UNBSU Advocacy Week 2022 - Tomorrow's Return on Today's Investment

This year is the UNBSU’s first independent advocacy week. Advocacy week is an annual week where the UNBSU brings together key stakeholders in the community for meetings with students. The UNBSU engage with stakeholders from government, university administration, and non-governmental institutions. Students inform stakeholders of issues they face, and call for changes that are of mutual benefit. Changes were developed through extensive research and consultation in the community.

These meetings allow students' voices to be heard. The UNBSU trains undergraduate students to engage with stakeholders through mock scenarios, government relations presentations, and an analysis of the current political climate. Advocacy week is a time where students can change the status-quo in the community.

Further to this week, the UNBSU takes part in a national advocacy week with CASA, our federal partner organization, to recommend opportunities for change within the federal purview. This takes place in Ottawa, Ontario.

This year’s advocacy week takes place from November 7th to 11th.

Questions can be directed to our VP Research & Policy Rose Grant at policy@unbsu.ca.

Storwell Self Storage Offers a $2,000 Bursary to Help Foster Children Pursue Post-Secondary Education

In response to the growing number of foster children and youth in care that struggle to afford post- secondary studies, Storwell has developed the Storwell Foster Children Bursary Program. According to the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, right now there are approximately 63,000 Canadian children living in permanent care with foster families, extended family, or in group homes. Across the country, 235,000 children and youth have been identified as having experienced or being at risk of experiencing abuse and neglect. These children often experience difficulties gaining access to adequate education opportunities, especially when it comes to post-secondary education. For every one thousand youths in Canadian foster care, only eight go on to graduate with a post-secondary education. One of the largest barriers to entry for children in foster care is the financial burden that comes along with post-secondary education.

The aim of the Storwell Foster Children Bursary Program is to provide foster children and youth in care with resources and opportunities that might be otherwise unavailable to them. With the proper tools, these students can work towards building a better life for themselves through the pursuit of higher education. Along with providing accessible and affordable self-storage units, Storwell is devoted to helping out the local community through various charitable causes and social initiatives.

Storwell offers an annual bursary of $2,000 to help foster children attend post-secondary schools and to offer a hand up as they make their way forward in life. Eligibility requirements and access to the application form can be found at: https://www.storwell.com/bursary-application

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce x UNBSU

The University of New Brunswick Student Union signs Memorandum of Understanding with Fredericton Chamber of Commerce:

On August 22nd, the UNBSU signed a two-year agreement with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, with the goal of increasing professional networking opportunities for undergraduate students at UNB Fredericton.

The agreement provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to attend the Chamber's key professional networking events, such as Business After Hours and Business Over Breakfast, for free. The agreement also allows undergraduate students to attend all paid Chamber events at member rates, which are discounted. Examples of these events include the State of the City, or the State of the Province. 

This agreement additionally ensures the UNB Student Union has a dedicated seat on the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee and Policy Development Committee.

"This deal is a key step in further integrating students within the community. Creating better connections between students and the business community is a win-win,” said Kordell Walsh, UNBSU President. “It provides our students with direct access to potential employers and community leaders, while also increasing the business community's access to a significant pool of high-skilled talent that will help address the skills gap in our province."

For students to sign up for Chamber events, they must email UNBSU President, Kordell Walsh, at president@unbsu.ca with their name and which event(s) they would like to attend.

Some of the Chamber's free upcoming events include:

2022 Member Appreciation Event - August 31, 2022; 4:00PM-6:00PM

September Business After Hours - September 22, 2022; 4:00PM-6:00PM

For a list of all of the Chamber's upcoming events, please visit https://business.frederictonchamber.ca/events/calendar

UNBSU Meeting with Minister Holder

Good afternoon UNB,

Today, the UNB Student Union participated in a meeting with Trevor Holder, the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour regarding the cancellation of the NB-EI Connect program.

In preparation for this meeting, we collected feedback from over 400 students who shared their stories of how the cancellation of the EI-Connect program will impact them. We heard how this decision will not only impact students financially, but will impact their mental health, may cause them to be unable to afford to finish their schooling, and impact their trust in the government to provide the support students need. We took that feedback and raised these concerns directly with the Minister, ensuring student voices were heard with the government.

While we understand the pressures, whether it be from the business community or the federal government, surrounding the cancellation of this program, it is unfair to hold students liable for improving conditions in the labour market.

The UNB Student Union came to this meeting with a number of asks, with the key ask being to waive the fixed student contribution from the formula for considering student financial aid. This decision would increase access to financial aid for all students, and offset the impacts of the cancellation of EI Connect.

The meeting was productive. The Minister expressed an understanding of the importance of bringing students into the fold on major decisions impacting students, and expressed an openness to collaborating to find solutions.

There was a commitment to continuing these conversations and working towards finding other measures to support students in both the short- and long-terms. The Minister and his team agreed to follow up on our ask later this week after reviewing it with their team, and we look forward to collaborations over the coming weeks as we seek a resolution to this issue in time for the school year to begin.

We understand the stress this decision is causing students, and are working tirelessly to find a solution that will work for students. As we continue these conversations, we will be updating students along the way so, please stay tuned for more information.

UNBSU Response to the Termination of NB EI-Connect

Good afternoon UNB,

Students across the province are extremely disappointed in the decision to immediately terminate the NB-EI Connect program. Students are left with very little time to secure the alternative financial resources required of them in order to afford their education. Inflation is the highest it has been in over 30 years, affordable housing is extremely difficult to find, and the financial resources many students relied upon have been cut from under them.

However, this is not 'just' a financial issue. The added stress of securing alternative financial resources will exacerbate the effects of an existing mental health crisis on our campus. Without a plan to increase funding for mental health services in the province, students are once again left hurting.

Rest assured, the UNB Student Union has been raising your concerns with the government and will continue to do so until a resolution is found! Our first public step happened on June 27, where the UNBSU, in collaboration with FÉÉCUM, co-signed an open letter to the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour, Trevor Holder, regarding this cancellation. Linked is a copy of said letter, in both French and English.

In our open letter, we called on Minister Holder to meet with student leaders where we can discuss this issue and identify potential solutions. Minister Holder has responded, and a meeting is being scheduled.

What we need from you: please, fill out this anonymous form speaking to your experience! We have received over 40 responses so far, and the more perspectives and voices we can bring to the table, the stronger advocacy we can have during this meeting!

We have also shared the letter and feedback form on Facebook; and would love it if you could share the links to help us spread the word!

As we progress through this process, we will be updating students along the way! Please stay tuned for more information over the coming weeks!

Sincerely,
Your 2022-2023 UNB Student Union Executive

UNBSU x Fossil Free UNB Open Letter 2022

Read the open letter here

UNBSU Book Buy & Sell Winter 2022

Looking to buy or sell textbooks? UNBSU is here to assist you in buying or selling previously owned texts.

Textbooks are an inevitable expense. On average, students spend $400/ text. Buying and selling used textbooks is cost-effective, and if you're smart about it, you can save money for other expenses.

Reasons you should resell:

• When you've completed a course, you can help your fellow students by selling your previously owned texts at a fair price while earning back a portion of your money.

Reasons you should buy used:

• Buying second-hand is an effective way to save money. Supporting your fellow students by buying used, you help individuals afford the cost of buying items they need for the semester. Typically, you can purchase a used textbook at 50% of the price.

• Buying and reselling books contribute towards the protection of our environment.

University can be expensive, and campus life can be challenging, especially if you're tight on a budget. Don't miss out on any opportunity to make a little extra cash and help your fellow students save.

UNB Psychology students helping to implement new mental health services, and strategies for classmates

Four students in the University of New Brunswick's psychology program are getting credits for their creations by helping implement new mental health services and strategies for their classmates.

The students are working with the university's mental health strategist for their mental health research projects, creating a positive, inclusive and safe learning environment for all.

The students are hoping their work helps break down barriers.

The project has been a chance for the students to put what they have learned to the test.

In addition to Holly McLaughlin and Yelina Birk, Michelle Addy and Mallory Murphy are studying the experiences had by international students and how they perceive mental health and access support services.

Addy, an international student, and Murphy, a domestic student, are working together to create a comprehensive outreach strategy.

For original Atlantic CTV News article click here.

University RiteStop now offering affordable food delivery to the SUB!

Our friends at the University RiteStop are now offering affordable Indian & International Food delivery to the SUB on Mondays!

“University Rite Stop is proud to announce that we are offering Indian and international foods to students at affordable prices with delivery charge of only $1.50 per order

It will be delivered outside the SUB student union building between 11.30 am to 1.30 pm please use our website to place your order before 10 am for delivery same-day thanks for your support”

Click here to see their menu and to order!

October is Sustainability Month!

October is Sustainability Month here at UNB!

We are kicking off October with the UNBSU’s Sustainability Week, happening from October 4th - October 8th. Please view our full schedule of events here.

The full schedule for Sustainability Month is located here, and includes month-long events such as the academic bike challenge, as well as individual events such as paint & sips!

Have questions about Sustainability Month 2021? Contact the Sustainability office via email at sustain@unb.ca for more information.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability isn't just limited to trees and recycling and incorporates a wide variety of elements. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addresses all these dimensions with goals for the world to meet by 2030. During the month of October, there will be a poster series in the Student Union Building frames and on the screens across the Saint John campus highlighting the work that the UNB community is doing to meet these targets. You can also check them out on the UNB Sustainability Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the impactful work being done across the UNB community!