary in Winter 2020 have persisted.  A return of the pass/fail option for this academic year would allow for students to choose between an alphabetical grade or the pass/fail option, the latter of which will not affect their GPA. This choice would be available for each of their individual courses. The CSU Executive Team and other student advocacy groups have been raising these concerns regarding pass/fail in discussions with the administration for months, but the administration has been slow to make the relevant changes to improve student learning. Acknowledging these circumstances, we ask the following question:

Do you believe Concordia University should implement the pass/fail option for this academic year? 

 

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Concordia University increased tuition for both in-province and International students. This is despite the financial burden being stronger than ever. This increase in tuition has not been justified by the University who has seen a reduction in operational costs as a result of online classes. It is important for the University to meet the needs of students by not only reversing on the previous tuition hike but also reducing tuition further. The CSU Executive Team and other student advocacy groups have been raising these concerns regarding tuition in discussions with the administration for months, but the administration has been slow to make the relevant changes to improve student learning. Acknowledging these circumstances, we ask the following question:

Do you believe Concordia University should reverse the recent tuition hike and reduce tuition further for all students?

 

 

Concordia University has issued recommendations to professors to implement closed captioning, transcript and record lectures, amongst other recommendations to deal with concerns that affect the learning of disabled students. Some professors have taken these recommendations, many have not. Disabled students have reported how none of the assurances promised by Concordia have been fulfilled i.e. Concordia promised that measures would be taken to ensure all students would be able to attend their chosen classes, but this was not ensured. There is a lack of flexibility with some professors who are holding onto their pre-covid no-extension policies. Overall, students have reported a lack of willingness to listen to students which has led to increased disillusionment, stress and anxiety. The CSU Executive Team and other student advocacy groups have been raising these concerns regarding accessibility in discussions with the administration for months, but the administration has been slow to make the relevant changes to improve student learning. Acknowledging these circumstances, we ask the following question:

Do you believe Concordia should channel more efforts and resources directly to disabled students, immunocompromised students, students with mental health issues, and students with various accessibility concerns so their learning environments are optimised?

 

 

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, students have reported how many professors have increased their expectations of students, increasing workloads and condensing assignments. This has led to lengthy midterms, a less conducive environment for learning and students not performing up to their usual academic potential. International students managing different timezones have increased burdens due to increased workload and mandatory class participation. Students have expressed how this has increased stress and anxiety levels, alongside existing pandemic fatigue. The CSU Executive Team and other student advocacy groups have been raising these concerns regarding workload in discussions with the administration for months, but the administration has been slow to make the relevant changes to improve student learning. Acknowledging these circumstances, we ask the following question:

Do you believe Concordia University should have professors make more balanced workloads for this academic year?