Revision of residence fees
Based on recommendations from Grover Elliot & Co. Ltd., the Finance & Administration Committee suggested a rent rate increase of between 2 to 4 per cent for residence buildings. The changes would help the buildings to remain at current market levels for the 2014-2015 academic year.
According to the Committee, Hamilton Hall rents are approximately $13 per month above market rates, however to pay for increases in providing cable television and internet to residents, a $12 per month increase in fees is needed.
Similar increases in rates would affect all residences, with prices at McTaggart-Cowan increasing by $16, Towers increasing by $17, Louis Riel increasing by $13 to $16, and Townhouses increasing by $18.
Professional and personal skills for graduate students
The Dean of Graduate Studies has developed a certificate program with the hope of enhancing graduate students’ and postdoctoral fellows’ academic experience through professional and personal development.
The 2013–14 pilot program will offer core programming that combines communication of strengths in professional contexts and understanding of career possibilities with electives that can be grouped into a series of themes: Management and Life Skills, Teaching and Leadership, and Research and Knowledge Translation.
SFU Surrey Expansion
During Other Business, the Board planned to discuss the expansion of the SFU Surrey campus, however moved into closed session before discussing the project. The description indicated that the goal would be to add 2,500 full-time equivalent students to the Surrey campus by 2020.
Starbucks
Board also discussed the possibility of a Starbucks on the Burnaby campus, which has been an issue because of Starbucks’ refusal to provide broad fair trade coffee options in North America. Being a Fair Trade Campus, SFU requires that the franchise provide a significant selection of fair trade coffee options.
The Report of the Vice President Finance and Administration stated that that since students expressed interest in the opening of a Starbucks 18 months ago, “Dining Services has made significant progress pressing Starbucks to begin offering fair trade coffee.” They are hoping that a “significant announcement will be made by Starbucks in the next few days that will have repercussions across the country.”
