Candidate Bios - UBC Senate, Faculty Seat

Over my last two years as Arts Student Senator, I’ve served as the Chair of the Agenda Committee, Vice-Chair of the Academic Policy Committee, Chair of a working group to improve exam policies, and twice as the co-chair of the Student Senate Caucus. I’ve worked closely with the AUS and the Dean’s Office, delivering real results.

I’ve fought for students, successfully advocating for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for undergraduate research and accessibility initiatives, the inclusion of a requirement for GenAI policies in syllabi, and improving accessibility requirements & CfA processes.

If re-elected, I will continue to advocate to:

• Extend the add/drop deadline
• End partnerships with universities complicit in human rights abuses
• Offer online, hybrid, and recorded options for all required courses
• Lower the standard for academic hardship
• Increase research opportunities
• Streamline academic concession process
• Improve workday functionality
• Increase PhD minimum funding
• Protect rights of students accused of academic misconduct
• Create an exam and syllabi database

For more, visit votejasper.ca

Hi UBC! I’m Kevin and I’m running to be your Faculty of Applied Science Student Senator.

Some of you might know me as the First Year Engineering Vice-President (PPVP), where alongside other accomplishments, accidentally got PPs uncapitalized (oops).

I will push for:

1. COLLABORATION W/ NUS, DESUS, PSA & OTHER STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS — Historically, the APSC Senator has only sat in on EUS Meetings. While some communication is made, the focus remains on Engineering. This gap leaves Nursing, SALA and SCARP students to be effectively unrepresented by the APSC Senator. I plan to form a small team to maintain channels of communication between organizations/societies.
2. LATER COURSE DROP DEADLINE — Currently, every course dropped after Jan 16 receives a “W” standing on your transcript. This forces a decision before the first midterm (which for most of us, is the first actual indicator of how well you’re doing). However, for the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science, the drop deadline without receiving a standing is March 16, an entire 2 extra months.

Kevin Li
Seen. Heard. Represented.

Learn more on Instagram: @vote4kevinli

Hi everyone! I’m running for UBC Senate Arts seat because I believe academic policy should work for students, not around them. With your votes and trust in me, I got to be elected as Student Senator ‘23-24, where I’ve seen firsthand how Senate decisions shape our daily academic lives from concession policies to library resources & student support. During my term, I served on the Awards Committee & the Library Committee- I delivered substantial results for increased scholarships and awards, extended library hours, and improved access to online resources. I’ve also worked closely with AMS as Senate Rep. These experiences taught me how to navigate governance structures, build consensus, and push for tangible outcomes, especially when student needs risk being deprioritized. 

If re-elected, my priorities include improving access to courses, academic advising & libraries, ensuring flexibility around religious & culturally significant observances, transparency around what Senate does, and continuing to advocate for equitable academic policies that recognize the financial and mental load students carry. I’d love to earn your trust and your vote again. Learn more about my priorities @votesultana on IG. 

No Bio

Hi! I’m Zarifa, and I’m running to be elected as your next Arts Senator.

This past year, I served as your AMS VP Academic and Senator. Some of the things I accomplished are:

• Securing $2 million for undergraduate research opportunities
• Securing $800,000 for food security funding
• Doubling the International Community Achievement Award from $5,000 to $10,000
• Launching the largest Textbook Broke Campaign in AMS history and giving out $20,000+ in textbook affordability grants
• Reviewing Policy V-130 to introduce mandatory GenAI guidelines on syllabi

Elected as your next Arts Senator, I’ll focus on:

• Launching an exam database with access to past exams
• Making syllabi available during course registration
• Extending the course withdrawal deadline
• Removing mandatory exams for 100 and 200-level courses
• Reviewing Policy LR7 (Disability Accommodations) and embedding temporary health issues into Policy V-135 (Academic Concessions)
• Increasing interdisciplinary and cross-discipline opportunities in research
• Working with AUS to ensure all Senate Committee meetings are open and transparent
• Implementing the Inclusion Action Plan and Indigenous Strategic Plan

More: votezarifa.com