Volunteer as a Link Inclusion Lounge Student Facilitator this Fall!

This Fall, Renison Student Experience and Housing is excited to launch a new volunteer leadership opportunity.

Introducing... our Link Inclusion Lounge Student Facilitator program!

What is it? 

Our Link Inclusion Lounge is popular for hosting events that support student well-being and belonging for all members of our Renison community, including equity-deserving student communities. Throughout each term, our Link Inclusion Lounge is home to many popular events including Wellness Wednesday, ABC Chill, Chinese Student Hangout, Neuro Night, and Queer and Cozy.  This Fall, we are also introducing our newest program, Moose Hide Male Allies, to combat gender-based violence in our campus community. 

In order to make these event opportunities possible, we are recruiting Student Facilitators. A Student Facilitator is a University of Waterloo student who will support in the planning, organization, and execution of regularly monthly/bi-monthly meetings to support our Link Inclusion Lounge programming! The Student Facilitator will work with our Inclusion Coordinator (a Bachelor of Social Work practicum student) to help with hosting the events and building a supportive community at Renison for all students. 

We are looking for 6 Student Facilitators for the Fall 2025 term.  

ABC (African, Black, Caribbean) Chill Student Facilitator

Our ABC Chill nights are a relaxed way for our African, Black, and Caribbean students at Renison to come together around food, conversation, and games. As an ABC student, you will help to cultivate a welcoming space to help other ABC students escape the stress of being a Waterloo student, to enjoy community among others, and find a sense of home on campus. 

Chinese Student Hangout Student Facilitator

Help organize regular Chinese Student Hangout events during the term to help bring the Chinese student community together with other University of Waterloo students. Whether you're helping to plan a 'make your own dumplings' event, or a games night with mahjong, or just snacks and conversation, we want to create a welcoming and friendly space for Chinese students to come together. 

Moose Hide Male Allies Student Facilitator (2 roles)

Renison is a Campus Ambassador for the Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-created awareness campaign to end gender-based violence in all communities. The male-identified Student Facilitators will facilitate discussion and dialogue regularly with other male-identified student representatives in our Renison Residence community as well as all other interested male-identified students. Discussions will focus around topics like gender-based violence, rape culture, masculinity, consent, and how to be an active upstander in combating gender-based violence. 

Neuro Night Student Facilitator

Neurodivergent students are invited to come to this low-risk, relaxing environment to be able to meet other neurodiverse friends. Whether you're watching a movie together, or doing colouring pages and playing with fidget toys together, a Student Facilitator is needed to host the Neuro Night events to build a non-judgmental and supportive community together. 

Queer & Cozy Student Facilitator 

Do you identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ student community? Become a Student Facilitator to help us coordinate our Queer & Cozy social events. Help bring a sense of community to Renison for 2SLGBTQIA+ students and allies by organizing Kahoot trivia games, storybook reading nights, movie night -- or whatever your creative mind thinks of next!

Time Commitment

Student Facilitators will be expected to manage the following time commitments:

• Training:
  • A one-hour training session will take place at the start of the academic term.
     
• Events:
  • The Student Facilitator is expected to facilitate a minimum of 4 social events and a maximum of 6 social events for their dedicated equity-deserving student community in an academic term (approximately 1-2 events per month). The amount of events will be agreed upon between yourself, the Inclusion Coordinator, and Student Experience Coordinator
     
• Meeting Preparation:
  • The Student Facilitator is expected to spend approximately one hour prior to each event to decide, plan, and organize any activities they wish to facilitate at their event, and communicate with the Inclusion Coordinator or Student Experience Coordinator about any necessary event supplies or resources required to assist in the execution of the event.
  • The Student Facilitator will not be expected to purchase any of their own event supplies, but will be expected to communicate any supplies needed at least one week prior to their event.
     
• De-brief:
  • At the end of the academic term, the Student Facilitator will be expected to attend a short 30-minute de-brief meeting or complete an end-of-term survey with the Inclusion Coordinator or Student Experience Coordinator to provide feedback about the experience and report any findings or recommendations following the events.

Responsibilities and Expectations

These standards reflect the essential aspects of the position, and all the expectations by which Student Facilitators will be held accountable:

• Actively participate and contribute as a facilitator during events, and provide a safe, supportive environment that allows equity-deserving students to feel welcomed and that they belong.
• Punctuality and preparedness are vital; ensure timely arrival with necessary materials for scheduled events or meetings.
• Inform the Inclusion Coordinator or Student Experience Coordinator in advance should attendance at an event or meeting not be possible.
• Communicate with the Student Experience Coordinator or Inclusion Coordinator via email or Microsoft Teams, respond to communications from Student Experience and Housing staff within 24 hours, and assist in scheduling upcoming events for events calendars prior to the event.
• Attendance alone does not constitute participation; it is important to actively engage in the events as a facilitator.
• Contribute their perspectives, ideas, and experiences during meetings to enhance the quality of discussions during the events.
• Participation involves engaging in constructive dialogue, providing valuable input, and actively listening to other members' viewpoints.
• Reflect on the events’ progress and impact and provide constructive feedback accordingly.

Volunteer Recognition

Each Student Facilitator will receive a letter of recognition from the Renison Student Experience and Housing team at the end of the academic term.

In addition, each Student Facilitator will receive a flat rate gratuity of $150 added to their University of Waterloo WatCard at the end of the academic term. 

Do you have questions? 

Visit our Link Inclusion Lounge webpage to check out details about our past events, including our image gallery, to give you an idea what you can expect about the kinds of events you will help to facilitate. 

Are you interested in a Student Facilitator position but have questions?  Reach out to us! We are happy to help!

Our Student Facilitator Interest Form is open now! 

Submit your declaration of interest to volunteer by Monday, August 25 at 9:00am (Eastern Time). 

Please complete our Student Facilitator Interest Form below to let us know if you would be interested in volunteering this term!