OUSA represents the interests of approximately 150,000 undergraduate and professional, full-time and part-time university students at eight student associations across Ontario Principles: OUSA is guided by a number of key principles, including:
Member Driven – Students direct all of the activities of our organization, including our messages to government, our research and policy, our strategic di
rection, and all of our programs and deliverables. Decision-Making by Consensus – In order to ensure our decisions reflect the interests of all of our members, we endeavour to make decisions by consensus. Access to Key Decision Makers – OUSA representatives strive to ensure students have access to key decision makers, including political and public service representatives in the provincial government, as well as Ministers and Members of Provincial Parliament. This access is driven by our professional approach to providing educated solutions while maintaining a strong position on our members’ opinions on issues related to their education. Respect for the Autonomy of Individual Student Associations – Student associations retain autonomy over their own affairs in all matters, including policy, public messaging and methods of alignment. Solution-Oriented – One of OUSA’s most important goals is to provide educated solutions to government through responsive research and policy on the issues that affect students the most. Coordination – OUSA facilitates the coordination of public messaging and local lobbying efforts to the provincial government by member associations. Accountable – We strive to be accountable to our members through responsible fiscal management and regular, public reporting of our activities. Focused – In order to achieve successes for students, OUSA remains focused on undergraduate education issues. Decentralized – As an alliance, OUSA only exists because of the contributions of member associations and student representatives at member schools. As a member, you are OUSA. Therefore, the student representatives on the Steering Committee direct all of the activities of the home office. Policy development is also executed at individual member schools. Balanced Representation – In order to ensure balanced representation, our General Assembly delegations are based on population and our Steering Committee designates one vote per school.
