Fees

WUSA events provide opportunities to make friends, have fun, and improve mental health. This fee supports events run by the undergraduate student association, including but not limited to:

• termly transition activities such as Welcome Week and Fall Carnival
• free food events like Warrior Breakfast
• cultural events like Cultural Caravan
• social and networking events
• and recreational events like Warriors on Ice.

If you choose to opt out of this fee:

• You will no longer have access to attend WUSA run special events

WUSA student-run services provide positive community-building, and social opportunities for students on and off campus. This fee supports student-run services including:

• the Bike Centre
• International and Canadian Student Network (ICSN)
• Co-op Connection
• Off-Campus Community
• Volunteer Centre
• and Sustainable Campus Initiative.

If you choose to opt out of this fee:

• You will not be able to access the above services, or may have to pay additional funds for use of services (e.g. paying for bike repair)
• You will not be able to apply for Executive or Coordinator roles associated with the above services.

WUSA clubs provide a sense of community and belonging on campus; hundreds of opportunities to get involved; opportunities to build relationships; athletic and recreational activities; career, professional, and skills development; and leadership opportunities. This fee supports over 250 clubs operated by your undergraduate student association.

If you choose to opt out of this fee:

• You will not be able to join any Clubs at Waterloo
• You will not be able to start any WUSA clubs
• You will not be eligible to be a club Exec Member

WUSA advocacy ensures student voices are heard by decision-makers at the University of Waterloo to support and enhance the undergraduate student experience by championing mental health, academic petitions, bursaries and scholarships, tuition, housing, and other critical issues. This fee also supports student advocacy leadership and job positions including the student associations Executives, Students’ Council, Academic Affairs Commissioner, and Experiential & Co-op Affairs Commissioner.

If you choose to opt out of this fee:

• By opting out of WUSA University advocacy efforts there could be implications on the resources we will have to hire student advocacy roles, to bring issues affecting students to University leadership, and to facilitate other advocacy awareness and lobbying activities.
• You will not be eligible to become a Experiential & Co-op Affairs Commissioner or an Academic Affairs Commissioner.

WUSA government advocacy ensures student voices are heard by decision-makers at local, provincial, and federal governments to ensure education is accessible, affordable, and of the highest quality for all students. This fee also supports research-based recommendations to government on subjects from tuition and OSAP to transit and housing. It also supports student advocacy leadership and job positions including the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association Executives, Municipal Affairs Commissioner, and Provincial & Federal Affairs Commissioner.

If you choose to opt out of this fee:

• By opting out of WUSA government advocacy efforts there could be implications on the resources we will have to be members of provincial and national advocacy organizations, to hire student advocacy roles, to bring issues affecting students to every level of government and to facilitate other advocacy awareness and lobbying activities.
• You will not be eligible to become a Municipal Affairs Commissioner or Provincial & Federal Affairs Commissioner.

Paying the MathSoc fee empowers and allows you to use operational services such as: the exam bank, the MathSoc office (printing, photocopying, other stationery needs, board games, and more), MC Lockers, and community events like Movie Nights, Pi Day, Party with Profs, Destress with Puppies, etc. It also funds and allows you to join MathSoc Clubs like ActSci Club, Data Science Club, and others. Further, 16% of the fee goes to our Capital Improvement Fund which makes lasting improvements to student space such as additions and maintenance for our Coffee & Donuts Shop and the Comfy Lounge.

The Engineering Society exists to promote a positive undergraduate experience among its members through representation of student opinion as well as support of academic, professional and social needs. This fee provides students with access to services such as the exam bank, resume critiques, academic workshops and mental health resources. It also helps operate the Engineering Society office and Coffee and Donut shops. Engineering Society also sponsors student design teams and runs many social events, as well as support for first year students through events and mentorship.

The St. Jerome's Students' Union fee enables Students’ Union to advocate on behalf of students and represent the needs of the community on various St. Jerome's' and University of Waterloo committees. The fee gives students access to resources and events organized by Students' Union, allows students to pay a decreased price for events such as the annual Green and Gold Gala, and enables the Union to work to improve the student experience at St. Jerome's, which includes organizing initiatives relating to student mental health and wellness, sustainability, food services, academics, and more.

The Environment Student Society (ESS) promotes the interest and well-being of all undergraduate students within the environment faculty. ESS provides a source of communication between the students and the administration as well as continuously promoting opportunities for students to grow and develop their skills as well as interests. ESS works with the administration to initiate an encouraging and supportive atmosphere with academic and social events in order to build a strong and welcoming community within the faculty.

By opting out of this fee, you will not be able to participate in Science Society (SciSoc) events and activities, participate in SciSoc elections, or apply to be a SciSoc coordinator. SciSoc is the Faculty of Science student government that supports you at UWaterloo. SciSoc members enjoy events and services for professional and personal development, as well as academic and social events like: Career Workshops, Midterm Giveaways, Wellness Days, and Dog Therapy. SciSoc members also benefit from discounted prices at: Wonderland, Christmas Market, Halloween Haunt, Sciball, Scichella, and Gradball.

The Accounting and Finance Student Association (AFSA) is a student-run organization dedicated to enriching the experiences of Accounting and Finance students. AFSA organizes numerous social events, professional development seminars, and academic review sessions. AFSA offers up to 80% in subsidies for conference fees and travel expenses through its Goes for Gold program. Opting out of the AFSA fee revokes the student's admittance for all AFSA events and services (including eligibility for subsidies such as all conference subsidies and the Grad Ball discount).

The Society of Pharmacy Students (SOPhS) is a student-led organization committed to enriching the experience of its members during their time in Pharmacy School. SOPhS provides students with social, athletic and educational events aimed at enriching the students’ non-academic lives. SOPhS oversees all student clubs in Pharmacy School, and also acts as the liaison between the student body and faculty. This fee will go directly to supporting SOPhS and other SOPhS related clubs at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy.

Contributing a small part to the Applied Health Sciences Society (AHSUM) allows others and yourself to take part in governance and become a stronger knit family through events and services. AHSUM offers multiple events including Pints and Pops with Profs, Shantz Farm, Therapy Dogs, Semi-Formal and many more while providing services such as exam banks, snacks, and swag in our newly furnished lounge and fishbowl. With your support, we will continue to have a shared open space for all Applied Health Sciences undergraduate members to be welcomed in and feel accepted and to communicate with others.

The Arts Student Union (ASU) is the representative for Arts undergraduate students, overseeing 20+ departmental societies within the Faculty of Arts. We host a variety of events, such as Midterm De-stress with the AUO, breakfast giveaways, and our annual trip to Halloween Haunt. Each departmental society hosts events geared toward their students, enhancing their studies and overall university experience. The ASU fee allows the Arts Student Union and the departmental societies to organize events for students to come together, fostering a sense of community at the university.

The Global Business Digital Arts Society student fee is used to help the student society in creating student-centred experiences that support the growth of the GBDA community. It is applied by financing various events around both Waterloo and Stratford with a focus on increasing student involvement. It also plays a large role in supporting student initiatives that start in Stratford and aim to better the overall student experience at a satellite campus.

The University of Waterloo Optometry Student Society (UWOSS) is a student-run organization that represents the opinion and interests of the Optometry student body. UWOSS serves as a liaison between the Optometry students and main campus organizations and faculty members within the school. UWOSS also sponsors a number of social events, including: a Slo-pitch tournament, the "EyeScream" Halloween Party, the “EyeBall” Optometry Formal, the legendary Optometry “Corneal Cup” hockey tournament, and Optometry's Skit Night.

The Renison Academic Council fee supports the work of student governments at Renison University College. Both the Renison Academic Student Council and Bachelor of Social Work Executive Council work to advocate for the needs of students, and enhance their academic and social experience while at university. These student-run councils represent the interests of students across Renison on various committees. In addition, they fundraise, organize events, work within the community, and advocate for students at Renison.

Details regarding WASA coming soon.

The undergraduate student association is required as a non-profit to be in line with the Ontario Corporations Act, R.S.O. 1990. This fee includes the costs for the items necessary for compliance and the overhead associated with their administration.

What's indluded:

• Audit, Legal, and Insurance Costs
• Board of Directors
• Elections
• General Meetings

This fee ensures the student association can continue to: provide support for students with academic grievances, discipline, petitions, and appeals; provide student representation on academic disciplinary bodies for co-op and regular academic matters; advocate and advise on student safety on campus; negotiate essential student transit pass programs.

What's included:

• Co-op Affairs Commissioner, Academic Affairs Commissioner, Centre for Academic Policy Support
• Portions of the VP Education and Municipal Affairs Commissioner portfolios

This fee goes toward providing: peer-to-peer counselling to undergraduate students; improvements to campus safety; food, toiletries, and other necessities to food-insecure students; safe spaces for marginalized students; programming that supports and fosters mental health and wellness on campus; and a dedicated role that focuses on creating an equitable campus experience for students.

What's included:

• Equity-Seeking Student-Run Services (Glow Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity; Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity, and Equity; The Women’s Centre)
• Student Wellness Services (Student Food Bank; MATES)
• Equity Commissioner
• Campus Safety Service (Campus Response Team)
• Wellness Days Programming
• Portions of the Municipal Affairs Commissioner portfolio

This fee goes toward the operation and management of the Student Life Centre, the hub of student life activity on campus.

What's included:

• Costs associated with running and maintaining the Student Life Centre

This fee sponsors eligible students from refugee camps abroad to continue their studies and improve their lives at the University of Waterloo. The fee levy covers all of the student's academic and living expenses for two years. With the support of UWaterloo and its affiliated colleges, the students are able to live on residence, receive meal plans and other services. This program is provided through the undergraduate student association.

This fee provides students with access to legal representation for housing, employment, and academic discipline disputes, in addition to a legal hotline that can be used to seek legal information pertaining to any area of the law by an accredited law firm. This service is provided by the undergraduate student association. This group discount program is not comparable to other market products, as it far exceeds coverage and support, but saves students hundreds to thousands of dollars annual depending on legal support required.

If you choose to opt out of this fee:

You will lose access to the Legal Protection Program, which includes a toll-free legal assistance hotline on any legal questions or area students might have questions about, and access to a lawyer that will represent you on proceedings related to the following areas of law: housing/tenancy, employment/contract law/labour law, and academic rights.

The Health Plan fee provides health coverage for undergraduate students with the assistance of StudentCare networks. Students can opt out or enroll spouse/dependents at www.studentcare.ca during the Change-of-Coverage Period. Inquiries about the coverage can also be directed to the Health and Dental office in the Health Services, Room 1006. During the winter term, regular students pay twice the rate for Health and Dental coverage to ensure continuous coverage from May through August. Considered together with the Dental Plan, this group discount program saves students approximately $367 per year on average for equivalent insurance coverage.

The Dental Plan fee provides dental coverage for undergraduate students with the assistance of StudentCare networks. Students can opt out or enroll spouse/dependents at www.studentcare.ca during the Change-of-Coverage Period. Inquiries about the coverage can also be directed to the Health and Dental office in the Health Services, Room 1006. During the winter term, regular students pay twice the rate for Health and Dental coverage to ensure continuous coverage from May through August. Considered together with the Health Plan, this group discount program saves students approximately $367 per year on average for equivalent insurance coverage.

The UPass fee is a non-refundable fee collected on behalf of Grand River Transit. The fee is paid by full-time undergraduate students with at least three (3) on campus courses on academic term; students can also use the pass during an academic co-op, or off term. This group discount saves students approximately $878 per year.