Application forms for the 2009-2010 U of S ASPA Bursary and the U of S ASPA Bursary for Student with Disabilities are now available online at:

http://students.usask.ca/moneymatters/awards/

The deadline to apply is Friday, February 26, 2010.

These awards are open to dependents of ASPA members. As part of the application process, ASPA members are asked to submit their name, U of S Employee ID, and signature. Please note that these awards have a financial need component and students are also required to complete the online Financial Need Calculator (https://sesd.usask.ca/need/continuing) by February 26, 2010.

The U of S ASPA Bursaries are valued at $2,000. Additional details are also available online at:

http://students.usask.ca/moneymatters/awards/

When ASPA was first formed over 30 years ago, the membership was much smaller than it is today and much less diverse. With more than 1,000 active members, the ASPA Executive feels it is time to review the organizational structure and operations of the union as well as the services it provides, so that ASPA can better meet the needs of the membership.

In the coming weeks we will be recruiting ASPA members to participate in focus groups to discuss the future of ASPA. So check your in-box and sign up. ASPA is your union and we want to hear from you!

All ASPA members are invited to celebrate the arrival of 2010 at ASPA's Annual New Year's Social!

When: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 -- 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Where: STM Cafeteria

Featuring free hors d’oeuvres including antipasto displays, artisan cheese displays, sweet table, sushi platter, assorted cold canapés, and assorted hot appetizers.

One free drink ticket per member.

View the official invitation!

(This invitation will also be emailed to all members prior to January 10)

What is the Tuition Waiver?
The ASPA Tuition Waiver benefit provides members with the right to have tuition fees waived for a credit or credit-equivalent course. The waiver may be used once per academic term (Fall, Winter, Spring Summer), for courses taken at the University of Saskatchewan. Student fees are not waived.

How much is covered?
The maximum value of the waiver in each academic term is equivalent to the tuition cost of a Category 6 three-credit undergraduate course. Graduate and fixed-fee programs may have their fees waived, up to the per-term maximum.

Provided that space is available in the course, the tuition for auditing one six-credit course or equivalent, per academic term, will be waived.

Due to the resignation of Executive Officers Arnold Blackstar in June 2009, and Fiona Haynes in August 2009, the ASPA Executive has modified its roster as follows:

Jason Anspach, Member-At-Large, will fulfill the remainder of Arnold's term as Executive Officer.

Chloe Corcoran, Member-At-Large, will fulfill the remainder of Fiona's term as Executive Officer.

Amelia Lowe, recent candidate for Member-At-Large, will fulfill the remainder of Jason's term as Member-At-Large.

Lane Foster, recent candidate for Member-At-Large, will fulfill the remainder of Chloe's term as Member-At-Large.

Therefore, your Executive for 2009-10 is now:

Kim Baryluk - President
Tyler Salloum - President-Elect
Dave Bocking - Past-President
Sandra Baptiste - Treasurer

ASPA President Kim Baryluk was in attendance on June 24, 2009, to honour recent ASPA retirees at the 2009 ASPA Retirees Luncheon.

Click to view a photo taken at the luncheon.

(Back row: Alfred Epp, ASPA President Kim Baryluk)

(Front row: Geraldine Dowling, Jan Diederichs, Mary Dykes, Ann Marie Moulin)

ASPA retirees not in attendance were:

Lynn Bayne
Glenda Forward
Patricia Gillies
Gary Jones
Roseann Rode
Eilene Sabat
Bernard Schumacher
Murray Zook

On behalf of the ASPA Executive and the University Community, we thank these members for their long years of service.

As we reach the conclusion of the 2008-09 ASPA Merit Process, ASPA would
like to remind members of the importance of building and maintaining a
fair and equitable Merit System. As such, the Merit Audit Committee has
been established to review and provide oversight for the Merit System.

ASPA encourages all members to provide feedback on their experiences
with the Merit Processes within their Colleges or Divisions. Feedback
can be submitted, in confidence, to:

Human Resources, Steve Laycock (Steve.Laycock@usask.ca)

or

ASPA (aspa@aspasask.ca)

For further information on the Merit System, please refer to the Report
of the Joint Merit Committee.

As you may know, the University Board of Governors and Council have approved an external review of the Human Resources Division. ASPA encourages members to provide their individual input and feedback to the review committee. In addition, members of the ASPA Executive will be meeting in person with the review committee.

Submissions will be treated in confidence, and can be submitted by May 25 to:

Susan Bertolo
c/o Office of the President
Room 222, College Building
Susan.Bertolo@usask.ca