Canadian Alliance of Student Associations

Education.

MembershipOperations The Future

Agenda

Operations

What is CASA ?

Vision

CASA will achieve an accessible, affordable and high quality post-secondary education system whose

students enjoy an excellent quality of life.

Mission

Through its member-driven structure and grass-roots approach, CASA’s mission is to advocate for

students through policy development and research, awareness campaigns, government relations and

partnerships with other stakeholders.

Founding Principles

• Member-driven

• Focus on the federal and interprovincial levels of government

• Focus on federal jurisdiction and interprovincial levels of government

• Easy in - easy out

Founding Principles

• One member, one vote*

• Bilingualism

• Practice of democracy

• Integrity

What does CASA do?• Develops policies

• Engages government,

public and media

• Advocates for change

• Constant dialogue with

decision makers

• Regular meetings with

Members of Parliament

How CASA Spend$

•Advocacy work

•Research(6 staff members)

•Approved public awareness initiatives

•Three conferences a year

Why Focus Federally ?

The Federal Role in PSE

• Provincial governments are granted constitutional legislative control over education - Sec. 93

….however…

The Federal Role in PSE

• Transfer payments to provinces/territories: $3.4 billion• Student grants/loans/repayment aid: $12 billion• Tax credits/savings programs: $2.935 billion• Research funding/infrastructure: $3 billion• Summer job funding: $107.5 million• Intellectual property• PSE research and analysis• International access and mobility

How does CASA lobby?

How CASA Lobbies• Increase access and

quality of PSE

• Lobbies for improved debt reduction measures

• Advocates for upfront grants for students

• Lobbies for increased funding for PSE

Our Partners

When all these groups join together, the network represents over 600,000

students

Partnerships• CASA has played a leadership role in developing the

largest student partnership in Canada

• Partners with federal and provincial student lobby organizations to represent over 600,000 students

• Network of Partners:

– Ontario Undergraduate Student Association

– College Student Alliance

– Alberta College and Technical Institute Students Executive Council

– Council of Alberta University Students

– New Brunswick Student Alliance

– Alliance of Nova Scotia Students’ Associations

CASA’s Successes

For every dollar that Canadian students have paid their CASA member schools, they have received

an average of $2740.53

A Record of Success1995-2010

•Creation of Canada Millennium Scholarship

Foundation (CMSF)

•Scholarship Tax Credit

•Textbook Tax Credit

•Knowledge Infrastructure Program

•Repayment Assistance Plan

•Canada Student Grants

•Indirect Costs

•Copyright

•Canadian Student Survey

Access to Government• Regular access to Prime Ministers and Prime

Minister’s Office

• Premiers, leaders of each political party, Finance ministers, HRSDC ministers, Industry Canada ministers, Deputy ministers, etc.

• One of CASA’s principle methods to access decision-makers is through Lobby Conferences

The Membership

Acadia UniversityUniversity of British Columbia

University of CalgaryUniversity of Alberta

Saint Mary's UniversitySt. Francis Xavier University

Dalhousie UniversityUniversity of New Brunswick

- FrederictonUniversity of New Brunswick

- Saint JohnMount Allison UniversityUniversité de Moncton

University of Western OntarioUniversity of Waterloo

Brock UniversityMcMaster University

Wilfrid Laurier UniversityRed River College

University of LethbridgeSouthern Alberta Institute of Technology

Mount Royal UniversityUniversity of the Fraser Valley

Kwantlen Polytechnic UniversitySt. Thomas University

University of Prince Edward IslandUniversity of Waterloo Graduate Students

25 Student Associations

Member Participation

Membership OptionsFull

a vote, move and second motions, sit on the Board of Directors, permanent

member of the Policy Committee, can be Chair of any committee, access staff

support.

Associateno vote, sit on committees, move and

second motions, draw on staff resources.

Observer observe CASA operations

CASA’s Member Philosophy CASA is a member driven organization

Member Councils

Delegates (General Assembly)

Board of Directors

National Director

Home Office Staff

Board of Directors

5 Regional Directors (including the Chair and Secretary)

Treasurer (non-voting)

National Director (ex-officio, non-voting)

CASA Home Office

Spencer Keys

Government Relations

Alex Lougheed

Policy and Research

Zach Dayler

National Director

Ellen Wightman

Office Manager

Jessica Séguin

Member Relations

Role of Home Office• Conducting direct advocacy

• Cultivating political, media and stakeholder relationships

• Performing regulatory and statutory analysis

• Primary and secondary research

• Providing member support for policy, media and advocacy activities

• Carrying out government/policy/media monitoring

• Membership experience

Policy Development

Decision Process

YELLOW PRIORITIES

Decision Priorities

The Future…

• Interest Rates

• Copyright (C-32 and Book Importation

Regulations)

• Needs based Grants (graduate and

undergraduate)

• Parental income contributions

• FMNI access

• Federal-provincial transfers

Current Work

Benefits to Your Group

• Help you effectively lobby the Federal Government

• Help student leaders access top decision makers

• Opportunity to influence a national agenda

• Value for your students dollars

• Access a network of student leaders across Canada

Benefits to CASA• A diversity of members strengthens your voice

• Increased resources

• Add to the growing momentum of the organization

• Capacity to conduct research

• Information gathering and sharing

• Satellite lobby - our field team

Questions?

Contact InformationYOUR STUDENT UNION OFFICE

OR

ZACH DAYLER (ND)

613-236-3457 x222

JESSICA SEGUIN (MRO)

613-617-6262

www.casa.acae.com