What position are you running for, and what are the responsibilities of this position?
First and foremost, Academic Commissioner! The Academic Commissioner is responsible for the academic programming at Vic, with the big event being the Networking Dinner. The Academic Commission also hosts Language Cafés, Exam Jam, professional development workshops, and much more. The Commissioner is also responsible for liaising with the Alumni Affairs Office.
I’m also running to be a member of the Victoria College Council (VCC) [which] is comprised of six committees.. As a whole, the council is comprised of students and faculty aiming to improve academic supports and programming, as well as being responsible for award nominations, research events and policies, and more. Student members sit on a handful committees to provide student input at a higher level of Vic academic life.
Can you summarize the key points of your platform?
My platform for Academic Commissioner revolves around three key points: outreach, programming, and experience.
Outreach: I want to expand our social media and advertising presence so that Vic students are more aware of the events and programs being hosted by the Academic Commission. I also want to increase student engagement with the commission by releasing surveys asking what events and programs Vic students would find most interesting or beneficial.
Programming: I want to continue expanding academic programming beyond events, such as through iClicker loans and MCAT and LSAT test prep book loans. This is an initiative I’ve been working with Lucy to see come to fruition, and I want to continue to support and potentially expand this project in the new year, should it be successful.
Furthermore, I will use the information gained from the outreach surveys to plan events widely sought by Vic students, my current ideas being resume and cover letter workshops, as well as a Scholarships 101 workshop. I want to continue the Language Cafés and introduce a new language (French!). Finally, we’re going to try to direct part of our budget to bringing fruit and snacks back to the Burwash Study Space, as well as advertising study spaces at the VUSAC office and around Vic.
Experience: This year, I had the privilege of being the first ever Academic Co-Chair. As such, I have a unique perspective into the Academic Portfolio. I will apply my experience from this year on VUSAC to further improve the services offered by the Academic Commission, this time, I hope, as Commissioner. I will also continue to support the next Co-Chair as they take on this role.
As for my platform for the VCC member position, I personally really want to get involved with the Academic and Campus Life committees. I believe these are the committees for which I’d have the most to offer due to my background in academic and professional event planning and program development. Shaping the academic programs available at Victoria College, as well as the Academic support services available to Vic students, are issues where I believe student input is crucial.
Why do you want to run for this position, and what makes you best suited to fill this position?
I believe that candidates running in this position need a thorough understanding of VUSAC and its policies. Goals need to be achievable, attainable, and must represent innovative ideas within the position. That being said, I want to be able to keep working on the Academic Portfolio as the Commissioner because I’m especially passionate about removing financial barriers in academia, and I’d like to continue to explore ways to do just that. I am best suited for this position first and foremost due to my experience as the Academic Co-Chair in the 2019-2020 year. Furthermore, I am the only candidate with experience on the Academic Commission and VUSAC.
Moreover, due to my experience as Academic Co-Chair, I believe myself to be in a good position to take on the role of VCC member. This year, I committed myself to increasing academic supports in the form of events and programming through the Academic Commission, and I’d love to apply my experience as Co-Chair to serving on the VCC. I am also very collaborative by nature, and I can’t wait to work with other VCC members in order to find the best solutions to serve the Vic community.
What goals do you hope to accomplish if you are elected to this position?
I hope to find new ways to utilize the Academic budget to benefit the greatest amount of Vic students. As members of the VCU, we pay high student fees, and I’d like to ensure that students receive some kind of return for that investment. For instance, we’ve found a new way to ease the financial burden by creating an iClicker and test prep book loan program, which will be launching soon! I want to increase engagement and continue to ensure that our events remain accessible. I will also ensure that programming is sustainable. I will aim to collaborate with other VUSAC commissions and Vic offices to ensure that the events we put out are fresh and innovative.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
People can find out more about my platform at www.facebook.com/nerijaforacademic or on my Instagram (@nerijagray)!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Voting is from March 14 to March 17 at voting.utoronto.ca
