The McMaster Students Union
PRESIDENT’S PAGE NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR
SUBMIT YOUR PLATFORM TO THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT BY MARCH 29TH | 12:00 PM ASSISTANT@MSU.MCMASTER.CA
VICE PRESIDENT Administration | Education | Finance
SIOBHAN TEEL
CHRISTINA DEVARAPALLI
Vice-President (Education)
Vice-President (Administration)
vped@msu.mcmaster.ca | 905.525.9140 x24017
To understand the basics of the Vice-President (Education)’s role, there are three main areas of focus: university affairs, municipal affairs, and provincial & federal affairs. At the university level, the VP Ed and the AVP University Affairs set priorities based on student feedback and a lobbying agenda established through our Student Representative Assembly (SRA). Broadly speaking, the university affairs department provides guidance to the institution about policies, practices, and spending, to better align with the student experience. Within the municipal affairs portfolio, the VP Ed and AVP Municipal Affairs plan and promote tenant rights events, make delegations to Hamilton City Council, and advocate for student safety within the city. In short, municipal affairs help bridge the gap between students and our municipal leaders. At the provincial and federal level, the VP Ed works with a respective Associate Vice President as well as lobbying organizations like OUSA and UCRU, to bring student concerns directly to MPPs and MPs. We provide detailed policy recommendations – such as the elimination of interest on student loans - and offer recommendations to both the province of Ontario and the government of Canada during their respective budget creation cycles. Beyond working with the three portfolios, the VP Ed also supervises the MSU’s Research and Policy Assistants, to oversee the creation and articulation of student-driven advocacy objectives for future years.
msu_mcmaster msumcmaster.ca text “MSU” to 71441
JEGANIYAH JAYACHANDRAN Vice-President (Finance)
vpadmin@msu.mcmaster.ca | 905.525.9140 x23250
vpfinance@msu.mcmaster.ca | 905.525.9140 x24109
The Vice-President (Administration) role is one that supports and empowers students, organizations, services, and clubs, to maintain safe(r) spaces and become stronger resources within the McMaster community. The VP Admin oversees day-to-day internal operations, such as the oversight of the MSU’s student-run services, while providing support and guidance to the managers and executives therein. As an employer of hundreds of students, there are considerable human resources commitments for the role, but it is well supported by HR professionals and associated staff, to help with the daily operations of the MSU. In addition to the VP Admin’s HR responsibilities, the role also has operational policy and financial planning elements, to ensure stability inside MSU services. Also, the VP Admin helps maintain the growth of the MSU through assessing and developing administrative structures, such as transition and training for staff and volunteers. Outside of the MSU, the role is heavily involved in the planning of Welcome Week, alongside partners in the University, especially the Student Success Centre. Personally, my favourite part of the role has been giving back to the McMaster community which has supported me for years. Serving students as they navigate their academic and personal lives in an unpredictable time has been highly rewarding. I’m glad to have been a part of an organization that provides extensive representation and advocacy on behalf of the student body.
The Vice-President (Finance), oversees the day-to-day finances of the MSU, including those of its business units, peer-support services, and over 300 ratified MSU clubs. Although financial knowledge is a benefit to the role, it is not a requirement. Working closely with the Accounting Department and the Director of Finance, the VP Finance will approve purchase and reimbursement requests, review monthly financial statements, and ensure fiscal compliance within approved budgets. In addition, the VP Finance summarizes and presents the previous fiscal year’s audited statements to the SRA and compiles the following year’s capital and operating budget requests from department managers. The VP Finance evaluates applications for various student support funds, including Services Special Projects, SRA Special Projects, Clubs Special Projects, Clubs Funding, Sponsorships & Donations Committee, Student Life Enhancement Fund (SLEF) & Undergraduate Student Initiatives Fund (USIF). In this capacity, I often had the chance to connect directly with students seeking funding to support club, faculty, or individual initiatives, advocating for affordable fees and overall providing support. Personally, I really enjoy the opportunity to be involved with Welcome Week planning and re-structuring. The time I spent on those committees was a highlight for me. As an overall support person within the MSU, with a strong financial lens, the VP Finance is a great opportunity for student leaders to represent the interests of students and student life at McMaster.
The President’s Page is a space sponsored and used by the Board of Directors of the McMaster Students Union (MSU) to communicate with the student body. It functions to highlight the Board’s projects, goals, and agenda for the year, as well as the general happenings of the MSU.
12 | P R E S I D E N T ’S PAG E
SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION TO THE SPEAKER BY APRIL 2ND | 9:00 AM SPEAKER@MSU.MCMASTER.CA
DENVER DELLA-VEDOVA President
www.thesil.ca | Thursday, March 24, 2022
CHRISTINA DEVARAPALLI Vice-President (Adminstration)
SIOBHAN TEEL Vice-President (Education)
JEGANIYAH (JJ) JAYACHANDRAN
Vice-President (Finance)