Election season is almost here at WUSA! Choosing your student representatives will shape your student experience over the next year and beyond! Board members do everything from deciding on new campus initiatives to advocating on your behalf with university admin, and representing Waterloo undergraduate students in local, provincial, and federal politics. 

With such an important role in the campus community, it’s crucial to know what makes a good member. Who better knows what it takes to do the job than those doing the job right now? Board members Katie Traynor and Samir Sharma answer your FAQs.

How do you vet Board members once elected?

One of the primary responsibilities of Board members is to participate and prepare for Board and committee meetings. This means staying informed on student issues, reading up on current topics, and presenting research on assigned subjects. 

Do you want to see your representatives in action? You can watch Board meetings live or catch up with recordings in the live tab of our youtube page. Meeting summaries are released on our website every month. 

It’s important to note that each Board member brings their own unique approach based on their situation and advocacy priorities. The Board Director position is part-time, meaning, they’re students just like us! They might be in another city (or country!)  or facing personal challenges. All this to say, a student leader giving a 100% can look different from person to person.  

Curious about what each director is up to? Email them! They’re always happy to talk to students.  

What qualities would an effective Board member have?

Many of the qualities that make an effective WUSA Board member are the same ones that make a good leader. Someone who is passionate, a forward thinker, problem-solver, and a good communicator. They think about long-term impacts, connect with students, and effectively communicate their concerns to the Board. 

Other qualities emphasize the student advocate role—like being interested in engaging with students and being community-driven. They are able to get a full picture of the student experience, both micro and macro. While they use their personal experiences to drive them, they do not make decisions solely with that in mind; they instead prioritize the entire student body. Afterall, this is W-US-A! 

Finally, other ideal qualities come from being prepared to work in a large student organization like WUSA. Having some financial literacy matters as the Board is responsible for making decisions on how to manage the monetary contributions of thousands of students. Most importantly, they must demonstrate a willingness to learn and work within WUSA. Board members are working within the existing structures and decisions set by generations of students before them. It’s about trying to build on, rather than break-down what is already there. For example, the push for the Ombuds Office initiative started back in 2018. That’s the work of 8 Boards and dedicated student leaders! That’s the power of sustained, collaborative progress. 

What are the benefits of working for Board?

There are many benefits to working on the Board! Mostly of the skill-building variety. By the end of their terms, Board members have strong communication, future thinking, financial literacy, and governance skills.  

Other benefits include opportunities to engage with stakeholders and leaders across campus and make impactful decisions that spearhead progress for students on campus. 

Do I need to have previous experience to run?

The simple answer is no! Willingness to learn is an aspiring Board member’s most valuable asset. That being said, understanding WUSA’s mission and what the organization does (and could do) for students is helpful as is previous on-campus leadership experience. 

What are the different roles?

WUSA’s Board consists of 13 members: 

• 10 Board Directors 
• Vice President of Student Experience 
• Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations 
• President 

This year, we are adding a Vice President position to split up the work that the previous President position was doing. Now, the VP of Government and Stakeholder Relations will provide leadership on external advocacy (i.e. OUSA, CASA) and government relations (i.e. advocating to the municipal, provincial, and federal governments). 

The VP of Student Experience will be the primary advocate to the University on non-academic student affairs. 

To learn more about each of the Board’s roles visit our governance page. 

What does the time commitment look like?

The Board of Director role is considered part-time. They regularly put in 20-25 hours of work weekly, though depending on if they participate in a committee or there is something big coming their way, some members may put in more. 

Officer roles (President and the two Vice-Presidents) are full time positions. Elected students pause their studies for a year to serve the Board, however you can count this for up to three co-op terms. 

It’s time to make your voice heard!

Feeling ready to vote? Or even ready to run? Check out wusa.ca/nominations to learn more about the elections process or head to vote.wusa.ca to nominate who you think will be a good candidate! 

Special thanks to current Board members Katie Traynor and Samir Sharma for passing down their insights and wisdom! 

Silvia Randazzo Carrie

Communications Assistant