Kwantlen Student Association

The Kwantlen Student Association (or simply KSA) is the students' union of Kwantlen Polytechnic University located in the South Fraser region of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. As an elected student body the KSA contributes to Kwantlen's community life, and allocates student funds to advocacy, social, cultural and entertainment programs for students.
Background
The Kwantlen Student Association was founded under the Society Act of British Columbia in August 1981 after the opening of Kwantlen College after it split from Douglas College.
Since the early 1980s the KSA has also been affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Students as one of its founding members. For a brief period of time in the late 1990s, the KSA was the only Student Association in Canada to have held membership within both the Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations at the same time.
Governance structure
Membership
The highest authority within the Kwantlen Student Association lies with the membership (who are the students of Kwantlen Polytechnic University). Membership is mandatory.
Members exercise their authority through special and general resolutions at general meetings as well as through elections and referenda. Ultimately, the membership delegates its authority over the day to day operations of the society to an elected Board of Directors (Council), which is bound to operate under a Constitution and a set of Bylaws.
Constitution
The Kwantlen Student Association's first constitution was adopted on August 10, 1981, and the society at that time was known as the Kwantlen College Student Society or KCSS.
Minor amendments to the constitution were later made in 1983, and the society also changed its name to the Kwantlen College Student Association or KCSA.
The Kwantlen Student Association's current constitution was adopted by the membership on April 25, 1995, and the society also changed its name to its current name, the Kwantlen Student Association otherwise simply known as the KSA.
Council
Each year in February Kwantlen students may run for and elect a Council to a one year term of office that spans April 1 to March 31.
Council consists of the five executive members as well as elected officials from each Kwantlen campus. Council has also created a number of non-voting seats.
Council is responsible for, and exercises full control over the affairs of the Society while the executive members assist with the management of the day to day operations of the society. Council holds regularly scheduled meetings at least twice each month, excluding the months of July, August and December.
The membership also allows Council to create Regulations, which are described as being "...those operational rules and regulations" that help govern the day to day operations of the society. Finally, the membership allows Council to create Policies, which represent positions, views or opinions that the society may take from time to time on various issues Council feels are relevant to the membership.
Standing Committees
Standing Committees of Council assist the executive members in shaping the general direction of the Society, as well as advising Council on a variety of issues relevant to students.
Member services
The KSA operates a cafe, a fitness centre and a social justice centre on campus. It employs an ombudsperson, distributes day planners, and provides advocacy services as well as funding for campus clubs, events, conferences, and political special interest groups. Through the KSA, students and other members of the Kwantlen community are also eligible for special discounts including bus and train passes, discount movie tickets, and other seasonal offers.
KSA fees
All Kwantlen students as members are charged fees collected by the polytechnic university on behalf of the KSA as per the Section 21 requirements under the College and Institute Act.
Locations
The organization's main office is located at the Surrey Campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University. The society also has offices and provides services at Kwantlen's three satellite campuses in Cloverdale, Langley and Richmond. The KSA does not own a student union building.

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