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Volunteer With The UVSS

Do you enjoy meeting new people and volunteering for meaningful causes? UVSS has lots of fun, educational events throughout the year. Whether you want to work behind the scenes or in the spotlight, we’d love to have you join us!

I WANT TO VOLUNTEER
Donate To The UVSS Food Bank & Free Store

This Student Affairs’ annual fundraiser for the UVSS Food Bank & Free Store provides students with basic food and necessities while working to eliminate the stigma around accessing food banks. Island Savings has generously agreed to match Stock-tober donations up to $2,500! 

DONATE NOW
Work In The SUB

The UVSS employs approximately 150 staff, consisting of student positions as well as permanent staff. Click the link below for new postings! The University of Victoria Students’ Society is an equal opportunity employer. Click the link below to apply.

I WANT TO WORK IN THE SUB

UVSS UPDATES

UVSS Governance Review

On March 8, 2022, the UVSS announced that it will undertake a governance review to address concerns expressed by student leaders and its members alike regarding the structure of the UVSS Board of Directors. These include representation, compensation and workload of board members. We believe that it is a step forward to ensuring that the UVSS is a place where students can realize their vision of supporting their fellow students and that its services are relevant to their needs today.

To complete this task, UVSS hired an independent third-party consultant with expertise in governance, non-profits, and student leadership. The governance review started in May 2022, and was a four phase project that included the following:

  1. An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of the current UVSS board structure, based on interviews of members of the UVSS Board of Directors over the past five years.
  2. A review of a separate equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) assessment that was conducted by a different third-party consultant in 2021, and incorporating relevant insights into the governance review.
  3. An environmental scan of 20 student organizations that discuss their governance structure and compensation models.
  4. The final recommendations report, which is informed by the findings of the reports above.

The governance review was completed and presented to the UVSS Board of Directors on February 6, 2023. For transparency, the Board recently voted to share the complete governance review to all members by uploading it to the UVSS website. Future UVSS Board of Directors have the ability to decide which recommendations to implement, and how to do so.

It is our hope that in sharing the full UVSS governance review, our members feel our commitment to ensuring democratic participation and enhancing student experience. We also hope that this review will compel students to run for a position in the UVSS Board of Directors, in order to ensure that the UVSS has a clear direction forward.

To access the reports, please click here.

Housing Now! Public Letter: BC NDP’s Role In Addressing The Housing Crisis

We, the students of the University of Victoria, are calling on the British Columbia New Democratic Party to take rapid and radical action against the ongoing housing crisis through the following policy initiatives, which we believe will make housing more affordable for more people and curb displacement.

Click here to read the letter.

International Trans Day of Visibility

The International Trans Day of Visibility is an annual event committed to celebrating trans+ people and raising awareness of the prejudice and bigotry faced by transgender people across the world.

The UVSS wants to take this opportunity to encourage all members of the UVSS community to reflect, educate, learn so we, as allies, can show up better and foster a safe environment for all on campus.

Click here for a list of resources to reflect on and learn more.

Announcement: Commitment 2040

The UVSS Board has committed to making the SUB and all UVSS businesses True Carbon Neutral by 2040, in tandem with UVic’s commitment of a carbon neutral campus by 2050. This project will be led by the new Ecofoot Working Group, which is open to student involvement.

Join us to help make your campus more sustainable!

UVSS Launches Ecofoot Working Group

The UVSS has officially launched the Ecofoot Working Group! This group provides recommendations on all matters relating to the environmental sustainability of the UVSS’ operations and activities. The working group is intended to act as an ongoing open forum for members to get involved with the sustainability activities of the society. Please visit the sustainability page on our website to learn more information and get involved.

UVSS Win: OneCard name change

Have you changed your name because you are 2S, trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming? Or because you got married? As of Nov 24th, there is now an option to update your OneCard to accurately reflect your name, thanks to UVSS advocacy!

Q, the Director of Events, was facing this exact issue and knows that other students are experiencing similar issues. They approached UVic to advocate for a more inclusive policy where students could have an ID that affirms their gender identity, at no cost.

How to Get Involved

Join a Committee

Check out our committee schedule and a description of what committees are. These are all open committees, so you can just pop on in!

Find a committee for you
Attend Board Meetings

We have board meetings two Mondays a month at 6pm, which are live streamed via our Facebook page. You can see past minutes and upcoming agendas, too.

Learn more
Volunteer with Us

We’re looking for many awesome volunteers throughout the year, and especially at the beginning of the term!

Sign me up!

UVSS Statements

UVSS Statement in Support of Ukrainian Students

As a student union, we have always firmly defended the rights of students to be free from harassment and discrimination on our campus. We are making a statement in light of the acts of harassment directed towards the Ukrainian Students Society during UVSS Clubs and Course Union days. These acts of harassment are unacceptable and we condemn it in the strongest terms.

Click here to read the full statement.

UVSS Statement On The Dissolution of UVIC Pride

At the November 14th board meeting, the UVSS Board of Directors voted to dissolve UVIC Pride and hold their funding in trust, after requesting the resignation of the Pride Representative.

Click here to read the full statement.

UVSS Statement on  National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

Tomorrow is September 30th, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. This statutory holiday, also known as Orange Shirt Day, was established to recognize the lives lost and the survivors of residential schools across so-called Canada.

The SUB will be closed on September 30th,2022

Read the full statement here.

Learn more
Three Black and disabled folx smile and hold mini flags. On the left, a non-binary person holds both a rainbow pride flag and a transgender pride flag, while a cane rests behind her. In the middle, a non-binary person waves the rainbow flag while in their power wheelchair. On the right, a femme waves both a rainbow and transgender pride flag.
UVSS Pride Month Statement

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the impact of 2SLGBTQIA+ members on our community, look at the progress that has been made, and reflect on where we still must make improvements for the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ people, who still face discrimination and bigotry.

At the UVSS we aim to promote meaningful social change across the campus environment, thus we want folks to take time this month to reflect and educate themselves further on the issues faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

Please read our full statement to learn more and find out about resources available on campus.

Learn more
UVSS Statement Against Transphobia on Campus

It is with great sadness and pain that we must respond to a spree of transphobic and transmisogynistic graffiti across campus.  

This type of hate is not welcome on our campus. Collectively, the UVSS Board of Directors and Advocacy Groups, exist to support the diversity of our students. We stand together to affirm that gender diversity is welcomed, accepted, and supported at the UVSS and in the Student Union Building.

Please read our full statement to learn more and find out about resources available on campus.

Learn more
December 6: Day of Remembrance and Action Against Gender-Based Violence

The UVSS remembers the 14 women who were murdered on a university campus during the Montreal Massacre on Sunday, December 6, 1989.

December 6th has become a national day to remember the victims and survivors of the massacre, and has also evolved to address all forms of gender-based violence.

The UVSS is committed to supporting students who have experienced sexual or gender-based violence and advocating for change at a community, provincial and national level.

Please join us in remembrance and solidarity at the campus-based events on Monday, December 6. And please send a letter to the BC government advocating that they increase their support to end gender-based violence on campuses.

Event info & campus resources
Send an advocacy letter
Trans Day of Remembrance

November 20th is Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR), which marks the culmination of Transgender Awareness Week.  Today and every day, we celebrate the lives of Trans, Nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and all gender-diverse people.

Read our full statement to learn about five essential action items that folks can follow to facilitate gender inclusivity in their lives.

Read our full statement
Read more UVSS statements

Health and Dental Plan

Who’s Covered?

Undergrad students who are members of the UVSS and are registered in at least 3 units of on-campus classes in September or January including co-op or distance students are automatically covered by the UVSS Enhanced Health & Dental Plan.

Two Coverage Options?

UVSS Members now have access to a flexible benefit model that offers students two different coverage options, the Enhanced Plan (higher coverage at higher cost) and the Basic Plan (lower coverage at lower cost).

Change of Coverage

Choose your coverage plan , mix and match portions of both, or opt out during the Change-of-Coverage Period each year.

  • Fall: August 24th to September 22nd
  • Winter: December 22nd to January 22nd

See studentcare.ca for more info.

Learn more about our Health & Dental Plan
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