UCSA Executive Progress Review

Source: UCSA / Hamish Hobbs.  

As we pass the middle of the year, Canta saw it fit to do an investigation into the productivity, effectivity, and achievements of the current Executive Committee, in the best interest of ensuring the student population are as informed as possible.  

In the interest of full disclosure, Canta was directed by the UCSA to seek comment from Vice-President Academic Caleb Banks, or Vice-President Engagement Parthey Pant, as current President Luc MacKay is running for the role again. Canta asked for comment from Banks and Pant, and received responses attributed to Banks. 

According to Banks, and is somewhat stock-standard practice, at the beginning of each year, the UCSA Executive Committee outlines its’ priorities, which Banks said tend to be broader, overarching goals with each member having more specific tasks.  

“Some examples of our larger goals were things like clarity on AI, building community connections with students, alumni and government, and working on engagement with our marginalised communities,” Banks said.  

As stated by the UCSA, the purpose of its’ executive is to represent student voice on campus and in the community. When asked to what extent the current executive has upheld this objective, Banks told Canta that the committee represents students on more than 50 committees and boards, and that its’ core focus is on student voice.  

“In 2024, some examples of what this has looked like has been the continuance and improvement of the class rep programme. We have worked more closely with faculties to ensure that feedback is directly relevant and will lead to better outcomes for students,” Banks said.  

Banks also noted advisory groups run by the executive and that “we also make it clear that students are welcome to approach any of us, at any time.” 

When asked to outline what exactly the Executive Committee has achieved this year, Banks noted the following:  

• Passing a lecture recording policy for all Undergraduate and taught Post-Graduate courses. 

• Events like Kōrero and Coffee “to help increase the visibility and accessibility of the exec.”  

• The Pacific Students’ Newsletter. 

• The soup initiative. 

Following this, Canta also asked Banks what the executive intend to achieve for the remained of their time in power. Banks said they plan to continue student representation and relationship-building with the university’s committees.  

“We hope to have compulsory clarity on an assessment-by-assessment basis for how [students] can use AI. Members of the exec will also be driving for more clubs funding and storage space. We will also continue representation on the Government’s University Advisory Group.”  

Banks said it is also looking to increase the physical information presence of the UCSA, to help inform students, which the executive could achieve through increased information signage in UCSA outlets, physical suggestion boxes, and looking into more effective communication methods.  

In regards to more clubs funding and storage space, Banks said these issues would be addressed through the UC Council and Student Voice Partnership, “where we will be driving for more SSL funding for students,” he said.  

For AI policies, Banks told Canta he currently sits on the university’s AI working group, Academic Administration Committee and Academic Board.  

Banks said these goals would benefit students as they would get better clarity around AI and assessments, and more clubs/club funding would encourage more support.  

“Clubs support will allow our students to find their community at UC, and make sure that it feels like the home away from home that University should,” he said.  

When asked what initiatives the executive has taken to ensure the financial efficacy and sustainability of the UCSA, Banks said: “While the executive has high-level oversight of the financial state of the UCSA, we have a fantastic team behind the scenes who run the day-to-day. We tend to take the advice of our financial experts as to how to best ensure that the UCSA remains for generations ahead.”  

Furthermore, when asked about the state of the club’s fund, Banks told Canta that the fund of $87.5k had been fully allocated, but not fully spent, and any unclaimed money would go back into the pool and allocated to clubs with existing applications. 

He also said the UCSA has advocated for increased funding for clubs in 2025, and it is hopeful this will be seen in the 2025 budget.