PROPOSAL: Club Sports Programs are considering shifting to a University of Alberta student* only membership base beginning April 1, 2025.
*students are defined as active University of Alberta students who have paid their Athletics & Recreation Fee as part of their non-instructional tuition payments.___________________________________________________
Currently, there are
3 Club Sports classifications at the UofA. Clubs (continually sanctioned previously to 2023) that are Recreational or Performance classified may include up to 25% non-students in their club. The proposed change will result in all Club Sports, no matter their classification, moving to a membership base composed of 100% students.
Non-Students may still be permitted to attend certain pre-approved special events. Non-students may still be permitted to be a coach or choreographer. Non-students may continue to participate until March 31, 2025.
The following points provide the justification behind this proposed change:
- Target Audience - Club Sports Programs exist to support on-campus participation opportunities for the student population. There are a multitude of public programs available for community members to participate in aside from the University-organized clubs.
- Student Subsidization - Club Sports Programs exist to provide university students with access to opportunities that would otherwise be too costly to pursue.
- Membership Capacity - Some clubs at capacity have had to turn away students because a non-student population had filled their available membership.
- Code of Conduct - Students adhere to the Code of Student Behaviour, which better supports Club Sports Programs when conduct violations occur.
- Athletics & Recreation Fee - This is a non-instructional, mandatory tuition fee charged to all current University of Alberta undergraduate students. Club Sports Programs is supported by this fee. Non-student members do not have to pay this fee.
- Statistical Evidence - According to the 2022-23 membership statistics for the Club Sports Program approximately 91.5% of all Club Sports Program membership were students. Most clubs have already moved towards a student-only membership, regardless of classification categories.
- Travel & Special Events - Regardless of current club classifications, non-students in Recreational or Performance clubs may not be able to travel with their Club Sport.
- Insurance - Non-students may be deemed ineligible to participate based on insurance coverage parameters.
- Facility Limitations - Many Club Sports are outgrowing our facility spaces. Having a larger student / non-student participation base may equate to less / less-than-ideal participation opportunities for students.
- Executive Influence - Club Sports must have, regardless of classification, a 100% student Executive leadership base. Some Club Executive have felt they have lost learning and development opportunities through non-student influences.
-----------------------------
Please take a few minutes to provide your perspective on this proposal below. If you have any additional inquiries, please email clubsports@ualberta.ca
