36 / 168
Page 34
University of Technology, Jamaica
• ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015
STUDENTS’ UNION
Miss Delta Wright
President
The Executive of the
Students’ Union Council
provided representation
on the various University
committees with some
notable successes, among
them the improvement in the
infrastructure on campus to
enhance the teaching and learning environment, and
the implementation of the Grade Forgiveness Policy.
The Students’ Union brought strong lobbying efforts
to the successful campaigns to reduce the annual
tuition increase from 22% to 10%; to reduce dorm
fees by 11%, and to erect a perimeter fence at the
Montego Bay campus for the safety and security of
students. The Union also lobbied for, and received an
extension for registration which allowed approximately
three thousand (3,000) additional students to become
registered in semester one of the academic year.
Student Welfare
Over $8M was spent on student welfare: over $6 M to
students in the form of bursaries and grants, and $2M
on the “Love Lunch” programme. Over 350 students
on both the Papine and western campuses benefitted
from subsidised lunches through this programme.
Some assistance was provided to students for
transportation and books in exceptional circumstances.
The Love Bus and Love Book initiatives were
discontinued.
A subsidised shuttle bus service continued to operate
on the Half-Way Tree, Down Town, Spanish Town, Old
Harbour and Portmore routes.
Community Outreach
A Teach the Youth class in session.
Community outreach efforts were increased to benefit
a larger number of pre-teens and teenagers, and the
Annual Tag Drive was successfully executed, with
$200,000.00 from the total proceeds donated to each
of three beneficiaries. At the same time, valuable
partnerships were maintained with J. Wray and
Nephew, Pepsi, Reggae Jammin, Food for the Poor
and others.
Elections
With the help of the Students’ Union Electoral
Committee and the Electoral Office of Jamaica,
the administration concluded its term of office with
the staging of “free and fair elections” to elect the
2015/2016 Council.
Students’ Union Council 2014/2015.