Call for nominations to the Board of Directors
The UWSA Governance and Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for five directors to join the UWSA Board.
- The Board of Directors provides governance, financial, and long-term strategic oversight for the Association. Directors also form the pool from which staff representatives are selected to serve on University committees that shape staff working conditions and compensation.
- Directors will take office immediately following the UWSA Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Eligibility
UWSA leadership is open to all UWSA members, including contract staff. Candidates and their nominators must be active members at the time of nomination. Nominations close September 23.
Note that the three-year director term lengths are a goal and a maximum: Directors may end their terms early for all kinds of reasons, so contract staff are welcome! A term of at least one year will allow for directors to make meaningful contributions.
Voting eligibility
All staff who are UWSA members by October 1 will be eligible to vote in these elections.
Key details
- Nominations for five director seats open September 10 and close September 23.
- Information sessions are September 9, 12, and 15.
- Voting runs from October 6 to 20, and results will be announced at the Annual Meeting on October 23.
- All members are eligible to run for election.
If you are looking to help build community and influence change for staff at the University of Waterloo consider serving as a Director on the UWSA and as a representative on its committees which work towards staff compensation and policy changes. Being a Director will help you grow professionally and make connections in the workplace which are beyond the scope of your day-to-day operations.
What’s involved with being a director?
The Board of Directors provides governance, financial, and long-term strategic oversight for the Association. Directors and officers have specific obligations under the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA). Directors are essentially legally responsible for the association's financial stability and all of its operations, even though they don't participate in day-to-day operations directly.
The key responsibilities of the board are to:
- Set and monitor strategic priorities and annual work plans.
- Establish policies and ensure compliance with by-laws, policies, and laws.
- Facilitate communication between directors and members.
- Provide financial oversight and ensure adequate revenues.
Some of the current and upcoming projects of the board include:
- Assessing and planning for the long-term financial health of the corporation.
- Updating the UWSA by-law and articles of incorporation.
- Reviewing all UWSA governing policies with an equity lens and establishing an internal EDI-R framework.
- Updating and assessing progress on the UWSA strategic plan.
- Developing a board work plan and learning plan.
- Completing an election and succession planning strategy.
Individual directors must be prepared to:
- Take leadership roles (such as chair, secretary, or treasurer), special assignments, and serve on at least one standing committee.
- Understand and follow the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and UWSA letters patent, by-laws, policies, and procedures.
- Review meeting materials in advance and participate fully in discussions.
- Bring their best ideas to the table by considering each topic at hand and establishing a perspective.
- Put the Association’s interests first, avoid conflicts of interest, and maintain confidentiality.
Advocating for staff
Some directors advocate for staff interests at the Staff Relations Committee (SRC) or Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC). Serving on these committees is demanding but incredibly important work over and above the regular duties of a director.
What are the qualifications?
The two strict requirements for being a director are that you must be a member of the UWSA and you must not be disqualified under the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act.
Some of the most important qualities in a director include:
- An ability to think strategically and focus on long-term goals.
- An interest in contributing to the UWSA’s strategic direction and policy development.
- A commitment and capacity to engage in collaborative work.
- A willingness to share their opinions and lived experiences while holding space for the perspectives and experiences of others.
It’s important that the board as a whole has members with skills in meeting facilitation, financial acumen, organization, advocacy, project management, relationship development, leadership, and communication, but no individual director needs to have all of these skills.
These are qualities and skills the board has identified that it particularly needs right now. Candidates will be asked to speak to the above qualities and skills in their candidate statement.
Experience with not-for-profit governance, strategic planning, and policy development is helpful, but is not required. It is also helpful to be familiar with the governance structures of the university and policies affecting staff, especially if you are interested in sitting on SRC or PACSC, but training on these is provided.
What do you get in return?
Serving on the board is a substantial professional development opportunity. Directors receive training in governance principles and the decision-making structures of the university, participate in strategic planning activities, develop working relationships with colleagues across campus, and become more effective meeting organizers and participants.
Release time
As outlined in the University Service Guideline, the University grants one day of release time from their usual duties to attend to UWSA business. Officers receive one additional day (two for the Chair) each month.
The supervisor of each UWSA member elected to the board receives a letter informing them of the appointment and the release time granted by the University. As per the Service Guideline, we recommend you discuss your nomination with your supervisor.
"Prospective directors should have a commitment to transparency, accountability, and collaboration."
"Being part of the UWSA Board of Directors has been a really rewarding experience, having the opportunity to work with different groups across the campus with different experiences."
Run for a position on the board if you have a desire to gain experience with a non-profit corporation, if you want to learn more about policy and governance, or if you are looking to expand your knowledge of and network within UW.
How to run for election to the board
If you are able to contribute to the work described above, we encourage you to run for a seat on the board. Here’s how:
- Find three UWSA members to support your candidacy. They'll need to affirm their support of your nomination by filling out the online Nomination Form by 4:30 on September 23. They can do this before or after you fill out your Candidate Form.
- Submit your online Candidate Form by 4:30 on September 23 to declare your intent to run.
- Complete a candidate profile to be posted on the UWSA website and shared with members. You'll receive instructions for this after your submit your Candidate Form.
- Introduce yourself at a Meet the Candidates event at noon on October 6. You can also submit a video (up to 2 minutes long) if you are unable to attend.