Have you ever considered how change comes about? Before a change is made, there is planning and before planning, comes an understanding of what needs to be put into the action to make a situation better. Advocating is the process of research, promotion, lobbying and direct action to make a change that will better the community as a whole. Being an advocate means standing up for what you believe in, as well as what is best for your community, and lobbying for that belief to become reality.
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The Advocacy Department
Together, the Vice President of External Affairs and Research Coordinator work to engage, inform and lobby for students on issues that affect post-secondary education, and the life of the modern student. The team writes policy papers used to advocate for students’ needs and interests to various levels of government through the Ontario University Student Alliance, participates in nation-wide advocacy initiatives, organizes campaigns on campus and more.
Vice President, External Affairs (VPEA)
The VPEA is responsible for representing the student voice on all levels of government through advocacy and lobbying efforts. They focus on working with our provincial lobbying group, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), and on fostering relationships with local politicians and community stakeholders to advocate for the needs and interests of students.
Research Coordinator
The Research Coordinator assists in the creation of policy options to the municipal, provincial and federal governments on behalf of OUSA. The research coordinator is responsible for conducting all research as directed by the VPEA, as well as researching information necessary to the campaigns conducted by the advocacy coordinator.
Kayleigh RossettoDirector, Governance and Advocacy
Alexa LeitchVice President of External Affairs
Hope Tuff-Berg Research and Policy Writer
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) was established in 1995 and has been an undergraduate lobby group for the past 20 years. It represents 150,000 students from eight Ontario Universities. Member universities pay $3.04 per student for every year. OUSA is a student-driven organization, meaning students direct the activities of the organization such as messages to the government, research and policy, strategic direction, and all other programs and deliverables. One of OUSA’s most important goals is to provide educated policy options to government through responsive research and policy on the issues that affect students the most. Some of OUSA’s major successes include:
- Moratorium on all OSAP payments and interest accrual during COVID-19 (2020)
- $9 billion relief package for students including creation of Canada Emergency Student Benefits and doubling of Canada student grants for 2020-2021
- $73 million for psychotherapy treatment to individuals over the age of 18, in addition to $6 million for frontline mental healthcare workers on campus (2017)
- $190M into the Career Kick-start strategy, providing more experiential learning opportunities to students across Ontario (2017)
- $365 million of tax credits repurposed into grants for low-income students (2016)
- $220 million through the Ontario budget for improvements to student financial assistance such as an increased loan maximum, simplification of pre-study income contribution and the removal of an in-study income (2015)
- $295 million for the Youth Jobs Strategy (2013)
- Lobbied for and secured Fall Reading Week for students across Ontario (2013)
- New Tuition Framework (2013)
- 30% off tuition grant (2011)
- $615 million in student aid, credit transfers, growth and infrastructure (2010)
- $295 million in student aid, credit transfers, growth and infrastructure (2010)
Working with OUSA allows each campus and its students the opportunity to be heard and represented to decision makers in the post-secondary education system.
To learn more visit OUSA’s website.
The Advocacy & Elections teams are looking for smart, capable, enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to help execute amazing campaigns through peer engagement.
What do Advocacy & Elections volunteers do?
Great question!
Volunteers will help to execute the engagement part of the campaigns where you speak with students on the topics the Advocacy & Elections teams are working on.
If you enjoy having fun while talking with your fellow students on topics related to BUSU’s advocacy work, we welcome your application to be a volunteer!
Volunteers will receive the proper training on the topics being promoted, as well as get access to great insight into BUSU’s advocacy work. Many volunteers have gone onto to great leadership roles within the organization!
Fill out the form below today!
Contact Us!
Are you interested in learning more about what we do? Have a comment on our hallway campaigns? Send us a message & let us know what’s on your mind!
