Over the last few years, there has been a growing concern in the student body about the degree of accountability for both the College administrators and its Union representatives. Our team is committed to ensuring that such concerns are put to rest. That is why we are announcing the official timeline for elections for the Student Council, a body of the DSU that has been greatly missing in its structure, that will ensure proper transparency, accountability and representation for Dawson's student body!
The student council composition is set every year by the Executive Committee in an effort to ensure proportional representation. In 2020, the Executive Committee decided to have a council composed of 12 elected positions representing the various programs within the College. There are also 5 nominated positions representing diverse student demographics that will sit on the Student Council. The Student Council will be tasked with meeting monthly to consider various policy decisions, to help mediate internal disputes and to overall ensure that all student’s concerns are highlighted and get addressed within their mandate. Some councillors will also be asked to duly represent the interests of students on College committees. Student Council is set to be put in place this Winter semester, which will have a mandate of one semester that will end on May 31st following the April general elections.
These elections will be accomplished by Single Transferable Vote. The timeline that was set last Thursday by the Executive Committee has been determined as follows:
Nominations open on January 25th, 2021, at 12:00, am and close on February 15th, 2021, at 12:00 am. For more information on the nomination forms and the process, please visit our elections section on our website.
Voting will commence on February 25th, 2021, at 12:00 am and end on February 26th, 2021, at 4:00 pm.
Students may run for a councillor position of their program of study that. The 12 councillor positions go as follows:
4 Councillors for the Social Sciences
2 Councillors for the Applied Sciences
1 Councillor for the Arts
3 Councillors for the Technical Programs
2 Councillors for Continuing Education
As mentioned, there also 5 demographic positions that will be appointed by the Executive committee. An official application process should be announced shortly.
The 5 demographic representative positions are:
1 Councillor for Aboriginal students 1 Councillor for Francophone students 1 Councillor for Queer students 1 Councillor for Racialized students 1 Councillor for students with disabilities
Contact ceo@dawsonstudentunion.com for any questions on the 12 electable councillors.
For all questions relating to the 5 appointable councillors, contact deputy.chairperson@dawsonstudentunion.com.