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UVSS UPDATES

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.

UVSS Governance Review

We are undertaking a governance review to explore options to see how we can best run the UVSS, in order to improve how we support students — the students who run it, and the students who are served by it.

This means ensuring that the work we do is sustainable, represents students, truly supports student well-being, and is guided by equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Click here to 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 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
UVSS Statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, is a new statutory holiday established to recognize lives lost to and survivors of residential schools across so-called Canada. As students who work and study at an educational institution, the UVSS Board acknowledges the connection our education system has to places of violence that claimed to be ‘schools.’
The UVSS occupies space in the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria, which is situated on the unceded, unsurrendered, and stolen territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. Decolonization and Social Justice are key UVSS values, which direct our commitment to educate our members, create open dialogue, and take action to dismantle colonial systems.
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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