Blog
Interested in writing for OUSA? Contact Tiffany Li Wu, our Operations & Communications Coordinator.
Introducing OUSA's 2016-17 President, Jamie Cleary
Hello Everyone!
My name is Jamie Cleary and I am thrilled to be serving as the 2016-17 OUSA President.
I recently finished my four years at Western University, attaining my Bachelor of Medical Sciences with an Honours Specialization in Physiology. Outside of the classroom I found a passion for advocacy, which drove me to run to be the University Students’ Council Vice-President. Advocacy, for me, means representing and supporting the needs and beliefs of students. It’s an opportunity to influence real and tangible change. However, none of these changes happen through the work of one individual. Advocacy requires a dedicated team working together towards a cause, and helping to create the change that their delegates deserve. I am so excited for the opportunity to be OUSA President, helping to lead a team with the ability to generate many positive impact for the future of all undergraduate students in Ontario.
Ontario’s Economy and You: A Quick Guide for Students
Do you know which city in Ontario has the lowest unemployment rate? In which industry wages are rising or falling? What “economic growth” actually means for you?
If not, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article we’re going to cover four main aspects of Ontario’s economy that are most relevant to students: jobs, wages, inflation, and growth. This is by no means an exhaustive guide to economics or employment, but is merely meant to act as an informative brief that can help you in a pinch, or assist you in making a more informed decision in your studies or career.
Introducing Lindsay D'Souza, OUSA's 2016 Summer Research Intern
Hello!
My name is Lindsay D’Souza and I am both excited and motivated to continue exploring my passion for post-secondary education and advocacy as the Summer Research Intern for the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance.
April Update from the President
Hi everyone,
It's very bittersweet to be writing my final blog as President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. Just under 12 months ago, I was elected President of OUSA to serve the needs of over 140,000 undergraduate students. This position has been both extremely challenging and extremely rewarding, and has been one of the most fulfilling opportunities of my life. I'd like to thank the Home Office staff, our Steering Committee, and the countless students and partners who have made OUSA's work so successful and so meaningful. Now, for the last time, I'd like to update you on the work we've done this month.
OUSA Releases Habitats 2016: Students in their Municipalities
Some universities have the privilege of being located in destination cities, and some towns are fortunate enough to host globally renowned institutions. In Ontario, students typically get the best of both worlds.
Talking with ABLE about Experience’s at Brock (Part 2)
Written by Jeremy Steinhausen
Following Disabilities Week at Brock, I met up again with Keely, Alanna, and Jessica (if you have not read our pre-Disabilities Week conversation, do so here. In this second part, we continue our conversation on disabilities and how ABLE looks to help continue to foster an inclusive and accessible environment for all students.
OUSA Releases Policy Statement: A Response to Sexual Violence within Post-Secondary Education
Statistics describing sexual violence are jaw dropping. As we have discussed in the past, the Canadian Women’s Foundation reports that only one third of Canadians understand what sexual consent means. Sixty-six percent of female victims of sexual assault are under age 24 and less than 10 percent of sexual assaults are reported to police.
OUSA Releases Student Employment Policy Paper
The relationship between university education (or post-secondary education more broadly) and graduate employment is always a hot topic in the sector. Employment outcomes are in fact used as a proxy for determining how well universities are working-- see Ontario’s key performance indicators. Students too are incredibly invested in their employment prospects: employment related motivations remain at the top of lists of why students attend university (according to the Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC), the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, and other surveyors of students). Going into our 43rd General Assembly, more than half of our delegates said they were most interested in this year’s Student Employment policy paper.
OUSA Releases Online Learning Policy Paper
What does online learning mean to Ontario’s university students? OUSA’s new policy paper, Online Learning, offers insights from students on what their vision for online learning is and what it could be going forward.
OUSA Releases Students with Disabilities Policy Paper
OUSA’s 43rd General Assembly had the responsibility of revising and ratifying the Students with Disabilities policy paper. It’s important to frame this decision as a responsibility given the perennial challenge of being a student leader: having to represent students whose lived experiences you may not share.