The Area Representatives Council connects the staff in each department with the UWSA leadership. The Council meets monthly to get updates from the UWSA president, raise issues from their department, and learn from guest speakers. The UWSA presidents, board of directors, and representatives on University committees rely on Area Reps to inform their work advocating for staff interests.
The Area Reps Planning Committee keeps the Council going, collectively organizing monthly meetings and driving engagement among reps, with support from the UWSA Operations Team.
Joining the Planning Committee is a great professional development opportunity, helping you develop your cross-campus relationships, learn how UW works, and apply or build skills like facilitation, event planning, communication, collaboration, and volunteer management. You'll also play a key role in building community among staff, promoting transparency, and supporting staff wellbeing.
Openings: 4
Term: November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2027*
Deadline: October 10, 2025
Terms of Reference: Area Representatives Council Terms of Reference
The committee is seeking applicants for four essential roles starting November 1:
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The chair develops meeting agendas in consultation with the Planning Committee, presides over Area Reps meetings, and works with the outreach coordinator to welcome new representatives. The chair also calls meetings of the Planning Committee as needed.
- The vice chair fulfills the duties of the chair in their absence and helps facilitate discussion in the Area Reps Team.
- The outreach coordinator works with the chair to welcome new representatives and ensure their smooth onboarding. The outreach coordinator spearheads initiatives to recruit new area representatives as needed.
- The programming coordinator arranges speakers and guests for Area Reps meetings, and gathers suggestions and feedback from members.
*The committee may decide to stagger end dates to better distribute future turnover.
Qualifications
The Appointments Committee is particularly looking for staff members with some or all of the following characteristics:
- Skilled at motivating and supporting others in their work.
- Excited about empowering and sharing information with staff.
- Self-reflective and committed to challenging implicit biases.
- Conscientious and collaborative.
- Comfortable speaking in and facilitating group discussions (for chair and vice chair).
- Willing to share their thoughts and opinions while holding space for the perspectives of others.
Planning Committee members will be selected by the UWSA Appointments Committee for two-year terms. They should not be members of the UWSA Board of Directors or Operations Team. In selecting a Chair, preference will be given to current or past Area Representatives.
Time commitment
Area Representatives meets for an hour once a month except in summer, on the second Thursday of each month. The Planning Committee meets as needed (approximately monthly) and works on Teams between meetings.
Relationship with the UWSA
The Planning Committee will submit a report on the activities of the Committee and the Council for the UWSA Annual Report. The Planning Committee works closely with the UWSA Operations Team. Please see the Area Representatives Council Terms of Reference for more detail.
Participation rights and recognition
Members have a right to participate in UWSA business under the Memorandum of Agreement between the UWSA and the University: “The University shall not interfere with the participation of Members in Association meetings or other Association business, provided that such participation does not unreasonably interfere with the performance of a Member's duties and other responsibilities to the University.” (MoA section 2.6.3)
Upon request, committee members will receive a letter from the UWSA president and committee chair detailing their contributions to the working group and its value to the Association, for use in their performance appraisal.
How to apply
Please submit the UWSA committee application form by October 10. Please direct any questions to uwsa@uwaterloo.ca.