Our mission is to serve, empower, and represent the undergraduate students of the University of Waterloo.

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Our values

We respect that students are the stakeholders of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association and the primary reason for our existence. 

  • We enhance the quality of life for students by promoting a safe, secure and environmentally conscious campus.

  • We strive for innovation and continuous improvement in all that we do to increase the level of service offered to students.

  • We seek to maintain a fair and reasonable academic environment conducive to student discussion on all issues.

  • We strive for unity in our campus community by promoting diversity and equity in all aspects of campus life.

  • We demonstrate an accountable WUSA through transparency, communication and responsiveness to ensure sound financial management.

  • We work with students to help them discover their potential, determine future goals, and allow for personal reflection.

Our vision

To support a united and empowered undergraduate community where students pursue both learning and personal fulfillment and provide a campus with diverse and numerable opportunities for pleasurable and meaningful life experiences. 

For students, by students

When you become an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo, you automatically become a member of WUSA. You gain access to a number of services, supports, and social activities that are tailored to your needs.

As your undergraduate student association, the services and support we offer are driven by you.

A young man with short dark hair and glasses is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a maroon quarter-zip sweater over a collared shirt. Behind him are tall windows that allow natural light to fill the space, suggesting an indoor, modern setting.
A person with short black hair and glasses is smiling and standing outdoors with arms crossed, wearing a black blazer over a light blue shirt. The background features greenery and a brick wall.
A person with long dark hair and glasses is smiling at the camera. They are wearing a brown blazer over a light-colored top, standing in front of a window with a cityscape background.
A person with shoulder-length hair, wearing a light blue button-up shirt with sleeves rolled up, stands smiling under a ceiling with white lights. The background shows a corridor with large glass windows.
A young person with short brown hair is wearing a black graduation gown with white and red trim, a white collared shirt, and a red and grey striped tie. They are looking slightly to the side with a neutral expression. The background is a muted brown and grey.
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A young woman with long, straight hair and fair skin is looking at the camera with a neutral expression. She is wearing a white, textured sweater and a necklace with a pendant. The background is a gradient of gray.
A person with brown hair and a mustache, wearing a bright green T-shirt, stands with arms crossed, leaning on a surface. A large fish illustration is visible in the background on the wall. The scene appears to be indoors and well-lit.
A person with short dark hair is smiling at the camera, wearing a dark blazer over a green and blue plaid shirt. They are standing in front of a lush green tree, with bright sunlight filtering through the leaves.
A woman with long, wavy, brown hair stands against a plain gray background. She is wearing a light-colored, textured sweater with a V-neckline and a subtle, small necklace. She is smiling gently while looking directly at the camera.
A person with a light beige hijab and a black jacket stands against a gray background. They are smiling slightly and facing the camera directly. The attire suggests a professional or formal setting.
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Join the conversation

You can bring topics for discussion, join the conversation, and vote for change at our regular General Meetings, as well as vote on the student leaders who fill the elected student positions that are your official advocates and change makers on campus.

Your leaders

WUSA Board of Directors are here to help steer the direction of WUSA and make sure the collective voice of undergrads is heard. Any Waterloo undergrad can run for a position on the Board.

Get involved- work with WUSA!

There are also a variety of volunteer and part-time positions available within the organization that provide hands-on opportunities to get involved, including 13 student-run services, commissioners, event coordinators, and clubs support. There are also opportunities to get involved with your faculty’s student society.

Our story

The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association started over 50 years ago as the ‘Federation of Students’ in response to undergraduate student concerns that were going unheard. The name ‘Federation of Students’ was inspired by Canada’s Centennial of Confederation, according to founding members Richard Van Veldhuisen and Dr. Gerry Mueller. 

“We didn’t want to use ‘council’ because we had already had that, and this was going to be something different,” Mueller said. “Because it was Canada’s Centennial that year [1967], everyone’s mind was on Confederation which lead to ‘Federation,’ so I think it also came from that.” 

And so, the Federation of Students, affectionately known as Feds, was born in 1967 and since that time students have collectively been working together to help shape the undergrad experience, both in and outside the classroom, on the University of Waterloo campus. In 2019, the organization started exploring ways to develop a new perception on campus that more clearly represents who we are and what we do, thereby building a stronger relationship with our members. Then came an organizational rebrand where ‘Federation of Students – Feds’ became Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association, or WUSA. 

For more than 50 years, WUSA has represented the undergraduate student voice on advocacy issues like tuition, housing, campus safety, and transit. It has also evolved to include other initiatives to meet changing student needs as our student population has grown and diversified. In addition to advocacy work, essential services and support and opportunities to develop campus community has made our association into a supportive core of campus for undergraduate students. 

WUSA is now lead by a Board of 13 Directors, has over 200 volunteer and part-time staff roles for students, facilitates 11 student-run services, supports over 250 clubs and several Faculty and program-specific student societies, operates a number of businesses, and facilitates special events like Orientation and Welcome Weeks. 

Our Promise to You

You can rely on your Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association to bring you services that support your needs, platforms that amplify your voice, and experiences that create lasting memories.

How We Keep Our Promise

  • Supportive and Compassionate: Cheering you on and having your back, we know it’s not always easy being a student and we’re here to connect you with what you need to be successful both personally and academically.

  • Community-focused and Inclusive: We strengthen our community by bringing undergrads together through opportunities that celebrate our differences, embrace our similarities and create an environment where everyone can thrive.

  • Knowledgeable and Approachable: As a straight-forward source of information, you can count on us to provide the resources you need to inform your decisions and turn them into action.

  • Accountable and Honest: We maintain a responsible student government with sound financial practices, focused on the needs of undergrads through a student-driven decision-making process and regular updates on our progress.

  • Responsive and Adaptable: We listen to your concerns, protect your rights, and bring your ideas forward to respond to the ever-changing needs of the student body and university environment.

  • Engaging and Relatable: We get where you’re at because we’ve been there too. We provide opportunities outside the classroom to shape your student experience and make your time with us your own.