The Journal provides free space for parties on the referendum ballot. All statements are unedited.
Binding Questions
- Do you agree to the continuation of the Bus-IT Fee (mandatory) for the next three years at $165 for 2025-26, $180 for 2026-27, and $195 for 2027-28. This fee was originally established prior to 1974, and last went to referendum in 2022.
The Bus-IT program is administered by the AMS on behalf of all students on campus, undergraduate and graduate. The program operates on a three-year contract term that is set for renewal, beginning September 2025. Considering the financial pressures for students, and the bus rates paid by residents of the City, the AMS has negotiated a fair rate for students that considers their financial pressures, but also the reality of the price paid by residents, and the needs of the City of Kingston.
The Bus-IT program doesn’t exist to generate a profit. The AMS annually collects a student activity fee for the Bus-IT program, and the sum of this fee is paid out to the City of Kingston based on the negotiated contract terms. The student activity fee collected is used to pay the City to deliver this program to students, and the City uses the revenue to operate its provided service for Kingston Transit.
This program benefits a broad array of students based on their personal needs. The Bus-IT program provides unlimited transportation across the entire City of Kingston during all operating hours. Students may use the program for reasons such as commuting to campus, grocery stores, placements or co-ops, and the list continues as there are many reasons that students may travel in the City. All students benefit from this program for a multitude of reasons. This longstanding program begun prior to 1974 and many students rely on Kingston Transit for daily living, deeming the Bus-IT program essential to student life.
Non-Binding (Plebiscite) Questions: Yes/No
- Do you agree that external groups (these are non-student groups that are not affiliated with the AMS, faculty societies, Queen’s University or the SGPS) should be allowed to seek an optional fee?
- Do you agree that Queen’s University should prioritize divestment from fossil fuels?
- Do you agree that Queen’s University demonstrates an active commitment towards environmental sustainability?
- Do you agree that the AMS demonstrates an active commitment towards environmental sustainability through its services (CoGro, The Queen’s Journal, Tricolour, Walkhome, etc.)?
- Do you agree that the AMS Housing Centre provides adequate resources that support the needs of students?
- Do you agree that housing in Kingston is accessible and affordable?
- Do you agree that the municipal government shows an active commitment to engage positively with students at Queen’s?
- Do you agree that food insecurity is a pressing issue facing undergraduate students?
- The AMS provides event sanctioning to offer insurance coverage to student events on-campus. Do you agree that the event sanctioning process is clear and transparent?
- Do you agree that the AMS has adequately informed students about the Menstrual Equity Project?
- Do you agree that the Equity Townhall is an effective way for the Senior Leadership Team of Queen’s University to engage with students on equity topics?
- Do you agree that there is effective communication and resources (from the AMS, Queen’s University or Kingston) about waste services?
Plurality
- Please select three environmental issues that should be an advocacy priority for improving environmental sustainability on-campus: (choose your top three).
- Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions
- Waste reduction and recycling
- Water conservation
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy
- Biodiversity and ecosystem protection
- Other (write in)
- Please select all the initiatives/communication channels that you have interacted with and/or believe are effective for communicating with you on events, funding opportunities (grants/bursaries), job opportunities and other news related to the AMS or by the AMS:
- E-mails directly from the AMS
- Boothing in the ARC
- AMS Asks U
- Video Series/Reels
- AMS Website
- News Section on the AMS website
- Other (write in)
- Please select up to five advocacy areas that you feel the AMS has had success with advocacy on behalf of undergraduate students:
- Academic Integrity
- Accessibility
- Campus Safety
- Environmental Sustainability
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity
- Experiential Learning
- Health and Wellness
- International Students
- Non-Academic Misconduct
- Orientation week
- Student Evaluation of Teaching
- Student Financial Aid
- University Trademarks
- Transportation
- JDUC
- Other (write in)
- Which one of the academic supports are you aware are available to you:
- Academic Affairs Centre
- Student Academic Success Centre
- Queen’s Career Centre
- Academic Advisors
- Queen’s Student Accessibility Service
- Which one of the following policies of Queen’s University do you feel you have been adequately informed of?
- Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Involving Students
- Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures
- Student Code of Conduct
- Academic Consideration for Students in Extenuating Circumstances Policy
- Please select your top five advocacy priorities that the AMS should focus on (1 = highest priority). Note, that the priorities listed below pertain to the relationship of Queen’s University with students:
- Academic Integrity
- Accessibility
- Campus Safety
- Environmental Sustainability
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity
- Experiential Learning
- Health and Wellness
- International Students
- Non-Academic Misconduct
- Orientation week
- Enrolment
- Quality of Education
- Student Evaluation of Teaching
- Student Financial Aid
- Student Representation
- Substance Use
- JDUC
Ranked
- Please rank your top four provincial advocacy priorities that the AMS should focus on
- Funding for post-secondary sector
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Environmental Sustainability
- Accessibility
- International Students
- Housing, Transit and Community Development
- Student Health and Wellness
- Tuition, Ancillary Fees and Financial Aid
- Please rank your top three federal advocacy priorities that the AMS should focus on
- Student Financial Aid
- Research Funding
- Funding to create more jobs and employment
- Access to Mental Health Services
- Investments in Student Housing
- Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
- Intellectual Property and Copy Right
- Please rank how effective the following evaluation methods are in assessing learning that takes place in academic courses
- Exams
- Written Assignments
- Research Assignments
- Group Projects
- Tests and Quizzes with open-ended questions
- Verbal Presentations
- Take-home exams
- Tests and Quizzes with multiple-choice questions
Open Ended
- What are two words that come to mind when you think of the AMS?
- What large scale events would you like to see on-campus?
Tags
AMS, Bus-It, special referenda
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