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USC Advocacy

Advocacy is the process of influencing people and/or institutions to make decisions or take actions that benefit you or the group you represent. It’s not a project, where you have control over making things happen; instead, you need to convince those that have the paper to make things happen to prioritize what you want and when you want it. It can take a long, long time, and requires consistency, good timing, and strong relationships. At any given time, the USC is engaging in advocacy at multiple levels of government, and across the university. However, effective advocacy has to be focused, which means that we can’t advocate on everything all of the time. 

USC Elections 2024: Referendum on Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA)

The University Students’ Council (USC) is currently looking to join the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), a student organization that does federal advocacy. CASA is a national voice for Canada’s post-secondary students. Established in 1995, CASA is a non-partisan, not-for-profit student organization composed of student associations from across Canada. They represent undergraduate, graduate and college associations. At its core, CASA advocates on behalf of post-secondary students to the federal government. When Canada’s leaders make decisions affecting our post-secondary education system, they turn to CASA for solutions. Joining CASA will allow you to have a larger voice and influence to advocate nationally for your student experience.

The USC has had observership status at CASA for the past year, and have seen the benefits of the organization. With our observer status set to expire in 2025, students have to decide whether we want to become full members of CASA. 

In the upcoming USC Election, eligible students will be asked to vote YES or NO to the following question: 

  • Should the USC join the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations at the cost of $2.44 per full-time student, subject to an annual increase by CPI?

Learn more about CASA and Referendums before you decide! 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Referendum?

Referendums are a rare, binding ballot question that decide USC policies – including how much you are charged in your ancillary fees. Referendums don’t come around often, so it is important to vote when they do. You will be able to vote at the end of your election ballot.

Why do we have a referendum?

Student Referendums allows the USC to receive direct student input on our organizational direction. It is really important to be informed and vote in referendums to make sure that your student voice is heard. 

In November 2023, Council passed a motion to bring a question to a referendum regarding CASA. This question will be included in the 2024 election cycle. If the referendum passes, students will be paying an extra $2.44 subject to an annual increase by CPI on their ancillary fees to cover the cost of membership and additional travel fees for Lobby Delegates. 

What is CASA?

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a national voice for Canada’s post-secondary students. Established in 1995, CASA is a non-partisan, not-for-profit student organization composed of student associations from across Canada. They represent undergraduate, graduate and college associations.

At its core, CASA advocates on behalf of post-secondary students to the federal government. When Canada’s leaders make decisions affecting our post-secondary education system, they turn to CASA for solutions. 

The USC has had observership status at CASA for the past year, and have seen the benefits of the organization. With our observer status set to expire in 2025, the USC has to decide whether we want to become full members of CASA. 

You can find more CASA information here: https://www.casa-acae.com/mission_vision_values

What does CASA do?

CASA has a Home Office in Ottawa, where their full time staff and student delegates work to advocate for students. They meet with politicians; write policy recommendations; run informational campaigns to garner support for student issues; conduct research that influences policy at a federal level, including research on topics such as housing, the food insecurity crisis, and student debt. They are a national voice on student issues in the media, and they work to quantify the truth of students’ experiences to the federal government.

Why should we join?

Advocacy is a long term process, and by joining CASA and adding our voice to this coalition, we are setting the foundation to improve the student experience for all post-secondary students in Canada. Advocacy is about power in numbers and consensus building. There is power in 385,000 student voices advocating to the federal government instead of just 35 000.

What do I get?

The average student pays $2.80 to CASA per year, and now gets $530 more in grants annually due to CASA advocacy. Western Students would pay $2.44.

Some of CASA’s other accomplishments have given students:

  • 45 000 new job opportunities (through Canada Summer Jobs)
  • $1 Billion more available in graduate research funding
  • More time to pay off their student loans through interest-free student loans  
  • $100 Million in financial aid for Indigenous students

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Students have the power to change the world.”

USC Vision Statement

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