Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) executive members visited campus on Sept. 23 to introduce themselves and hear students’ concerns firsthand, aiming to better advocate for their needs.
The OUSA represents approximately 160,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate and professional university students across nine student associations in Ontario.
“Advocacy on the ground is very close to you—we have a booth today to take a live consultation from students and hear about your experience. What OUSA does is powered by students, and if students don’t speak up then we lack that perspective more and more,” Operations & Communications Coordinator, Tiffany Li Wu said in an interview with The Journal.
The AMS has been a member of OUSA since the alliance was established in 1992 and has maintained full membership since 2004.
“The AMS is a very integral part of OUSA being one of the special schools that have two members sitting on as a board of directors, one voting and one non-voting. The AMS brings a unique perspective to especially issues like housing that we see in the Kingston community that has a reflection model to other communities in Ontario,” Li Wu said.
Queen’s holds a unique position in OUSA, being the only university with two seats at the table. Both Vice-President (University Affairs) Ruth Osunde, and Commissioner of Campus Affairs (External) Dreyden George sit on the OUSA Steering Committee, working within their roles to drive change and amplify student voices at a higher level.
READ MORE: Queen’s hosts OUSA General Assembly
“We advocate for more affordable, accessible, high quality, accountable, postsecondary experience for students in the province. We’re also a non-partisan organization, so we work with people in the government, from all parties to advocate for better postsecondary experience for students,” OUSA President Michelle Wodchis-Johnson told The Journal in an interview.
OUSA is managed by the Steering Committee composed of elected student representatives from each member association, while day-to-day activities are handled by four full-time office staff. The organization’s approach to advocacy is evidence-based and substantive.
As OUSA develops well-informed and substantial policies, all policies are both written and approved by students. Currently, there are approximately 22 policies addressing a wide array of topics, including racism, mental health, and financial aid. The newest addition will respond to the Blue-Ribbon Panel Report and is set to be introduced after OUSA’s fall General Assembly which will be happening at Brock University in approximately a month.
During the General Assembly, which OUSA hosts twice a year, the largest number of students participate. This event allows students and schools to vote on policy papers, guiding the alliance’s focus on current issues. To support this advocacy, students contribute $3.56 from their fees, which help the schools establish goals, raise awareness about school-related issues, and empower the Steering Committee to effect change.
A notable achievement OUSA has achieved is the extension of the tuition freeze for three years. In 2019, the provincial government reduced tuition by 10 per cent and subsequently froze it to address affordability concerns. OUSA advocated for maintaining the freeze to ensure continued financial relief for students.
“OUSA is a very reputable student-driven organization in the province, and we are well respected for that, so people do come to us, and we act like that student advocacy leadership in decision making spaces,” Executive Director Malika Dhanani said.
OUSA remains committed to addressing student needs and encourages students to connect with their school representatives, as feedback is essential for driving meaningful chang
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