Have you seen those offices with cute windows on the SLC third floor? Ever wondered what they are all about? They’re some of our student-run services! WUSA offers a variety of student-run services designed to support well-being and enrich life on campus. Student-run services are exactly what they sound like: led and operated by students. 

While the clubs system primarily provides students with a chance to make connections based on shared interests, services fill the gaps in the areas of peer support, sustainability, academic policy, and food insecurity which students have identified as key to their wellbeing.  

Meet Your Campus Support Network 

WUSA currently supports 9 student run services located in various areas of the SLC. Learn a little about all of them here!   

Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity, and Equity (RAISE) 

🧭 Mission: Address racism and xenophobia in the University of Waterloo community through its 3 pillars: education & advocacy, peer-to-peer support, and community building. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit their office in SLC 3207, stay connected through Instagram @UWRaise, or shoot them an email at raise@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: A library collection dedicated to exploring marginalization/racism/intersectionality/xenophobia, peer support prioritizing marginalized and intersectional identities, and a variety of community events aimed at uplifting and uniting students. 

⭐ Highlight: XChanges is a yearly conference engaging RAISE’s three pillars. It brings together leaders and change makers to share their ideas on the year’s theme. 

Glow Centre 

🧭 Mission: Promote healthy attitudes towards all sexual orientations and gender identities on campus. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit their office in SLC 3103, stay connected through Instagram @UWGlow, or shoot them an email at glow@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: On and off campus trans resources, a thriving library filled with 2SLGBTQIA+ titles, weekly events, peer support services, and advocacy in and out of campus are just some works the Glow team is engaged in! 

⭐ Highlight: Dress as your most authentic self for Glow’s yearly Lavender Ball! A 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly dance night happening each winter term. Glow also goes to Toronto Pride each year at the end of June – all are welcome! 

Women’s Centre 

🧭 Mission: Provide a supportive space for all women and trans folk on campus. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit their office in SLC 3104, stay connected through Instagram @uwwomenscentre, or shoot them an email at womenscentre@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: The Women’s Centre boasts a library with over 1,000 entries, many of which explore trans and cis women’s experiences. They also provide sexual health resources (condoms, lube, and pregnancy tests), free menstrual products, peer support hours, workshops, and events. 

⭐ Highlight: Voices, the Women’s Centre’s anthology magazine accepts all forms of artistic submissions for their 2026 edition! 

Mates 

🧭 Mission: Support student well-being by providing confidential peer support for social and academic challenges as well as low-level mental health concerns and stress. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit their office in SLC RM 3102, stay connected through Instagram @UWMates, or shoot them an email at mates@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: Confidential one-on-one peer support appointments, events aimed at improving student mental health, and the maintenance of the wellness lounge with relaxing activities are some supports Mates provides for students. 

⭐ Highlight: Want to make a furry friend? Keep an eye out for one of Mates’ therapy dogs events or their SafeTalk and mental health support trainings. 

International & Canadian Student Network (ICSN) 

🧭 Mission: Make all local, international, and exchange students feel welcome in the university and wider Waterloo community. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit their office in SLC 3203, stay connected through Instagram @uwicsn, or shoot them an email at icsn@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: Runs various events that create spaces for students to form meaningful connections with people around the world.  

⭐ Highlight: Go beyond Waterloo with ICSN to Niagara Falls. This event happens once per term. You won’t want to miss it! 

Off Campus Community (OCC) 

🧭 Mission: Support first- and upper-year students living off campus to connect and adjust to the university and surrounding community. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit their office in SLC RM 3201, stay connected through Instagram @occuw, or shoot them an email at occ@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: Lean on the experience of dons (upper-year student volunteers with experience living off campus) to help connect you with any resources you may need and attend a variety of events to meet your fellow students. 

⭐ Highlight: Part of Orientation is organized by OCC. Find their dons in the blue vests! They also offer events throughout the year like escape rooms and day trips to places like the Butterfly Conservatory. 

Food Support Service (FSS) 

🧭 Mission: Provide confidential assistance and food hampers for members of the Waterloo community facing food insecurity. 

📍 Location & Contact: Food hampers can be picked up at the Turnkey Desk. Email foodsupport@wusa.ca for questions and visit @WUSAFoodSupport on Instagram to see what volunteers are up to. 

️❤️ Supports: Volunteers create food hampers to suit a variety of dietary needs (halal, meat, vegetarian, kosher, and allergies) as well as run events to collect food and raise awareness about food insecurity. 

⭐ Highlight: Show support for FSS by attending events like the Food Sorting Challenge or by donating non-perishables from your cupboard!  

Centre for Academic Policy Support (CAPS) 

🧭 Mission: Help students navigate the academic petitions, appeals, and grievances processes; emphasizing confidentiality and student-to-student support. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit them in SLC 3211, stay connected through Instagram @wusacaps, or shoot them an email at caps@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: CAPS coordinators help their fellow students understand their academic rights and university policy. Coordinators also aid students by walking them through finding the right forms, gathering documents relevant to their case, and directing them to other resources. 

⭐ Highlight: The CAPS Instagram page is filled with useful information about university policies. 

The Bike Centre 

🧭 Mission: Provide students and staff with an affordable way to maintain their bikes while contributing to a more sustainable planet. 

📍 Location & Contact: Visit the workshop at SLC 0101, stay connected through Instagram @uwbikecentre, or shoot them an email at bikecentre@wusa.ca. 

️❤️ Supports: Gives students and staff the tools (including fluids) to repair and maintain their bikes for free. The Centre also sells bike parts for your convenience. 

⭐ Highlight: No bike? No problem! The Bike Centre offers weekly, monthly and termly bike rentals. 

To learn more about each service visit https://wusa.ca/services/student-run-services. 

WUSA Thrift 

🧭 Mission: Provide students and staff with an affordable and sustainable way to purchase clothing! 

📍 Location & Contact: WUSA Thrift does not have a physical space, but they run regular Sidewalk Sales and other pop-ups, so keep an eye on their website and Instagram (@wusathrift). 

️❤️ Supports: Provides affordable clothing options, with everything sold being $10 or less. 

⭐ Highlight: Thrift & Sip events! Sip on a fun drink like iced tea or boba while shopping for a sustainable addition to your closet.  

To learn more about each service visit https://wusa.ca/services/student-run-services. 

Need Support? 

Student-run services are here to help you not just get through your studies but truly thrive during your university experience. This would not be possible without all the dedicated executives, coordinators, and volunteers. Massive thank you to all of them!  

Do you want to be a part of making your campus community a better place? Then get involved in all things student services in the jobs and opportunities page. If that sounds a little too much too soon, then start by checking out one of their many events at wusa.ca/events. 

Silvia Randazzo Carrie 

Communications Assistant