Advocacy at WUSA

We advocate with undergraduate students on all matters impacting your experience at the University of Waterloo.

At WUSA, we believe in fostering an inclusive and safe environment where every student feels heard and valued. We strive to make your post-secondary experience accessible, affordable, accountable, and high-quality, both inside and outside the classroom.

Our commitment to you

Serving over 36,000 undergraduate students, we focus on areas that matter most to you as learned through your feedback.

WUSA is a non-partisan, not-for-profit student advocacy association, and our advocacy priorities are written by and voted on by students. Our advocacy is shaped by ongoing engagement through:

  • Surveys
  • Focus Groups
  • Interviews
  • OUSA Consultations

This research informs our Long Range Plan—a five-year strategy created by our Board of Directors. The plan analyzes past advocacy efforts and student feedback to set high-level themes that guide our work, ensuring sustainable, long-term change.

Each year, the incoming Board develops an Annual Plan, using fresh research to refine our focus and determine specific actions to take within the broader Long Range Plan themes.

While these plans provide structure, we remain flexible and responsive—adapting to urgent issues, like COVID-19, when needed. Our goal is to ensure advocacy remains student-driven, strategic, and impactful year after year.

What Does Advocacy Look Like?

Advocacy is a long game.

While change doesn’t always happen overnight, we push for meaningful improvements in all areas of student life—through research, policy recommendations, direct lobbying, and initiatives that turn advocacy into action. Sometimes this means policy change or meetings with University administration, and other times it results in new resources or campus improvements.

Advocacy takes many forms—it’s about pushing for change in whatever way is needed. For us, this means:

  • Meeting with decision-makers to share student concerns.
  • Running awareness campaigns to inform and engage students.
  • Conducting research to inform our advocacy through data.
  • Hosting events and consultations to hear directly from students.
  • Creating resources to support students.

Our Long Range Plan highlights six key advocacy themes shaped by student feedback. This is not an exhaustive list, but these priorities reflect what matters most to Waterloo undergrads through their feedback.

Advocacy That Drives Change

At WUSA, we champion broad, collective advocacy—working to improve policies, services, and student life for more than 36,000 undergraduates. Our team gathers student input, conducts research, and brings recommendations to the University and all levels of government to ensure student voices shape key decisions.

Our advocacy focuses on systemic change rather than case-by-case support. We’re dedicated to tackling the issues that matter most to students, as identified through surveys, consultations, and ongoing feedback.

Instead, we advocate to ensure students have access to essential services and support systems. Through our work, we’ve helped establish and maintain key resources like legal support, health and dental coverage through Studentcare, the UPass, and mental health support through EmpowerMe. We also create tools like our Housing Playbook and An Advocate’s Toolkit to help students navigate challenges and take action when needed. These services exist because of student advocacy, and we continue working to improve and expand them to meet evolving student needs.

We also support student-led change by prioritizing advocacy efforts that align with WUSA’s established priorities. This ensures our work remains strategic, impactful, and focused on making real progress for students.

Each day, we strive to strengthen, improve, and enhance the undergraduate experience—because when students come together, they have the power to create meaningful change. Advocacy takes many forms, and that includes advocating for yourself. Explore our Self-Advocacy Resource to learn how you can navigate challenges and make your voice heard.

Housing

Continuing to work with all levels of government and university administration to build more and better housing to deliver safer, affordable housing to Waterloo students. 

International Students

Between regulating tuition frameworks and identifying educational barriers unique to international students, we strive to create a momentous student experience.  

Equity & Accessibility

Identifying barriers to access for all students to ensure full and safe participation in post-secondary education. 

Affordability

Recognizing and pushing for pragmatic steps the university can take to increase efficiency, increase value, and where possible, decrease fees.

Educational Quality

Understanding campus-wide policy changes and investments that could benefit students, making clear that what is good for student educational outcomes are also good for the university.

COVID-19

Learning, growing, and continuing to make informed decisions based on the learning of navigating through a pandemic.  

Advocacy Position Statements

 

WUSA’s Advocacy Position Statements outline the student perspective on key issues, serving as a roadmap for our advocacy efforts. Written by students and backed by research, they guide our work, inform decision-makers, and help direct our push for meaningful change—ensuring our advocacy stays focused on what matters most to UWaterloo undergrads.

Students sitting at a table, receiving co-op consultations

Experiential Education

Students should have access to meaningful, accessible, discrimination-free, and safe co-op opportunities. It is critical to support them throughout the recruitment, work, and post-work phases.

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Gender-based and Sexual Violence (GBSV)

Gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) encompasses a range of violent behaviors disproportionately affecting women, gender-diverse individuals, and children. These acts include physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse. GBSV is a significant public health issue that undermines the safety and well-being of individuals and communities.

ION light rail on tracks beside Davis Centre Library

Local and Regional Transit

Students should have access to reliable, high-quality local and interregional public transit. It is critical for their day-to-day activities such as commuting to school, work, grocery stores, and social engagements

Students discussing mental health strategies.

Mental Health

Student mental health is a critical area requiring immediate attention and support. Many students face significant mental health challenges, exacerbated by academic pressures, social isolation, and other stressors.

High-rise apartment along Albert Ave., Waterloo

Off-Campus Housing

Students should have access to affordable, accessible, quality, safe, diverse, and sustainable off-campus housing options while attending the University of Waterloo. Addressing these housing needs is essential for their academic success and overall well-being.

Students walking on the University of Waterloo campus.

International Student Tuition

International students at the University of Waterloo face challenges in accessing an affordable and meaningful university experience and quality education due to unpredictable and rising tuition fees, financial strain, and limited support services.

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How can you get Involved?

At WUSA, student voices shape everything we do. We consult students at every stage to ensure our advocacy reflects real experiences and needs. You can get involved in the following ways:

Research and Consultation

Help shape advocacy priorities by engaging in surveys, focus groups, and interviews.

Annual Members’ Meetings

Shape the direction of the organization, hold the Board of Directors directly accountable, and discuss what’s important to you.

Board Committees

Join a board committee and become involved in solving the issues that resonate with your student experience through shaping policies and priorities.

Sharing Your Feedback

Report concerns or experiences through our Feedback Form.

Working with WUSA

We hire part-time staff in June for a July-April term. Check out job opportunities.

Change Engine

Participate in our annual advocacy pitch competition where you can turn your advocacy ideas into real impact and win upto $5,000 to make it happen.

Meet the Team

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Nick Pfeifle

President

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Arya Razmjoo

Vice-President

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Melissa Thomas

Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations

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Jill Knight

Manager, Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations
(On-leave)

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Andrena Lockley-Brown

Manager, Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations

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David Kuhn

Stakeholder Relations Officer

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Jordan Daniels

Research Analyst

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Nathan Ermeta

Research Coordinator

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Sam Sawant

Advocacy Specialist

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Amrit Khaira

Advocacy Specialist

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Charlie Davis

Research Coordinator