In October, UWSA members will elect three directors and the next president to help shape the future of the association. Together, these leaders will guide the UWSA's advocacy, services, governance, and strategic direction for years to come.
Here’s what you need to know—and what’s changing this year:
Nominations open September 8.
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Registration is open for information sessions September 9 and 15.
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Nominations are due September 22.
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Voting will take place October 6–20.
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Results will be announced at the Annual Meeting on October 23.
Every member has a role to play.
The UWSA is member-led, and elections are one of the most important ways staff help shape its future.
Here’s what you can do now:
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Learn more: Visit our Elections page for everything you need to know about elections, the roles, and eligibility—or register for an information session.
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Consider running: Attend an information session, or book a one-on-one with a director to learn more about what’s involved. You can contact any director or email uwsa@uwaterloo.ca and we’ll set you up with someone!
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Recommend a candidate: Use our new recommendation form to suggest a colleague you think should run. Our Governance and Nominations Committee will reach out to them with information.
We're increasing transparency in elections.
To improve transparency about how elections work, we’ve documented our election procedures and created a more substantial nominations and elections policy. This gives members a clearer view of how elections are governed and administered.
Changes to the president’s term
What’s changing:
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The presidential leadership cycle is now four years instead of three.
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Presidents will serve two years in the role instead of one.
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Presidential elections will be held every two years instead of annually.
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The Board believes this will strengthen continuity, long-term planning, and organizational stability.
After many months of discussion and careful consideration, the UWSA Board of Directors has approved a change to the Presidential term structure to better support continuity, strategic leadership, and effective representation for staff.
The President will now serve a four-year term, comprising of one year as President-Elect, two years as President, and one year as Past President, replacing the previous three-year model. To support this staggered leadership succession, Presidential elections will now be held every two years.
In accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement (sections 2.3.1 and 2.4.1), the President will continue to be provided release time consistent with the UWSA University Service Guideline. Under the new structure, the sitting President will be seconded from their home position and receive 100% release from their regular University duties for the full two-year Presidential term.
This change will reduce the size of the Operations Team by one position. As a result, the team will consist of a President and either a President-Elect or a Past President at any given time, rather than both. However, in consultation with the Operations Team, the Board believes that this revised framework will provide Presidents with more time to advance strategic priorities, lead complex initiatives, and see long-term projects through to completion. It will also strengthen organizational continuity, preserve institutional knowledge, and enhance governance through more consistent leadership.
As part of this transition, Alyssa Kuron will continue into a second year as UWSA President for the 2026–2027 year. In October 2026, UWSA members will elect the next President under the new model. The successful candidate will begin their four-year term as President-Elect in November 2026 and assume the role of President in November 2027.
The Board recognizes that this represents a significant change from the previous Presidential governance model. However, we believe this new structure best positions the UWSA to provide strong, stable, and effective representation for staff while ensuring continuity in leadership and long-term organizational success.
The UWSA is strongest when members participate, and we look forward to your involvement in this year's elections. Thank you for helping shape a strong future for the UWSA and the staff community we serve.