SU Elections 2026: Fact check

After six forums and one debate, who knows how many posters and social media posts, candidates in the 2026 Students’ Union (SU) elections have made plenty of promises and claims. But how many of them are true?

The Gateway has fact checked some of the claims and promises made.

Can unused money from the Green Fund be reallocated?

No.

Vice-president (operations and finance) candidate Armaan Singh has stated several times that $70,000 of the sustainability fund has gone unused. If elected, he would reallocate those unused funds to other areas of the SU’s budget.

As part of the Sustainability and Capital Fund (SCF), the SU budgets a certain amount every year to go towards grants for student-led sustainability projects under the Green Fund. The SCF was passed through a referendum, which dictates the amount set aside for the grant.

The $90,000 of funding for the Green Fund comes directly from the SCF and is restricted for the purpose of supporting student-led sustainability projects.

As of February 2026, $24,655 in grants has been approved for projects and another $24,850 is under consideration. Applications are also still be accepted. Previous years have seen less funding approved for projects.

Has Augustana international tuition gone down?

In a way.

Starting in fall 2026, international students applying to a bachelor of arts, management, or science program can receiving a grant of up to $11,000 per year. There is limited public information about how students can apply for these grants.

However, international student tuition at Augustana has been included in the recent and upcoming tuition increases. International students starting in fall 2026 face a 10 per cent tuition increase. For those starting in fall 2027, they face a potential 5.5 per cent increase.

So tuition is continuing to increase for all interational students, including those at Augustana. But there is a tuition grant starting this fall for international students who attend Augustana.

Can Bylaw 100 be amended to add an Indigenous and international seat to Students’ Council?

Not quite.

Presidential candidate Joseph Sesek has promised that, if elected, he would amend Bylaw 100 to create a designated Indigenous and international student seat on Students’ Council.

Bylaw 100 outlines how the SU’s governance works, dictating things like how bylaws can be created, amended, or rescinded. Bylaw 110 outlines the composition of Students’ Council.

Currently, Students’ Council is made up of the executive team, the Board of Governors representative, a few SU staff members, and a number of student councillors representing faculties. The seats for student councillors are determined by the population of students in each faculty, as outlined in bylaw 110.01.

To add a non-faculty representative seat to Students’ Council, bylaw 110 would likely need to be ammended.

Bylaws can be amended through Students’ Council. They must go through two readings, each require a simple majority vote to move forward.

Can the Butterdome renovations be changed now?

Probably not.

Vice-president (external) candidate Dustin Rodenbush has said that he will ask the provincial government to renegotiate its $27 million funding for the Butterdome envelope renewal. Inititally Rodenbush said he would ask for the funds to be redirected to address classroom maintenance. He has shifted his position to ask for a renovation, not redesign of the Butterdome.

The Butterdome, or Universaide Pavillion, is undergoing renovations to its envelope. The purpose of the project is to address leaks, rusting, and health and safety risks with falling ice and snow.

The Government of Alberta gave the U of A $27 million over three years to redo the envelope. The funding was first received in 2024.

The project is currently in phase four, or the main construction period. It is expected to be completed by fall 2027.

The likelihood of the funds being redirected, or the project being changed, now is low.

Do students pay $700 in SU fees?

No.

Armaan Singh has said several times that students pay $700 to the SU every year. However, some of those fees go to non-SU groups.

SU membership fees are $62.90 for full-time students in the fall and winter semester. Part-time students pay $36.93 for each fall and winter semester.

There are other dedicated fee units (DFU) that go towards the SU as well. Both full-time and part-time students pay $11.97 to the SUB renovation fund in the fall and winter semester and $29.68 to the Sustainability and Capital Fund. Students also pay $14.56 per fall and winter semester to the Access Fund, which offers emergency non-repayable financial aid. The Access Fund does have the option for students to opt out.

Students pay $204.93 for a health plan and $199.84 for a dental plan each year, which they can opt out of.

Students pay several other DFUs that go towards specific organizations or funds. That includes Student Legal Services, Campus Recreation Enhancement Fund, the Campus Food Bank, and several others. Those fees total $31.32 a semester, or $62.64 annually. The full breakdown of these fees is available on the SU’s website.

The total for a full-time student paying the SU fees, DFUs, and the health and dental plan is $705.63 annually. However, only $238.22 are fees paid directly to the SU.