ACADEMIC COMMISSIONER

Dhir Shah

Dear Vickie,

As I reflect upon my journey with VUSAC, I realize that my team makes me to realize that the successes are not mine but ours, and likewise, the failures. As I have said before, we have one purpose – you! Last semester, our student experience survey received a 5.02% response rate – 19.98 percentage points lower than my personal target. Despite the small figure, our results highlight the following:

• Major transition concerns include mental health (73.70%), time management (71.20%) and effective studying (67.20%).

• Only 42.60% of the respondents ranked their overall educational experience a 4 out of 5.

• Students desire more study spaces (69.70%).

• Major events of interest include career fairs (64.60%), scholarship workshops (60.10%) and networking events with professors (57.60%).

Our analysis stresses the following:

• Mental health concerns do not solely pertain to transition periods hence the need for quick access to mental health support systems with faster response times.

• Students’ concerns over time management may be linked to the struggle of discovering favorable studying habits amongst other factors.

• While there are study spaces on campus, they may not be operational 24 hours or post mid-night.

• The commission needs to organize student demanded events and the lack of such events may justify the low engagement rate with VUSAC and its branches.

Considering this analysis, we choose to add advocacy to our goals of this semester. As stated in my last report, my team is working to build an interactive webpage by the end of March. It shall feature our commission’s new logo from the just concluded logo design competition. The goal is to provide you with an active information channel about the commission.

We commenced this semester by planning ‘Life After Vic – a networking night with the Vic alumni’, scheduled for the 2nd day of March, in the year 2023. This event is a great opportunity for you to engage with the Vic alumni, over various disciplines of interest to bag knowledge about the world beyond academics.

Last semester saw the return of the Burwash study space which had an impressive response rate. My CoChair and I have hosted meetings with the Residence Life Coordinator to devise ways of improving this space and making it more accessible to students. This semester, we hope to make improvements to the available support materials, power sourcing, lighting, and snacks. Study care packages shall also be distributed on the first two days of the program.

I also intend to host meetings with the Mental Wellness Commissioner and VUSAC to discuss the results of the survey. Topics of discussion shall include the mental health concerns, impacts of mental health on academics and lifestyle, available support, amongst others. I perceive that a collaborative effort to provide quick access to support with faster response times is of urgent concern. Holistically, my team and I intend to respond to student needs based on our engagement with you.

Yours Faithfully, Dhir Shah – Academic Commissioner 2022 / 2023