The North Island Students' Union is having its annual Campus Council elections. The Students' Union is run by elected student representatives who provide services for students, plan events, advocate on your behalf of members, and this is your chance to get involved. Nomination forms can be picked up and returned to your local Students' Union office. The nomination deadline is Wednesday, October 27, 2010.

October 13, 2009

Award Established by Students, for Students
The North Island Student's Union (NISU) recently donated $10,000 to the North Island College Foundation to establish a new endowment which will support three student awards annually.

With education costs rising and recent cuts to student aid in B.C., North Island College students have made it known that financial support for post secondary education is their top priority, where more than 50% of students rely on some form of financial assistance despite North Island College having the lowest tuition rates on Vancouver Island. NIC students voted overwhelmingly in favour of NISU creating the new endowment in a referendum last fall, spurring NISU to take the unprecedented step of funding the new awards for its own students.

"Our students work collectively to put pressure on government to make education open and accessible to all citizens, regardless of their family incomes," said Shaunna Downey, NIC Student and NISU Chairperson. "Because we know universally affordable education is not yet a priority of government we are making this endowment available to help those being priced out of attending school."

The NISU Endowment will assist continuing students in any full or part-time program and the interest earned on the capital investment will be split equally between three students. Preference will be given to students who have been involved in volunteer activities or community service.
Students can begin applying for the awards in 2011. In the meantime, NISU hopes the gesture will also help highlight to the community the need for more affordable education.

On Friday October 9th two members of the North Island Students' Union took the time to present to the Committee of Finance and Government Service the fiscal realities of Students at North Island College.

The Committee travels the province once a year to hear from the electorate about the situations faced by their communites prior to the release of the provincial budget.  It is expected that these consultations will help to shape the spending of government on the needs of the citizens of B.C.

NISU presented 4 recommendations to government.

1) Eliminate Interest on Student Loans

2) Increase core funding to North Island College to 2001 levels.

3) Create a needs based up-front grant system in BC.

4) Reduce Tuition fees by 10 percent.

If you would like to find out more or get involved in our campaign to make these things possibly please email organiser@nisu.ca.