GSS Fees
GSS fees are charged with your tuition each term, and will show on your fee statement (available through usource).
Effective May 1, 2012, the GSS semester fee breakdown is:
Society Core Members Fee: $48.24 **except coop students who pay half Childcare fee: $1.02 Student Group Fee: $7.50 Total: $56.76 Society’s Core Members fee breakdown: Operating Fund: $39.32 Capital Fund: $8.92 Childcare fee: $1.02Student Group Fee breakdown:
VIPIRG $2.00 Ombudsperson $1.00 Anti-Violence Project $1.00 UVSS Clubs $0.50 UVSS Advocacy Groups $1.00 WUSC $2.00From May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012 the GSS semester fee breakdown was:
Society Core Members Fee: $47.11 **except coop students who pay half Childcare fee: $1.02 Student Group Fee: $7.50 Total: $55.63 Society’s Core Members fee breakdown: Operating Fund: $38.40 Capital Fund: $8.71 Childcare fee: $1.02Student Group Fee breakdown:
VIPIRG $2.00 Ombudsperson $1.00 Anti-Violence Project $1.00 UVSS Clubs $0.50 UVSS Advocacy Groups $1.00 WUSC $2.00What happens to the money?
The dedicated fees, each of them passed by referendum, go to the specific groups. If you don’t like the work VIPIRG does, you can obtain a refund from them, subject to their tems and conditions. Grad students are welcome to join undergraduate clubs, create their own clubs and participate in advocacy groups (e.g. the Pride Collective and Women’s Centre) so it’s only fair to help fund them. WUSC (World University Service of Canada) fee funds the student refugee program. The Ombudsperson provides confidential, impartial and independent advice and assistance to students who feel treated unfairly within the University system.
The operating fund is the main ‘account’ and pays for everything from hydro and phone bills to travel and departmental grants to staff salaries and executive stipends. In addition to membership fees, the operating fund gets revenue from such sources as room bookings and handbook ad sales. This fund is meant to break even each year, with any surplus going into a rainy day/building addition fund. The capital fund pays for such things as renovations and equipment (capital assets) but not for building expansion. The childcare fee goes to fund a bursary through Student Awards & Financial Aid Services.
U-pass and Athletics fees
*While both t he UPASS fee and the Athletics and Recreation fee were founded by student society referenda, and are collected with tuition, the GSS does not administer these fees. Instead UVIC remits the funds directly to those services.
Coop and off campus/distance students who wish to opt in to the UPASS and Athletics and Recreation may do so at the GSS office. Students must opt in to both programs.
Students with a disability, have been assessed twice (i.e. because they are also taking an undergraduate course, or a course at Camosun), have a pass issued by the BC Ministry of Finance, or living outside of the Greater Victoria transit area may opt out of the UPASS. Opt outs must be submitted by the end of the first month of each term (ie. September 30 for the Fall semester). Please come to the GSS to inquire if you wish to do this.
Coop students
If a student is in coop only they are charged the coop fee and 1/2 the GSS fee plus their relevant tuition. If they are registered in courses (or project or thesis) as well as coop, they are charged the athletics and bus pass fee if they are registered as on campus.
