The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association Fee is sub-divided into Student Life, Academic Support and Advocacy, and Operations Fees. They are non-refundable amounts that are paid by every undergraduate student. Part-time students pay 30% of the fee amounts. At the beginning of WUSA’s Fiscal year in May, all of departments plan out their spending for the year. This is all brought together in an annual budget accompanied by a budget report; you can find some of the past reports attached to the bottom of this page.

The fees are divided among the various departments to support the organization. The following breakdown outlines the plan of spending for the year. Although the budget is an organic document by nature, it is intended to be followed.

Governance (2%):

The Governance department is the backbone of our democratic system and provides the support for student leaders making decisions. This includes training and transition activities for student leaders, facilitating elections, town halls, general meetings, research and other support staff.

Student Life (10%):

The Student Life portfolio includes the administration of all of the clubs and services of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association. Included in this are the costs to operate the Campus Life department as well as the costs for operating all of the WUSA services and special events.

Education and Advocacy (4%):

The Education and Advocacy portfolio focuses on work being done to further the advocacy work of WUSA on behalf of Students. This includes membership in external organizations like OUSA (Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance) which joins students with those from many other campuses around Ontario to bring issues impacting postsecondary experience to the Ontario government. Other advocacy work includes various stakeholder relations activities and making sure students are aware of municipal, provincial and federal elections.

Operations and Finance (84%):

This department oversees the financial and administrative aspects of the corporation. This role also assists student groups with their budgeting, facilitates updates to the Health and Dental insurance plans, oversees pooled benefits plans like the UPass program and the Legal Protection Service, administers the Student Refugee Program in conjunction with on-campus partners, and oversees management of Part-Time and Full-Time personnel. It includes support through WUSA’s IT and Accounting infrastructure and processes as well as the majority of wages of fulltime staff not directly involved in the other portfolios. The turnkey desk, Flock Stop, and other business as well as WUSA’s Marketing and communications departments also falls under Operations generally.