Website Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association, Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is a coalition of student associations from across Ontario that works to advance the interests of Ontario’s undergraduate students by providing research and ideas to governments on how to improve the affordability, accessibility, accountability, and quality of post-secondary education in the province.
Twice a year, representatives from each of OUSA’s member schools meet to debate and provide feedback on its policy recommendations. This semester, the Fall 2025 General Assembly is set to take place in-person at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario from Thursday, October 23rd to Sunday, October 26th.
This conference will focus on generating recommendations for the provincial government on the following topics:
- Indigenous Students (past version)
- Mature Students (past version)
- Accountability and System Vision (past version)
What is OUSA?
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) represents the interests of over 160,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students at eight student associations across Ontario. OUSA is run by a Steering Committee made up of elected student representatives from each of our member associations.
OUSA’s approach to advocacy is based on creating substantive, student driven, and evidence-based policy recommendations. Our professional government relations practices ensure that we have the access to decision-makers we need in order for our members’ voices to influence provincial legislation and policy. OUSA is non-partisan and our policies are written and ratified by students. It is a tool in which YOUR voice as an undergraduate student can be made heard in the political world of Ontario and beyond!
What is the General Assembly?
The General Assembly is a critical part of OUSA. It is the convergence of student leaders to discuss and debate policy and advocacy priorities for OUSA over the next few months and years.
At the General Assembly you will:
- Discuss issues affecting undergraduate students with other passionate student leaders
- Debate and approve OUSA’s policy and advocacy priorities
- Network and make connections with students from all over Ontario
What’s the commitment?
Full availability for the OUSA GA Conference during the day Thursday, October 23rd to Sunday, October 26th, 2025, and willingness to spend time (approximately 8 hours) in training preparation for the conference. You will also need to set aside time before the conference to read the policies that are up for approval and meet with the delegation to debate them.
If you’d like WUSA to send an email to an instructor requesting you be excused from a class/lab, we’d be more than happy to do so.
Qualifications
General understanding of the University of Waterloo and WUSA is an asset. You will serve as a representative of the WUSA membership (undergraduate students) and advocate for your peers needs and interests.
Compensation
This role is a volunteer position. Meals, travel, accommodations, and entertainment for the conference will be provided by WUSA and OUSA. If you are interested in this role and are experiencing financial barriers that may prevent you from attending, please reach out to the Vice President, Remington Zhi (vp@wusa.ca), to discuss options
Application deadline: Monday, September 15th
Please provide a statement of interest answering some or all of the following questions:
- Why do you want to be part of WUSA’s delegation to the General Assembly?
- What background/experiences in student advocacy and the topics this term do you bring?
- What paper you would be most interested in reviewing, and why?
A resume is optional.
For further information, please email vp@wusa.ca.
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