Newsroom

JUNE 3, 2019

TORONTO, ON - This morning, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) released their annual publication, Habitats: Students in their Municipalities. In this year’s publication, students highlight successes and challenges in their municipalities, with themes ranging from improving the ability of students to advocate municipally and providing work-integrated learning opportunities, to addressing housing issues and unsanctioned street gatherings, as well as highlighting the importance of cultural development.

May 30th, 2019

TORONTO, ON - The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance’s new Steering Committee met for the first time and is proud to announce the election of our 2019-2020 Executive Officers:

• President Cat Dunne, who also serves as Vice-President of the University Students' Council at Western University.

• Vice-President Finance Matthew Gerrits, who also serves as Vice President Education with the Federation of Students at the University of Waterloo.

• Vice-President Administration & Human Resources Rayna Porter, who also serves as Vice President of University Affairs at the Trent Durham Student Association at Trent University - Durham GTA.

April 18, 2019

TORONTO, ON - Today, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) released a policy paper focusing on gender and sexual diversity at Ontario universities. The paper was written, approved, and published by students with the purpose of providing recommendations for improving post-secondary experiences for LGBTQ+ students at Ontario university campuses, including increasing safety and access.

April 17, 2019

Toronto, ON – Student organizations across the country have released a joint publication on student employability titled Shared Perspectives: A Joint Publication on Preparing Students for the Workforce.

April 11, 2019

TORONTO, ON - Today, the Ontario government announced the 2019 provincial budget. This marks the first budget for the government elected in June 2018. Key items affecting university students include: changes to strategic mandate agreements, increases in mental health supports, tuition reductions, cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), introduction of the Student Choice Initiative (SCI), investment in broadband connectivity, maximizing commercialization opportunities in the post-secondary education sector, introduction of the Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) tax credit, and review of employment and skills training programs.

March 29, 2019

TORONTO, ON - This morning, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) released a policy paper that focuses on preparing students for the workforce in Ontario. The paper was written, approved, and published by students and provides recommendations aimed at ensuring students have the proper skills to succeed after graduating from Ontario’s universities.

March 27, 2019

TORONTO, ON - This morning, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) released a policy paper that focuses on the affordability of post-secondary education in Ontario and how students in the province receive financial assistance. The paper was written, approved, and published by students, and it recommends restoring OSAP’s targeted free tuition model, increasing data collection through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, and improving student experiences through more financial assistance.

March 19, 2019

TORONTO, ON -

Content Warning: this press release contains upsetting subject matter regarding sexual violence.

Today, the Ontario government announced the summary results from the 2018 Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey, including responses from over 160,000 post-secondary students — 117,000 of whom were university students. The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) believes that releasing the results summary is a step forward in continuing the dialogue about the climate of sexual violence on campuses. However, OUSA is deeply concerned about the degree to which students experience sexual violence and urges the government to take greater action to end sexual violence on campus.

On January 22, 2019, OUSA met with the Deputy Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. We brought up several questions for clarification, student concerns, and identified the potential impacts of these changes. OUSA will continue to meet with government to stress the negative impacts that these changes will have on students, student unions, and institutions.

January 17, 2019

TORONTO, ON - Today, the provincial government announced changes to Ontario’s tuition framework for universities, including a 10% decrease in domestic undergraduate and professional tuition across all programs. Post-secondary students in Ontario have faced the highest tuition fees nationwide and affordability remains a high priority for Ontario students and their families. Students are pleased to see the provincial government's initiative to address high educational costs by reducing tuition fees, as well as a freeze on tuition in the following years.