Blog

Hello blog readers!

My name is Crystal Mak and I am beyond excited to introduce myself as the new Operations & Communications Coordinator at OUSA’s Home Office. I have big shoes to fill and I can’t wait to get started!

On June 4th, OUSA participated in the Town and Gown Association of Ontario’s annual symposium, Building Bridges 2019: A National Forum on Town and Gown Issues and Opportunities. The conference was organized by Brock University, Niagara College, and the cities of St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, and it brought stakeholders together to discuss issues surrounding campus and community relations and to share ideas, experiences, and methods of best practice.

This was my first town and gown conference, and I was excited to attend and provide student voices to the conversation on town and gown issues across the Province.

“We are in the business of planning the best times in people’s lives.”

This quote, first said to me by a wise supervisor at the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, still rings true in advocacy. In my time working in post-secondary education, I’ve come to realize that student unions, associations, governments - whatever you want to call it - are there to create the best student experience for you.

Well. Here it is. My last blog as OUSA President.

May is a time of renewal and reflection. This past month, our Steering Committee and their fellow executives on their home campuses have packed up their belongings, reflected on the year, and embarked on the next chapter of their lives. At the same time, new student leaders across the province have transitioned into their new roles, excited for the year ahead and to advocate for students. It’s definitely bittersweet, and I’m sure many of my peers would agree that this year has had some of the most difficult challenges, as well as some of the most rewarding and exciting experiences.

Hello!

I’m Linda Cabral, and I am excited to be joining OUSA’s home office team for the summer as a research intern.

The Wilfrid Laurier University community was shocked and devastated by the passing of its Dean of Students, Leanne Holland Brown. In her years at Laurier, Leanne touched the lives of thousands of students, helping them navigate their way through university. Since hearing the news, finding the words to express Leanne’s impact on myself as a student leader, as well as the Laurier community, have been difficult to string together, but need to be shared.

The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Teaching Excellence Award recognizes educators who excel at unlocking the potential of Ontario’s young people. Successfully engaging individuals in the learning experience depend on an instructor's ability to spark students' curiosity and desire to learn. It is our pleasure to give these remarkable professionals the recognition they deserve. A good textbook and a high-tech classroom are not enough to provide quality education. An excellent instructor will be able to engage their students in the process of learning and discovery and help them develop the critical skills that form the foundation of a robust education. With this in mind, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance annually presents its teaching awards to professors from each of our member campuses who have taken this role to heart, and who have been selected by their students as examples of teaching excellence.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 OUSA Teaching Excellence Awards! 

Hello everyone!

On March 1-3, OUSA hosted its annual Spring General Assembly at the University of Waterloo. The weekend was filled with great discussions related to Student Financial Aid, LGBTQ+ Students, and Student Employment. I’m really grateful to all of our member schools who had delegates participating in very meaningful and complex conversations on our policies.

Hello!

My name is Ryan Tishcoff and I’m excited to join OUSA’s Home Office as a Research and Policy Analyst.

I have a law degree from the University of Ottawa and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Toronto. I’ve also tried my hand at the publishing industry, completing post-graduate courses at Ryerson University.

Post-secondary students choose their area of study for any number of reasons - interest, career aspirations, or perhaps mere convenience. One thing that post-secondary students should leave their education with, is the feeling that they were given ample opportunity to learn in their areas of interest. There has been an increase in conversations around the idea that the post-secondary sector must respond to the needs of employers, and industries must collaborate in order to sufficiently prepare the next generation of employees for the modern workforce. In the midst of these conversations, students have expressed dissatisfaction with the opportunities afforded to them to develop the skills that employers seek.