APIRG: Alberta Public Interest Research Group

APIRG FAQ (frequently asked questions)

Where did APIRG come from?

Public Interest Research Groups were first organized in the United States in the 1970s. They have their roots in the philosophy (articulated by Ralph Nader and others) that active, participatory citizenship should be an integral part of post-secondary education. Over 200 PIRGs have been established in the United States, and over 20 organizations can now be found on Canadian university campuses.

APIRG was founded in 2001 after students successfully organized a referendum campaign to create a Public Interest Research Group at the University of Alberta. APIRG opened its doors and accepted its first working groups in the autumn of 2002. Since then APIRG has continued to build its resources, projects and volunteer base, and is always open to new ideas, volunteers, and working group proposals.

How is APIRG accountable to students?

APIRG is a democratic organization that is accountable directly to the people who fund it – students at the U of A. Any student member can run in the elections for the APIRG board of directors, and all board meetings and general meetings are open to the public. APIRG also keeps audited financial records and produces an annual report.

Finally, students who are philosophically opposed to APIRG or who cannot afford the dedicated fee can opt out of the fee and receive a full refund.

How is APIRG funded?

Full-time students pay $2.94 and part-time students $1.46 per semester as part of their undergraduate student fees.

How do I opt out?

If you can't afford or don't want to contribute to APIRG's activities, you can come into the APIRG office during office hours to get a refund on your fees, no questions asked. However, there are deadlines: for the Fall term, the deadline is the last Friday of October; for the Winter term, the deadline is the last Friday of February. Please read this page for further instructions if you wish to opt out.

 

What we do / About APIRG