Applied Health Sciences Endowment Fund (AHSEF)

News items and updates

  • We are now accepting proposals! The Fall 2024 proposals deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 24.
  • The AHSEF Board of Directors will meet to review the proposals (date of the meeting to be determined). Students who submit a proposal must be able to attend and present at the in-person Board meeting.
  • Tip: You should submit your proposal one term in advance of your proposed project! 

What is AHSEF

The Applied Health Sciences Endowment Fund (AHSEF) was established in the Fall of 1994 as a student-based financial support system created to enhance the academic environment of all undergraduates in the Faculty of Health.

Each undergraduate student registered in the Faculty of Health contributes to the fund, as a donation to the University of Waterloo through AHSEF. The money is a voluntary contribution used to support student-initiated projects with an academic and student life focus, and it is the hope of AHSEF that all undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health view the fund as a significant contribution to help themselves and their fellow classmates receive the best possible education.

Each semester Faculty of Health undergraduate students are encouraged to submit proposals to have their projects and/or events funded. The AHSEF Board of Directors (comprised primarily of student volunteers along with staff and faculty representatives) meets once a term to review, discuss, and vote on the proposals.

Students wishing to opt out of the AHSEF fee can get more information about AHSEF refunds.

How to join the AHSEF Board of Directors

The Applied Health Sciences Endowment Fund (AHSEF) Board of Directors, comprised primarily of student volunteers, meets once per term to review, discuss, and vote on proposals. If you're interested in being on the AHSEF Board of Directors, you can get a nomination form from the Student Relations Officer. If required, an election will be run to vote in members.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is comprised of the Chair, the Treasurer, the Secretary, Program Representatives, and the Association of Health Students Undergraduate Members (AHSUM) Representative - all student volunteers. In order to serve on the Board, you must have opted in to the AHSEF fee for the applicable term(s).

Chair

The Chair must be a Faculty of Health undergraduate student who does not have an Executive position with AHSUM at the same time.

Responsibilities:

  • schedule and chair all of the Board of Directors meetings
  • ensure that all orders and resolutions decided by the Board of Directors are carried out
  • look after all paperwork for funding proposals

Secretary

The Secretary does not need to be a Faculty of Health student, faculty or staff member - it can be anyone approved by the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities:

  • attend all Board of Directors meetings
  • take the minutes from the meetings and distribute them to all the Directors

Treasurer

The Treasurer does not need to be a Faculty of Health student, faculty or staff member- it can be anyone approved by the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities:

  • attend all Board of Directors meetings
  • keep accurate accounts of all assets, liabilities and receipts
  • monitor the disbursements of AHSEF

AHSUM Representative

The AHSUM Representative acts as a liaison between AHSEF and AHSUM. Responsibilities:

  • attend all AHSEF Board of Directors meetings
  • keep communication channels open and provide information from both groups to each other as necessary.
  • attend AHSUM meetings to collect proposals and give them to the Chair

Department Representatives

Six Faculty of Health undergraduate students (two from each department) represent their departments on the Board of Directors, which manages AHSEF and is responsible for reviewing, recommending and approving all expenditures.

How to submit a proposal

All Faculty of Health students are encouraged to submit proposals (e.g., project, specific event, lab/computer equipment, etc) based on the funding priorities. The proposals are then reviewed and voted upon by the AHSEF Board of Directors.

Members of AHSEF Board of Directors are not eligible to make submissions for funding.

  1. Students seeking funding must submit a Proposal Form. Completed forms should be submitted using the AHSEF online proposal form.
  2. All students submitting proposals are asked to attend the AHSEF Meeting to answer any questions the funding council might have with regards to your submission. Students unable to attend meeting should speak with the AHSEF Chair to make alternate arrangements. Failure to make alternate arrangements with the AHSEF Chair may result in your submission being deferred until the following term.
  3. All submissions must be accompanied by a formal estimate of cost; including any maintenance, security, and/or installation costs.
  4. If your submission is granted funding, a series of accountability guidelines must be fulfilled (to be explained when funding is granted).
  5. AHSEF reserves the right to defer any submission to the following academic term due to time constraints.

Proposal guidelines

Please ensure that you have read the proposal guidelines before completing the online Funding Proposal Form.

A representative of your proposal must attend the AHSEF meeting to answer any questions the funding council might have with regards to your project. Please direct any questions regarding the proposal process to the Student Relations Officer.

Submission notes

  • Individual submissions for personal gain will not be granted
  • Submissions should have a proven educational benefit towards undergraduate Faculty of Health students
  • Submissions for funding to be used in future terms may be applied for in advance
  • If your submission is granted funding, a series of accountability guidelines must be followed; these guidelines will be explained when funding is granted
  • AHSEF reserves the right to defer any submissions to the following academic term
  • Submissions to AHSEF must be supported by a Faculty of Health faculty or staff member

Presentation guidelines

Upon submission of your proposal, you will be invited to attend a Board meeting to orally present your proposal (max. 5 minutes). You may bring 1-2 members of your group.*

Briefly explain:

  • The proposal, and how it will affect undergraduate Faculty of Health students. (~1-2 min)
  • How many students will be affected & any other attempts to obtain funding. (~1 min)
  • If applicable: any medium or long-term impacts of the proposal? (~1 min)
  • If applicable, how will you ensure financial sustainability to support your proposal in future terms? (~1 min)

*Faculty/staff submitting a proposal with an undergraduate student may also attend the presentation meeting.

AHSEF funding priorities

The following is a list of priorities where the majority of funding should go. Since these are only guidelines, grants are not limited to this list. Preference will be given to capital investments.

  • Improved learning facilities
  • Improved computing services
  • Supplement class learning (e.g. guest speakers)
  • Supplement educational skills (e.g. interview workshops, career workshops)
  • New lab equipment
  • Support for student societies and clubs (e.g. furniture)
  • Projects of various departments or students with an academic purpose

Funding priorities & previously funded projects

You can find projects funded by AHSEF all over B.C. Matthews Hall and the Expansion building. You know we've supported the project if you see the AHSEF logo.

AHSEF funding priorities

AHSEF funding is typically granted, but not limited, to the following priorities:

  1. Improved learning facilities (e.g. audio-visual equipment)
  2. Improved computing services (e.g. computers, laser printers)
  3. Supplement class learning (e.g. guest speakers)
  4. New lab equipment
  5. Support for student societies and clubs (e.g. furniture, resource materials)
  6. Funding of classes that are in demand, that would otherwise be cut or not offered.
  7. Projects of various departments or students with an academic purpose (e.g. thesis work, exchange programs)

Previously funded projects

  1. weCONNECTu Mentorship Programs
  2. Faculty of Health Grad Formal
  3. Faculty of Health Orientation Week - frisbees, leader appreciation dinner
  4. High Five Course - recognized, quality assurance standard in children’s recreation and sport programming
  5. Therapeutic Recreation Awareness Week
  6. Aftab Patla Memorial Cup
  7. Kinesiology Games 
  8. enTECH Computer Club
  9. UWDBC paddle equipment 
  10. CHEM 120 & PHYS 111 tutoring sessions
  11. BMH undergraduate student lounge furniture 
  12. School of Anatomy - nitrile gloves, skeletons, textbooks
  13. Student lounge updates - furniture, games, decor
  14. Journal of Undergraduate Health Research 
  15. SPHS Undergraduate Research Conference 

Funding requests

AHSEF will confirm funding amount, conditions, and guidelines for reimbursement in a letter addressed to the proposal representative(s). If your proposal is successful, you will need to contact the Student Relations Officer to outline the process for acquiring your funds.

All original receipts and invoices must be submitted in order to be reimbursed. 

Constitution and bylaws

If you'd like to learn more about AHSEF and how it operates, you can read through the constitution and by-laws.