Here’s what happened at the June 18th WUSA Board of Directors Meeting: 

Items Adopted by Board: 

• The Ownership Consultation Committee (OCC) made recommendations for an upcoming student engagement roundtable on July 16th regarding the topic of “City Infrastructure in the Summer”. (Subtopics of AC, housing, parks). 

• The Advocacy Committee made a recommendation for the advocacy Positions for development in 2026-27. 

• • Environmental Sustainability Position Statement 

• • Artificial Intelligence Stance 

• • Quality of Teaching Position Statement 

Items of Business 

Approval of Funding for Orientation Week 

The Board approved $70,000+HST funding from the orientation reserves for an additional item to be added to orientation kits which will go to all incoming first years who take part in Orientation Week.   

 

Approval of Continued Pilot Trial of the WalkSafe Program  

The Board received a report about the first trial of a WalkSafe program which took place in March 2026. Some of the findings included feedback around some changes which would better meet student expectations for the program.  

This program will run an extended pilot in Fall 2026 to further evaluate the usage levels and impact on student safety on campus. Board has allocated $15,000 from the general reserves to fund this extended trial program. If this is a program that is to exist on an ongoing basis, a fee increase will come to a future Annual Members Meeting to secure ongoing funding.

 

Investigation of Future Concert Event 

Board affirmed the Student Experience events strategy to deliver a standard Fall 2026 set of events like Carnival and variety of other programming. Board has commissioned a report about the feasibility of concerts on campus in future years. 

 

Approval of 2026-2027 WUSA Annual Plan 

Board approved the organization’s 2026-27 annual plan of priority development projects which will be published on this page to replace the previous version in the coming weeks.

 

Approval of 2026-2027 Annual Operating Budget 

Like the Annual plan above, Board approved the operating budget to set out how the sources of revenue will be spent on regular programs and offerings for student members for the May 2026-April 2027 fiscal year. Both this budget plan and Annual plan went through many weeks of review by senior staff and Board members. This budget will be published on the WUSA budget page when it is available in the coming weeks.

Appointment of Mujtaba Haider as a Non-Voting Advisor/Officer 

Director Haider was elected to serve until April 2027; however, he has taken the opportunity to graduate early and will no longer be able to serve as a voting member of Board as of September 1st 2026. The Directors, recognizing his important experience and input, have chosen to appoint him to be a non-voting and unpaid voluntary Officer of Board who can still sit in the committees he currently attends. He will serve in this capacity for the Fall 2026 and Winter 2026 terms.

 

Approval of Modernization Funding for SLC Great Hall 

The Board approved $300,000 from the capital budget to be allocated for new Great Hall furniture due to the aging pieces which have been around for 15-20 years. The furniture pieces are expected to be high quality and long-lasting like the sofas they are replacing. 

The Board hopes that this is a good way to improve student experience in the building while WUSA also works on starting other renovation projects around the building.

 

Executive Director Report: 

• The Executive Director shared student research and consultation on the following topics: 

• Health and Dental Plan  

• Campus Student Services 

• How Students Understand WUSA & Advocacy Efforts 

• Member Value Programs 

• Promotional efforts for current additional surveys are ongoing. 

• There have been student engagement events during welcome week like the Campus Life fair, Comedy Night, Summer Fest, Clubs Days, and satellite campus visits. There is a finalized WalkSafe report from the winter term pilot program 

• There have been various communication efforts introducing Board members on social media 

President’s Report: 

• President Sharma noted Senate meetings and relations committee meetings he’s attended plus a dozen meetings with various Waterloo Sr. Admin contacts 

• Also been able to engage with some student leaders from faculty societies 

• Consulting on draft annual plan, budget and worked on Board work plan. 

• Samir was elected to the Senate Executive Committee and will sit on the Board of Governors starting this spring. 

• Advocacy Committee at-large by-elections will occur in September 

 

Vice-President, Student Experience (VPSE) Report:  

• For her report, Vice-President. Student Experience Majdalen Azouz shared that her role was beginning to take shape as she spent the month engaging with many university-wide committees and initiatives. VPSE Majdalen had been a constant presence through Spring Welcome Week Events, Satellite Campus Visits, and had sat on committees from the Student Life Endowment Fund to the Committee of Presidents.  

• Moving into the summer VPSE Majdalen is looking to grow advocacy on Food Services by creating a student focus group on meal plan services and grow relationships with numerous university-wide partners such as Societies and University Colleges.  

• There was a conversation about ongoing conversations with student groups of many faiths looking for a place to escalate their needs for spaces on campus. This will be further discussed at a university relations committee in the fall when more students are back. 

 Vice-President, Government Stakeholder Relations (VPGSR) Report:  

• Vice-President, Government Stakeholder Relations Rory Norris had a whirlwind month to say the least.  He has spent much of the first couple of months on the role engaging with WUSA 2 main external advocacy alliances 

• VPGSR Rory was elected to be the President of OUSA – Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance – a body with 9 member schools in the province which come together to focus their advocacy asks to the provincial government. 

• Rory also became the Treasurer of CASA – Canadian Alliance of Student Associations – a body with 26 member schools who focus advocacy asks to the Federal Government. 

• Rory spent much of May and June at training sessions to get acquainted with OUSA and CASA partner schools 

• Rory attended a state of the City event in Kitchener and Waterloo; this is to hear about their local updates to build relations and he will reach back out to these contacts to share updates around WUSA’s annual plan when it is passed and ready for sharing.  

Director Reports:  

• There were no oral director reports – all written reports can be found in item 6.5 of the Agenda.  

Board Member Time Tracker   

These hours reflect the period of May 1-31, 2026. 

 

	Board Responsibilities	Committee Work	Engagement with Students	Ongoing Initiatives	Irregular Meetings	Miscellaneous	Total
A. Razmjoo	23.75		10	1.5	2.45		37.7
B. Chen	25.25		4.25			1	30.5
I. Khan	20	11.75					31.75
J. Lewis	23.75		3.5		1		28.25
K. Wang	24	3	14		1		42
M. Jejeran	27.75	1	16		3.5	3.5	51.75
M. Kanji	31.41	5.5	5		9.32		51.23
M. Haider	23.75	8	17		8.5	24	81.25
O. Gaballa	24.08	4.08	8.5		1	5	42.66
R. Zhi	30.25						30.25