1．Major Discussion Points tabled by the Student Union

From the standpoint that discussions with the university (Executive Board of Trustees) need to prioritize matters which the majority of students consider in need of improvement, the Student Union conducted its own questionnaire survey of all students (hereafter called the “Student Union survey”) to guide its formulation of discussion points for the AY 2018 Plenary Council. Drawing on the findings of the Student Union survey, the Student Union proposed (1) learning at university (curricular and extracurricular), and (2) campus environments as discussion points. It also put forward observations and arguments from a student perspective on (3) the education and student support policies for AY 2019 and thereafter proposed by the university. Moreover, it proposed discussion on (4) tuition fee proposals and the holding of Plenary Council sessions. Details are as follows.

（1）Learning at university(curricular and extracurricular)

Firstly, drawing on the results of the Student Union survey and from the standpoint of guaranteeing a safe, secure learning environment, the Student Union called for a review of the standards for determining class cancellation measures in natural disasters and other emergency situations. In connection with these class cancellation measures, the Student Union also demanded that consideration be given to ensuring students’ right to learn, through the provision of appropriate follow-up such as instructors providing students with guidance on out-of-class study in order to compensate for unavoidable absences from class owing to natural disasters and the like.

Secondly, the Student Union demanded that in light of the relatively low number of hours of out-of-class study by students at RU, teaching practices be pursued in a way that kindles students’ intellectual curiosity and heightens their interest. It also observed that when implementing teaching methods, it is important to create a working environment in which all faculty members can devote themselves to education and research. The Student Union presented these arguments as demands for “educational quality enhancement,” and called for the adoption of objective evaluation standards to verify educational quality enhancement as well as student satisfaction and sense of growth.

Thirdly, after both the Student Union and university re-affirmed their understanding that both curricular and extracurricular fields were impor tant and educationally significant for student growth, the Student Union pointed out that Certificates of Participation in Competitive Events (a system which is used to make allowances for unavoidable class absence in owing to extracurricular activities) are sometimes not accepted by faculty members, and demanded that this situation be rectified.

Fourthly, in regard to facilities used for extracurricular activities, the Student Union called for greater transparency in processes and contact points for repairs and refurbishments to enable the safe and secure pursuit of such activities. It also requested further discussion toward the establishment of essential new facilities.

（2）Campus environments

In regard to development of campus environments, the Student Union requested that the matters confirmed in the Memorandum of the AY 2016 Plenary Council be given more concrete shape, and that the university continue to furnish opportunities for discussion that reflect the diverse opinions for students at the stage of formulating campus development. The Student Union also called for discussion of the following three points which had high levels of interest among students in the Student Union survey.

(i) Discussion of improvements in user amenity and turnover rates in cafeterias, and diversification of dining environments other than cafeterias.

(ii) Further discussion of the four concrete initiatives proposed by the university in relation to smoking on campus – (1) educate and inform all members of the Academy regarding the harm caused to health and society by smoking, (2) protect non-smokers from the health hazards of passive smoking, (3) inform and educate to ensure that nobody takes up smoking, and (4) support smokers’ efforts to quit – and the use of campus-wide no-smoking policy as a means to achieve these goals.

(iii) Discussion of the possibility of extending facility access hours in competition periods, in association with the flexible use of air-conditioning facilities and provision of independent training environments.

The Student Union asserted that initiatives for campus-wide no-smoking are an especially important issue connected with the current student profile. It pointed to the finding of the Student Union survey that large numbers of students feel that they are affected by the hazards passive smoking, highlighting the inadequacy of no-smoking initiatives taken by the university to date, and pointing out that there is little prospect of eliminating such hazards simply by continuing the present initiatives. Moreover, the Student Union suggested that one approach to overcoming this problem of passive smoking may be to establish dedicated smoking facilities on campus.

（3）Education and students support policies for AY 2019 and thereafter

In regard to the education and student support policies presented by the university, the Student Union expressed opinions on nine points, as follows.

(i) While it is important that the new learning and portfolio functions of manaba+R that are currently under consideration be utilized effectively for student support, there is concern over whether this may impede the diverse and free-ranging activities of students.

(ii) The Orientation Conductors organizations under the umbrella of the Student Union have played roles in various developments over many years, but in terms of the enhancement of first-year education for newly enrolling students, problems have also emerged. The Student Union requests that a working group be established jointly by the Student Union and university to pursue further discussion of the future activities of Orientation Conductors.

(iii) In regard to improvements in the general education curriculum, the Student Union would like subjects to be established in areas such as those associated with daily living issues, and areas attuned to the fourth industrial revolution, which is a social transformation of the industrial structure fueled by technological innovations such as IoT and AI.

(iv) The Student Union calls for further advancement of diversity and inclusion policies, with a view to welcoming students and alumni of diverse backgrounds, including LGBT and those facing economic hardship.

(v) The Student Union calls for disclosure of specific information concerning operation of programs that expand students’ fields of learning, such as community engagement and experience abroad.

(vi) The Student Union calls for the provision of a systematic curriculum, including Japanese language subjects, for students undertaking educational programs in an English language medium.

(vii) The Student Union asks the university to promote pro-active use of Beyond Borders Plaza (BBP).

(viii) While the number of inbound international students is increasing, the university does not have adequate provision for such students to gather information on issues such as studies and housing and seek advice on concerns in their daily lives. The Student Union calls for the establishment of a system of international student support coordinator to provide consultation across language barriers.

(ix) The Student Union demands expansion of the range of subjects offered to students undertaking educational programs in an English language medium.

（4）Tuition fee proposals and the holding of Plenary Council sessions

The Student Union responded positively to the decision to keep tuition fees for AY 2019 enrollees the same as current levels. In regard to the university’s proposal to secure budgetary resources essential for education and student support projects in 2019 and beyond by revising lines in the current strategic budget, the Student Union expressed concern that this approach may lead to a diminishment of quality in education and the environments that support it, and also pointed out the need to utilize leftover budget funds effectively. The Student Council also asserted that approaches to tuition fee proposals and the holding of Plenary Council sessions are interrelated themes, and that if the Plenary Council is to be held with a view primarily to sustainable advancement of the Ritsumeikan Academy and enhancement of its education and research, a preparation period of at least two years is essential. On this basis, the Student Council demanded that at the AY 2019 Plenary Council, the university should table proposals for tuition fees for new enrollees across multiple years. It also called for continued dialogue on the question of how best to conduct forums for discussion of tuition fee proposals.

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２．Major Discussion Points tabled by the Graduate Student Council

The Graduate Student Council tabled four discussion points: (1) increasing diversity of graduate students, (2) graduate student career paths, (3) development of environments such as commons, and (4) tuition fee proposals for AY 2019 and 2020. Details are as follows.

（1）Increasing diversity of graduate students

The Graduate Student Council raised the themes of “diversification through globalization” and “diversification including working and mature-age students.” It called for provision Japanese and English dual-language services to cater for the increasing number of international graduate students. Moreover, it pointed out that there were challenges in catering for international students who required support not only within campus but in their daily lives. To date such support has been provided on a voluntary basis by Japanese graduate students, but the issues have come to light recently as a result of reversal of the ratio of Japanese to international graduate students. It also pointed out the problems of housing for graduate students enrolling from overseas and bringing their partners with them.

The Graduate Student Council has also been calling for the establishment of childcare facilities as part of the enhancement of learning environments for working and mature-age students. It commended the AY 2018 establishment of childcare facilities on campus, and expressed a desire to collaborate in their operation.

（2）Graduate student career paths

The following three points were raised.

(i) The Graduate Student Council observed that the Teaching Assistant (TA) system is an important part of the university’s education and research activities, as well as functioning as a form of financial support for graduate students, and called for the scope of TA work to be extended (to include such things as undergraduate student advisory and thesis supervision assistance).

(ii) In regard to scholarships and career path support programs, the Graduate Student Council called for the establishment of subsidy and support programs to boost graduate students’ motivation for research, the expansion of programs such as subsidies for doctoral students to attend academic conferences, and the extension of financial aid for graduate students enrolled in excess of the standard completion period. Furthermore, it called for graduate students’ opinions to be taken into account when planning these new programs and altering existing ones, and for the operation of new programs to be fixed for multiple years after launch.

(iii) As ongoing concerns, the Graduate Student Council called for the expansion of postdoctoral fellow (PD) posts for those completing doctoral degrees, and improvement in the research environment for PDs, pointing to issues such as the inadequate provision of desks and other facilities.

（3）Development of environments such as commons

The Graduate Student Council identified the issue of inadequate seating compared to the number of graduate school students at Kinugasa and Osaka Ibaraki Campuses, where Research Commons are located. It demanded opportunities for diverse graduate students to be involved in discussions concerning new developments and changes in the Research Commons and other elements of the research environment for graduate students.

（4）Tuition fee proposals for AY 2019 and 2020

The Graduate Student Council evaluated the university’s proposal concerning tuition fees for AY 2019 and 2020 positively, and requested that the current tuition fee levels be maintained in AY 2021 and thereafter. In regard to the Plenary Council itself, while the Graduate Student Council welcomed the progress on resolving graduate student-related issues through the ongoing discussions since AY 2016, it also called for the Plenary Council to be held once every few years, as a certain time is required in order to evaluate the matters confirmed at each Council.

３．Main Issues tabled by the Faculty/Staff Union

The Faculty/Staff Union expressed its intention to participate in Plenary Council discussions from the position of supporting undergraduate and graduate students, consistent with the historical development of the Plenary Council. In relation to the issues in educational quality improvement raised by the Student Union, the Faculty/Staff Union pointed out that the current working environment for university faculty members did not afford sufficient time for research activity, and that class instructors were being employed on a fixed term basis in order to enable stable provision of a fulfilling academic environment. Moreover, it demanded full disclosure of financial information in order to pursue discussion of Academy finances based on the discussion of academic affairs.

４．Main Issues tabled by the Ritsumeikan Co-operative (observer status)

The Ritsumeikan Co-operative (observer) expressed its intention to participate in the Plenary Council from the position of supporting its membership of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty/staff members, informed by the historical progress of the Plenary Council and the Co-operative’s understanding of student conditions.