1．Major Discussion Points tabled by the Student Union

Building on the discussions that had taken place up to AY 2018, the Student Union sought to ensure that negotiations in the AY 2019 Plenary Council Discussions were informed by the actual conditions facing students. To do so, it ascertained those conditions and the needs of students through a questionnaire survey for newly-enrolling students (hereafter the “New Student Survey”) conducted jointly with the undergraduate colleges, and the 2019 university-wide student questionnaire survey (hereafter the “Student Union Survey”) conducted independently by the Student Union for all undergraduate students of the university. At the first open session of the Plenary Council, the Student Union presented the topics that demanded priority attention based on the voices of students themselves, and called for discussions of the following three topics to be prioritized: (1) educational policies, (2) campus life improvements, (3) the Academy’s future design (including issues related to tuition fees). The specific issues raised by the Student Union are outlined below.

（１）Academic policies

(i) Course registration

The Student Union asserted the following points regarding course registration, which is a key procedure for students to pursue fulfilling studies at university. The syllabus is understood to be an important element of learning at university, but the Student Union’s survey results reveal a pattern in the way students use the syllabus: the majority of students check the information on grade evaluation, but few of them check the learning objectives of the class, which should be an important reference point for selecting classes. The Student Union pointed to a lack of clarity regarding the key syllabus items which students need to check, and suggested that the syllabus was not easy for students to use when selecting their classes. The Student Union also argued that to ensure effective use of the syllabus, students also need to be able to refer easily to the results of past class questionnaires. Moreover, it suggested that in regard to the course registration period, students would find it easier to select classes if the initial registration period fell after they had attended their first class, and asked the university to clarify its position on the current registration period, which does not allow this.

(ii) Class follow-up

In regard to class preparation/revision and follow-up for students who miss class, the Student Union suggested that there is scope to encourage class instructors to make greater use of functions such as distribution of class materials on manaba+R, the e-learning tool that supports class operation. It asked the university to produce a concrete plan for improvement and quantitative targets.
In regard to class follow-up, the Student Union also referred to its questionnaire results to show that operational problems relating to the use of Certificates of Participation in Competitive Events have been carried over from AY 2018, such as the refusal of some class instructors to accept these certificates. Students participating in extracurricular activities submit these certificates to their instructors when they need to be absent from class for matches, competitions and the like. The Student Union suggested that the continued existence of this problem may relate to insufficient understanding, on the part of both instructors and students, of the aims and significance of the certificate system.

(iii) Learning in English

As the globalization of society progresses rapidly, it is increasingly important for students to study a foreign language (English) at university and acquire English language proficiency. The Learning and Growth Survey conducted by the university, however, found that many students had a low self-evaluation of the proficiency they gained through English language classes at university. The Student Union suggested that this is a major problem. Moreover, in contrast to the finding from the university’s survey that a growing number of current students are attaining the B1 level of the CEFR^*1, and international measure of foreign language proficiency, the Student Union revealed that its own survey had found that only around 30 percent of students had a sense of growth in relation to their English language proficiency. On this basis the Student Union suggested that the level of English proficiency attained at university is not reaching the standards that students aspire to.
With a view to improving this situation, the Student Union pointed out that students themselves are unable to grasp how the university’s various initiatives relating to English language learning, including curricular classes, language learning content provided by Beyond Borders Plaza^*2 (hereafter “BBP”), and study abroad, relate to one another.
It suggested that in order to rectify this situation, each organ of the university should work together to deliver systems for raising language proficiency through a combination of elements such as language subjects, liberal arts subjects, and study abroad, and develop programs that contribute to student growth. It also suggested that within the issue of English language proficiency there are some elements that are common throughout the university and others that are more closely related to the features of each individual undergraduate college, and demanded that each college engage its students in formats such as five-way discussion forums.

*1　An international standard of language proficiency formulated by the Council of Europe and in use officially in Europe and elsewhere since 2001.
*2　Commons operated jointly by the Divisions of Academic Affairs and International Affairs. Operates on-campus international exchange and plans events to foster multicultural co-living and study abroad motivation and provide international students with wide-ranging support. Also functions as a center for supporting foreign language self-study.

(iv) First-year education

The Student Union called for the university to share and confirm progress on the activities of Orientation Conductors in accordance with the Memorandum on Orientation Conductor Activities and Framework for Orientation Conductor Activities and Support confirmed at the AY 2018 Plenary Council. The Student Union also pointed out, based on the New Student Survey conducted jointly by the Student Union and the university in AY 2019, that there is a tendency for new students to be overloaded with information on course registration, scholarships, extracurricular activities and other topics, which is all provided in the same orientation period immediately after entrance.
On this basis the Student Union made the following demands in relation to the provision of support for new students in future:

• 1）
  that Orientation Conductor groups be provided with information on the activities, know-how, and challenges faced by other peer support groups both within and outside the university, and information on the support that individual Colleges are providing directly to their new students;
• 2）
  that in light of the support environment for new students, the role of Orientation Conductor groups be discussed and confirmed with the university once again; and
• 3）
  that the Colleges and Orientation Conductor groups work to develop closer collaborative relationships.

（２）Improving the campus environment and student life

(i) Dining environments

Based on the fact that 98% of students in the Student Union survey responded that they had a sense of overcrowding in cafeterias, the Student Union called for the university to pursue the temporary alleviation of lunchtime crowding as its highest priority. It proposed that for this purpose, the university should analyze the levels of crowding on each campus, consider ways to eliminate the root causes of the crowding, including major renovations, and introduce cashless payment systems for the convenience of students. It also called for concrete discussions of topics in line with the conditions on each campus, including securing dining spaces on the Kinugasa Campus other than the cafeterias, expansion of Lunch Streets using mobile vendors and the like, inviting external business to establish convenience stores, fast food outlets, cafes and other services on Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (hereafter “BKC”), and securing dining spaces on the Osaka Ibaraki Campus (hereafter “OIC”).

Student Union Survey Q49

Ritsumeikan University Student Union, Report on Results of the 2019 University-Wide Student Questionnaire, 2019, p.24

(ii) Air conditioning

The Student Union referred to the increasing risks of heat exhaustion and other conditions during the summer months, even indoors, owing to recent changes in the external environment. It called for the following measures in relation to air conditioning:

• 1）
  making class instructors thoroughly aware of how to operate air conditioning facilities and make inquiries about them, so classroom temperatures can be managed appropriately;
• 2）
  managing classroom temperatures appropriately in line with classroom size and number of students (addressing the problem of uneven temperatures in large classrooms);
• 3）
  managing temperatures appropriately and installing air conditioning in concourses, corridors, and non-classroom shared areas that are increasingly used as learning spaces and commons (including extracurricular activity facilities); and
• 4）
  implementing usage surveys designed to clarify and rationalize the differing rules for use of air conditioning across buildings managed by different departments, and providing concrete measures for improvement, including schedules therefor.

Moreover, the Student Union suggested that because conditions relating to air conditioning management differ from campus to campus, specific improvements be discussed through ongoing campus-level discussion forums.

Student Union Survey Q46

Ritsumeikan University Student Union, Report on Results of the 2019 University-Wide Student Questionnaire, 2019, p.22

(iii) Smoke-free campus

As a result of amendments to the Health Promotion Act, the practical approach to smoke-free campus policy has changed from one of across-the-board prohibition to one of prohibition on smoking on university premises except in designated outdoor smoking areas. The Student Union expressed its approval of the university’s initiatives in this regard as a response attuned to the existence of a number of smoking students on each campus. The Student Union went on, however, to highlight its survey findings that show 40% of students have experienced unwelcome passive smoking on campus, and called for more thoroughgoing measures to prevent passive smoking, provision of information on smoking risks to ensure that no new students take up smoking, and further support to help current smokers to quit.

Student Union Survey Q43

Ritsumeikan University Student Union, Report on Results of the 2019 University-Wide Student Questionnaire, 2019, p.19

(iv) Ongoing discussion points in regard to improvement of campus life and environments

Together with the above points that were discussed at the first open session of the Plenary Council, the Student Union called for improvements and ongoing discussion of the points below at the discussion meetings that followed the open session.

• 1）
  Implement a survey of usage patterns and student needs in relation to air conditioning facilities in the OIC Arena, expansion of extracurricular activity facilities at OIC, and operation of off-campus sporting facilities (Hiragino, boathouse, etc.), and continue to discuss ways of improving facilities for extracurricular activities.
• 2）
  Implement a survey of usage patterns for shuttle buses, including whether there are times of day in which usage is concentrated and crowding occurs, solicit feedback from clubs that are active across multiple campuses, and pursue ongoing discussions toward improvement of shuttle bus operations.
• 3）
  Consider the possibility of extending counter hours for users of university facilities, in light of the discrepancy between existing counter opening hours and the times at which extracurricular activities are conducted, which prevents such activities from receiving full support. In addition, consider enabling classroom bookings to be made online, as a means of promoting activities across different campuses.
• 4）
  Enhance functions for the provision of information relating to extracurricular activities, and consider procuring methods (bulletin boards, digital signage, etc.) for dissemination of information to ensure that information from the university is communicated effectively.
• 5）
  Ensure that students are fully aware of the different scholarship programs and their aims, as there is a concern that some students may not fully understand the programs because they cannot access the necessary information.
• 6）
  Conduct a survey of student usage patterns and pursue ongoing discussions toward alleviation of crowding (increase of service provision) on bus routes used for commuting to campus, installation/relocation of bicycle parking areas, and rules for commuting by bicycle, and pursue ongoing discussions on these issues including the need for improvements.
• 7）
  Share the progress of the university’s work on developing gender and sexuality consultation and support services as confirmed at last year’s Plenary Council, as part of building an environment attuned to diversity and inclusion^*3.

*3　Initiatives pursued by the Academy to promote support for sexual minorities, students with disabilities and the like, in accordance with the Ritsumeikan Charter and with the aim “to become an Academy that generates a multitude of connections while working with others and seeking to understand and respect individual points of view as premised on the range of diversity in society, including diversity among individuals, organizations, regions, countries, religions, customs, cultures, and generations” (quote from the R2030 Academy Vision).

（３）Future development of the Academy

The Student Union expressed the view that student fees and financial management policies should be discussed in conjunction with the future development of the Academy, including issues relating to academic affairs and student life. It proposed the following discussion points in this regard.

(i) Undergraduate tuition policy

The Student Union declared that it was opposed to the university’s proposals for tuition fees in AY 2020 and 2021. While it did express some understanding of the aim of maintaining current financial (revenue) scale rather than seeking an increase in revenue, it suggested that improvements to academic affairs and campus life had not been presented adequately to compensate for the real increase in tuition levels, and demanded the university provide an explanation that was convincing to students and those responsible for paying their tuition.
Looking ahead to the AY 2021 Plenary Council, the Student Union called for the university to:

• 1）
  pursue adequate measures to improve transparency, including disclosure and provision of information on the Academy’s finances, to inform discussion of tuition fees for AY 2022 and beyond;
• 2）
  provide workshops, discussion forums, and other opportunities to learn about financial management based on the information disclosed;
• 3）
  pursue concrete initiatives to reduce reliance on tuition revenue in the context of medium- and long-term planning for the period up to 2030 (donations, asset management, etc.).

(ii) Rendering student growth more visible

The Student Union expressed the view that rendering student growth visible helps students gain a more tangible sense of how they are growing as individuals through their curricular classes and extracurricular activities at university. It also expressed the view that boosting the visibility of the processes by which students grow after entering university also helps to convey the university’s appeal. On this basis the Student Union suggested that in addition to surveys of growth in curricular classes such as class questionnaires and learning and growth surveys, concrete steps should be taken to render student growth in extracurricular activities more visible, systems developed to accumulate data on overall student growth through campus life, and measures formulated for the use of such data in learning advisory services for students and the provision of support for progressive learning.

(iii) Creating exciting campuses

The Student Union expressed its agreement with Chancellor Nakatani’s message for the future of the Academy regarding “making our campuses exciting places to be,” and stated its willingness to engage with this theme proactively. It highlighted the importance of creating up-to-date, learner-friendly environments that ignite students’ intellectual curiosity, and called for the following approaches informed by feedback from students in the Student Union Survey:

• 1）
  use the latest technologies to present information on issues such as crowding in parking areas and cafeterias and wait times for buses, as a first step toward the enhancement of campus environments;
• 2）
  promote the use of ICT devices in class and a Bring Your Own Device (hereafter “BYOD”) policy in which students bring their own devices to campus for learning and research;
• 3）
  develop environments in which students’ intellectual curiosity is ignited through encounters with cutting-edge research conducted at the university.

(iv) Visibility and communication of the Academy’s policies

The Student Union asserted that academic policies, financial policies, and a range of other information about the university is not adequately made known to students, and that this was one reason why students are unable to gain a sense of improvement in their academic pursuits and campus life, which leads to many problems. The Student Union asserted that it was essential for students to have a tangible feeling that the university has changed and continues to change, and called for the university to pursue initiatives that will lead to students gaining such a feeling, as well as disseminating information thereon so that it reaches students.

2．Major Discussion Points tabled by the Graduate Student Council

The Graduate Student Council tabled the following four discussion points: (1) globalization; (2) facilities and infrastructure; (3) graduate student career paths; (4) graduate school tuition fees. Details are as follows.

（１）Globalization

The Graduate Student Council raised the issue of the globalization of the university. Specifically, in the context of proactive pursuit of globalization, it asked for the university’s views on matters including how to address problems arising from differences in cultural and social backgrounds and the treatment of languages other than English in support programs for foreign language study. The Council called for action on the following four points specifically.

• (i)
  Improve services for international students at on-campus service counters by taking measures to prevent misunderstandings resulting from communication in Japanese, which is not the native language of international students.
• (ii)
  Relax the entry conditions for International House, to assist short-term international students accompanied by partners to secure housing (the barriers to obtaining a low-cost housing lease agreement are high in Japan).
• (iii)
  Clarify the university’s position on extending the opening hours of libraries and other research facilities on campus as international student numbers grow, as part of improving research infrastructure to the standard expected by international students (24-hour access to facilities, etc.).
• (iv)
  Offer foreign language classes or e-learning courses to graduate students wishing to study languages other than English.

（２）Facilities and infrastructure

The Graduate Student Council called for the university to clarify the status of development of research commons for graduate students and to explain its position on the differences in functions and conditions in research facilities across the different campuses, including the establishment of the Kyuronkan on the Kinugasa Campus and the OIC Research Commons. It offered the following two examples.

• (i)
  Alleviating seating shortage in joint research rooms in Kinugasa and OIC
  The Council asserted the importance of securing research space that can be used on an individual basis by graduate students in the humanities and social sciences, and called on the university to do more to alleviate the shortage of seats in joint research rooms.
• (ii)
  Print station functions on the Suzaku Campus
  The Council noted that on the Suzaku Campus, there are currently no printing facilities that can be used by graduate students based on other campuses, or indeed by faculty or administrative staff members. It asked for the university’s approach to resolving these limitations on use of printing facilities.

（３）Graduate student career paths

The Graduate Student Council expressed its positive evaluation of the enhancement of career path support systems such as the Starting Researcher and Doctoral Dissertation Publication Subsidy programs, and its wish for these programs to be maintained reliably into the future. It also requested that the spring semester application period for the Doctoral Dissertation Publication Subsidy Program be revised and the procedures for payment of the subsidy be improved (so that funds can be paid directly from the university to the publisher, rather than via the recipient). It also called for an opportunity to discuss the programs and their operation with the university, and for graduate students not seeking to pursue an academic career to be provided with the same level of support as is offered to undergraduate students.

（４）Graduate school tuition and fees

The Graduate Student Council expressed its positive evaluation of the decision to maintain graduate school tuition at the current level for AY 2021, and called for this level to be continued in AY 2022 and beyond, as well as for continuation and further enhancement of the career path development programs.

3．Major Discussion Points tabled by the Faculty/Staff Union

In regard to tuition and fee policy for students, the Faculty/Staff Union asserted that the failure to clearly state the actual amount of fee increases in the RS 2019 Special Issue was insincere, and that the university had not demonstrated adequate awareness of the burden of tuition, provided an explanation of the importance and effects of current academic policies and conditions that are to be continued, or of its initiatives to lower dependence on tuition and fees, such as donations policy. It expressed the view that “in light of the conditions facing students, including diminishing support from households, increased casual work, and the impact of the raised consumption tax rate, any increase in tuition will place a further burden on students and their parents, and must be given cautious consideration. The present proposal entails a real increase in the burden of tuition, and there is a fundamental problem in advancing it separately from discussions of academic affairs and support for campus life.” In relation to future Plenary Council discussions, the Union called for tuition levels to be discussed in meetings with each participant, at Plenary Council Representatives’ Meetings, and at other forums prior to public announcement.

4．Position of the Ritsumeikan Co-op (Observer)

The Co-op stated its view that Plenary Council discussions should be informed by the declining trend in household support, growing reliance on casual work income, and other actual conditions facing students as revealed in the campus life surveys conducted by the Co-op. It stated its intention to participate in the discussions from a standpoint of support for its members, which include undergraduate and graduate students and faculty/staff members.