how membership works

The BC Federation of Students is made up of individual students who participate through their local students’ unions.

If the referendum passes, the Northern Undergraduate Student Society would become a member local union of the Federation, and the UNBC undergraduate students it represents would become individual members.

Membership would add province-wide representation, shared resources and an equal place in Federation decision-making. It would not replace the Northern Undergraduate Student Society or change who makes decisions on campus.

in simple terms

unbc UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Elect and direct the Northern Undergraduate Student Society.

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UNBC undergraduate students

Elect and direct the Northern Undergraduate Student Society.

The Northern Undergraduate Student Society

Chooses representatives to bring UNBC priorities to the BCFS.

BC Federation of Students members

Make shared decisions about provincial campaigns, advocacy, services, and the Federation’s budget.

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What stays local?

THE NORTHERN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SOCIETY REMAINS INDEPENDENT

The Northern Undergraduate Student Society would continue to:

Govern itself and elect its own student representatives
Manage its own budget, staff, and services
Set its own local priorities

BCFS membership adds a level of representation, it does not take away local control.

how would unbc have a say?

ONE MEMBER STUDENTS’ UNION, ONE VOTE.

Every member local students’ union has an equal vote in the BC Federation of Students, regardless of campus size or student population.

The Northern Undergraduate Student Society would have the same voting power as every other member local. Its representatives would bring the priorities and experiences of UNBC undergraduate students into the Federation’s decisions.

HOW ARE DECISIONS MADE?

General meetings set the direction

Representatives from member students’ unions meet at the Annual General Meeting once per year.

At this meeting, members collectively make major decisions about:

The Federation’s policies and priorities
Province-wide campaigns and advocacy
The organisations budget
Services offered to members
Changes to the Federation’s constitution and bylaws

Representatives selected by the Northern Undergraduate Student Society would participate in these meetings and vote on behalf of UNBC undergraduate students.

The executive committee carries out those decisions

Each member local union chooses one representative to sit on the Federations’s Executive Committee.

Between Annual General Meetings, the Executive Committee carries out the directions approved by members, oversees the Federation’s work and assigns responsibilities to it’s elected students and staff. While the Committee does not replace the authority of membership, it does make decisions between Annual General Meetings to continue the work of the Federation.

What does this mean for me?

Voting yes to join the BC Federation of Students would mean gaining an equal place in a well-established, province-wide organisation while continuing to be represented locally by the Northern Undergraduate Student Society.

Through this structure, UNBC students could:

Help determine province-wide student priorities
Contribute northern and rural perspectives to advocacy
Work alongside students from colleges, universities, and institutes across BC
Benefit from the campaigns, services, and shared resources approved by the Federation members.

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Ready to decide?

Return to the referendum homepage to review the voting details, benefits and frequently asked questions.

Return to referendum information

The Northern Undergraduate Student Society