News Brief: KSA updates reimbursement regulations, approves club and event funding

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The Kwantlen Student Association updated its regulations on reimbursements for elected officials and staff during a council meeting on Nov. 22.

The motion focused on reimbursements for business-related travel expenses, which includes the costs incurred from travelling to and from council meetings. 

The updated rules note that the executive director, Timothii Ragavan, has the power to approve or reject reimbursement claims in accordance with the regulations. KSA council members and staff are also expected to request approval in advance of any non-routine travel expenses. 

The motion included conditions in six areas: personal automobile, public transit, taxi, vehicle rental, airfare, and parking.

In the meeting’s Microsoft Teams chat, Advocacy Coordinator John O’Brian wrote that parking fees are already covered in the regulations and that the KSA staff collective agreement has a different mileage rate than what was outlined in the motion.

Speaker of Council Sukhdeep Singh announced that Surrey Campus Representative Simranjeet Singh resigned from his position as of Nov. 21.

In his report to council, Ragavan said his main focus over the past couple of weeks has been the 2025 KSA elections and determining a time that doesn’t interfere with Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s convocation week and reading break.

He also said he is working with the university to identify any safety issues that may pop up and is determining the location for the polling and the time and dates that will best suit KPU students.

Faculty of Arts Representative Jasmine Kaur Kochhar added a motion to remove Students with Disabilities Representative Lesli Sangha from the social justice and equity committee (SJEC), which was deferred to the next meeting.

In the Teams chat, Kochhar wrote that there was a discussion during a meeting on this matter but a formal motion wasn’t passed.

“I ‘consistently’ and ‘actively’ participate during the SJEC meetings,” Sangha wrote in the Teams chat. “Why am I being removed?”

Kochhar wrote if anyone has any questions, they can email her.

“I believe Council should be able to answer my question without having to send an email for an explanation,” Sangha wrote.

The KSA executive committee also held a meeting on Nov. 22 where it presented non-meeting motions. Executives approved $26,400 for the KSA’s Fall Bash, as well as another $2,784.87 for a Samsung Fold 6 and Marshall headphones “as a token of appreciation for Roop Bhullar’s contribution” to the event.

Some of the other non-meeting motions included approving $20,768 for the KSA’s Groove and Relax event, which will take place on Dec. 1 at the Aria Banquet and Convention Centre, $19,849.22 for an invoice from the Alliance of BC Students, and $9,000 to KPU for the 2024-25 Student Society Emergency Aid Fund.

About $15,000 went towards distributing Diwali fruit trays to KPU and KSA students and employees. In the non-meeting motions, $8,800 was also approved for the KSA’s clubs day and $4,000 for the KSA’s Women’s Empowerment in Every Sip event.

In terms of regular submissions, a combined $3,001 in funding was approved to support events put on by the KPU Cricket Club, Muslim Student Association, Accounting Students of Kwantlen, Kwantlen Sikh Student Association, and Kwantlen Human Resources Association. 

The committee also approved the constitutions and rosters for three clubs: the KPU Entrepreneurs Club, Sociology Student Club, and NextGen KPU.

Policy and Political Affairs Coordinator Diamond Obera said moving forward it would be ideal to have representatives from clubs attend executive committee meetings to provide more information when club-related motions go to vote, particularly expense requests. By having these conversations with clubs, he added it can help executives determine how the KSA can best support them. 

The executive committee also approved $3,036.60 to go towards snacks for “Library Exam Study Sessions,” $1,500 for a “KSA Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Movie/Gingerbread Night,” and $355.32 towards lunch for staff and volunteers of the student union’s blood donation drive.

The committee also donated $2,000 each to the Surrey Hospital Foundation, Surrey Food Bank, Guru Nanak Free Kitchen, Canadian Blood Services, and Kids Play Foundation, totaling $10,000. 

The next KSA council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 6 at 11:00 am, with the executive committee meeting set to follow at 1:00 pm. Interested students can email info@kusa.ca to join in the meeting.