Written by Lindsay (she/her), student
WUSA not only advocates on your behalf, they also offer a variety of services and clubs to help make your university experience one to remember!
What does WUSA do?
The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) is the undergraduate student government at Waterloo, elected to represent and advocate for you in order to enhance your university experience. (Not sure what an undergraduate student is? It's someone working on their first degree. If you're a high school student, you'll apply to an undergraduate program. Learn about other university vocabulary.)
Every year, students vote for WUSA executive positions including President, VP Operations and Finance, VP Student Life, and VP Education. The executive and staff aim to build a strong Warrior community by offering various services, advocating for change, and improving your university experience. WUSA also represents undergraduate students in a variety of areas such as tuition, housing, and transit.
A WUSA General Meeting where all undergraduate students are invited to attend and voice their opinions.
Student-run services
Not only does WUSA represent and advocate for you, they also provide 13 student-run services to meet student needs and enhance campus life. One service that WUSA supports is Mentor Assistance Through Education and Support (MATES), which provides one-to-one peer counselling to support student mental health and well-being. Another service, Co-op Connection helps students connect with others in their city while on a work term.
My favourite part of the EnTech computer club was feeling like I was making a difference.
250+ clubs
WUSA also supports over 250 clubs on campus. They hold a Clubs and Societies Day every term where clubs set up booths, allowing you to check out ones that may interest you and speak with members. And if you're interested, you can even start your own club!
Some of Waterloo's student clubs include
- hip hop
- cheese
- photography
- anime
- improv
- dragon boat
- a capella
- drag
- sketch comedy
- visual arts
"My favourite part of the [EnTech computer] club was feeling like I was making a difference. I would be having a rough day and then getting to work with the seniors would be something that would easily turn my day around… it's an experience I'll never forget because it has changed my life in so many ways." – Maria, student
How to get involved
WUSA offers a variety of ways for you to get involved, including job and volunteer opportunities. You can apply for jobs and volunteer opportunities in areas such as food and retail services, videography, design, and student government and in roles such as event coordinators, and clubs support teams.
You can also attend WUSA run events such as Welcome Week, which kicks off the start of a new term and includes events such as a Fall Carnival and Warrior Breakfast. You can also apply to help with Orientation in your upper years. I volunteered as an Applied Health Sciences event coordinator in my fourth year and loved planning and leading events for first-year students. It was also a great way to meet people in my faculty!
WUSA runs events such as Welcome Week, which kicks off at the start of a new term and includes events such as a fall carnival and a free Warrior breakfast.
WUSA hopes to enhance your undergraduate experience during your time at Waterloo. Getting involved is just one of the ways you can connect with other students and create great memories.
*In order to access some WUSA events and services, you may need to opt into certain WUSA fees.
Where can you find WUSA?
WUSA's main office is located in the Student Life Centre (SLC), home to a variety of services and space for clubs, social, dining, and study meetings. The SLC is open 24/7 and 365 days of the year. You can also find WUSA (@yourwusa) on social media including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
