August 2015 AUSU Newsletter

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AUSU By-Election 2015

Make sure to VOTE in the AUSU 2015 Election! This is a chance to vote in your choice for the AUSU council, which represents you, the members!

The candidates are listed below, and you can find more information about them on our website here. You can also ask them questions on the AUSU Elections Forum.

Tegan Paige Davidson
Colleen Doucette
Sheldon Fougere
Taylor Stephanie Haahr
Wendy Elaine John-Haggerty
Philip Kirkbride
Catherine Manten
Taneisha Jordan Mckenzie
Madeline Hudson Mogk
Pierre Plamondon
Tamra Ross
Brandon Simmons
Mark Swarek
Jennifer Terry
Laura Zhu

Polls will be open August 21 - 24, 2015. The ballot will be emailed to all subscribed* AUSU members (to the email address on file with AU).

It only takes a minute to fill out the ballot. Make sure your voice is heard!

(*Note: members are subscribed to the AUSU mailing list automatically when they become an AU undergraduate student. Members who have unsubscribed themselves from our newsletter will not be sent the poll by email, however they can still vote by emailing cro@ausu.org to ask for the poll to be sent to them, or they can be put back on the mailing list prior to August 19 by emailing admin@ausu.org).

New Mental Health Program Launches September 1

AUSU is bringing a new Student Lifeline Mental Health & Wellness program to our members on September 1, 2015. This new program includes 24/7 counselling, crisis support, and health & wellness resources to help you with your life, health, family, work and money.

Counselling is confidential and held with qualified and experienced counsellors. Students can meet with counsellors by phone, video, or in person with more than 3000 counsellors spread across the country. There is also a live chat feature available through the LifeLine website, and a mobile app to access the program through your phone.

The program also offers many other services and tools, including a Depression Center, Stop Smoking Center, Naturopathic Services, Nutritional Counselling, Career Career Planning, Financial Advising, Legal Advice, Workplace Resources, Parenting & Eldercare Resources, Volunteer Opportunities, and much more!

For more information visit our website.

Forensic Audit Survey

We want your opinion!

During the May 2015 AGM, a motion was passed suggesting AUSU have a forensic audit performed for the previous 6 months.

Given that so few members were at the AGM (13 in total), and an audit would require spending membership money, we are polling members to ask their opinion.

Click here to take the survey.

AUSU Mobile App

Our new Mobile App is coming soon!

The app will let you link up your AU classes and schedule study time, as well as connect with other AU students through campus-wide and individual classroom forums and a one-on-one chat function. It will have lots of information right at your fingertips, such as AU and AUSU services, links, events, important dates, and more!

For more info visit our website.

University Rankings Survey

The Canadian Alliance of Students' Associations (CASA) is partnering with Maclean’s on their national survey of university and college students, which will be used to calculate the 2016 Maclean's annual university ranking as well as the first annual ranking of college and university programs.

Take this survey to put AU in the running for the top universities in Canada!

Student Spotlight - Joshua Nichol

Joshua Nichol was recently awarded AUSU's Balanced Student Award, and we asked him about his experience with AU!

"Athabasca University has allowed me to work towards my educational goals while also pursuing my career goals in the sport of volleyball. I started my first course while working full time with the Ontario Volleyball Association. Since that time I have been able to complete courses while managing my coaching commitments in beach and indoor volleyball to athletes from all different levels including house league, high school, rep club programs, college and the provincial team." - Joshua Nichol.

Congratulations on your accomplishments, Joshua!