The Innis College World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Committee needs additional funds to continue its Student Refugee Program this year. At the November 26 ICSS meeting, WUSC Committee chair Caroline Wrobel reported that the committee requires $3500 to continue funding the program due to a variety of factors.

The WUSC Committee works with the larger WUSC organization to sponsor a refugee student to attend Innis College every year. As a subcommittee of the ICSS, the WUSC Committee receives $7.00 out of the $34.06 each student pays to the ICSS each semester.

Wrobel pointed to several reasons beyond the committee’s control to explain the budget shortfall. One of the main reasons is an increase in the service charge paid to the WUSC parent organization. Innis College’s student population exceeded 2000 students this year and the service charge increased from $2000 to $3000 as a result. This service charge funds the work the WUSC organization does with refugee students before they arrive at their host universities.

It is unclear who has covered this service charge in the past. In a statement to the Herald, Wrobel wrote that to the best of her knowledge, the money for the service charge “has not come from the WUSC levy in the past.” She told the Herald that she was “not sure” about who paid the charge in past years, but will have to consult with administration to find out more. The committee currently owes $500 from last year’s service charge and does not have money in their budget for the $3000 service charge this year. Wrobel said at the meeting that the entire budget for 2018–2019 was already committed to covering refugee students’ living costs.

Since the committee has already committed to sponsoring a student this year and next year, it needs to follow through on the payments. Principal Charlie Keil has offered to step in and pay the outstanding $3500 if it is needed urgently. However, he emphasized that WUSC is a students-serving-students initiative that should be funded by the ICSS and not college admin moving forward. Despite Principal Keil’s offer, all ICSS members present at the meeting agreed to find money in the 2018–2019 budget to cover the service charge.

To address the long-term viability of the committee, President Brandon Liu and Executive Vice-President Sarah Chocano proposed a referendum to increase the portion of student fees WUSC receives by $1.50 per student per semester. This solution would have no effect on overall student fees and would only change fee allocations. While all members present agreed to cover the service fee this year, they were unable to reach a consensus on a path forward and resolved to vote on the issue at the next ICSS meeting in the new year.

Andrew Zhao previously served on the ICSS as an Equity & Outreach Director during the 2017–2018 school year. The WUSC Committee is a subcommittee of Equity & Outreach.