Didn’t have time to keep up with student governance on campus last semester? Not to worry, your Sheaf team has your back!

This article solely reflects the opinion of the USSU Executives based on an interview where the executives were asked to provide information on their work since September, obstacles faced, and future plans. The Sheaf is interested in hearing students’ opinions regarding the work done by the USSU Executives so far. If you are interested in sharing your voice, contact us at editor@thesheaf.com and/or news@thesheaf.com. Depending on the volume of answers, an article reflecting students’ opinions might be written. Respondents will remain anonymous by request.

The USSU Executive Committee consists of the President, Krunal Chavda; Vice-President Academic Affairs, Elisabeth Bauman; Vice-President Student Affairs, Upkar Singh; and Vice-President Operations and Finance, Moses Ahiabu. 

Chavda describes the year’s progress so far as “[being] full of meaningful wins for us as a student union.” One such win, he explains, is that the USSU has secured $50,000 in funding to support the uFood Emergency Hamper program, which provides students facing food insecurity with hampers each term. 

Chavda highlights another moment that stands out to him: joining the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, and getting the opportunity to advocate for students on a national level. USSU Executives attended Advocacy Week, a conference held annually in Ottawa in the fall to advocate for improving post-secondary education in Canada. Chavda says they pushed “for important changes, like more funding for Indigenous students, better immigration policies for graduates, and financial aid that keeps up with inflation.” 

Bauman has spent the past few months writing and presenting the USSU Academic Advocacy Office Report. This 47-page report includes recommendations made from Bauman’s first-hand experience in being involved in 140 student academic cases which range from a variety of topics including academic misconduct, conflicts, and academic appeals, from May 2023 to August 2024. The full report can be read by visiting the link: USSU’s Academic Advocacy Office Brief & Report Bauman says, “This report has had a significant impact on the way our university is currently thinking about the gaps in student supports, and steps are being taken to address some of the concerns raised in the report.”

Singh says since September he is most proud of “enhancing the students’ perspective with respect to their involvement in the politics at the Municipal and the Provincial level and making them realise the importance of them getting their voices heard.” 

One of Ahiabu’s proudest accomplishments has been his “collaboration with Saskatoon Transit to extend transit services to neighbourhoods such as Brighton, Aspen Ridge, and Rosewood. This initiative has greatly enhanced accessibility for students in these areas, reducing barriers to attending classes, accessing campus resources, and participating in extracurricular activities.” 

Ahiabu is committed to “empowering students and ensuring that Campus Groups thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.” This is why he and Chavda “introduced Campus Groups GPT, a cutting-edge tool designed to support Campus Groups by providing instant access to resources, streamlining administrative processes, and offering guidance for student leaders instantly.” Ahiabu believes that “tools like Campus Groups GPT and the Discord channel have been pivotal in addressing [communication] issues.”

Chavda recaps the work done by the USSU since September saying, “Each of these steps represents real progress for students, and it’s been humbling to play a part in that.” 

However, no position comes without its share of obstacles. Chavda comments on the frustration of “navigating the maze of student support systems and the layers of bureaucracy that come with trying to make meaningful change.” Singh adds, “Undertaking an initiative which caters to the involvement of various departments or resources on campus, it becomes a hurdle to carry out a smooth logistical execution as many factors tend to come in the way of the smooth functioning of the different partners because of their own unique reasons.”

Bauman agrees that the “systems are complicated for everyone to navigate” and that she and her colleagues work to help students navigate the system by gathering information, and learning about each college’s specific requirements. She says, “It is fulfilling work, but time-consuming, and sometimes we are not able to help students in the way they would like. This makes me feel sad and frustrated at times, so something I am trying to implement is channelling these feelings into productive avenues and learning to forgive myself and others for mistakes–we are all human and fallible, and I want to extend grace just as so many people have given me the grace and opportunity to learn.”

Currently, the USSU Executives are working on USSU Plan – 2030, a roadmap that aims to help future USSU Executives with continuity while still allowing flexibility to achieve these objectives. Chavda says, “Right now, we’re consulting with students and colleges to shape this plan together, ensuring it reflects the needs and aspirations of our community.”

Ahiabu says in the coming months he is focused on improving the funding system for Campus Groups to be more transparent and user-friendly. He says “This update will ensure that all groups, regardless of size or reach, have equitable access to the financial resources they need to thrive.” He also is working with the IT team to improve the Student Groups page on the USSU website to be user-friendly and informative. Ahiabu says, “By making these platforms more intuitive and accessible, we aim to reduce the time and effort required for students to navigate our systems, freeing them up to focus on what matters most: their growth, events, and initiatives.”

Bauman, in collaboration with the Academic Governance Assistant and the USSU’s Academic Relations Committee, is preparing for the USSU’s Undergraduate Symposium which takes place on February 26. She welcomes all undergraduate students to submit a project to present at the symposium. Additionally, Bauman is excited about her social media series of awareness campaigns that include topics such as AI, library resources, and open educational resources. To access these campaigns follow the USSU on social media. She says that these campaigns “help students know their rights and become familiar with resources available to them.”

Singh says “The foremost thing from the professional point of view that I am currently working on implementing is promoting the importance of sustainability in our everyday lives and providing a boost to the various sustainability-related initiatives by means of the resources vested with us and our strong relation with the USask Office of Sustainability.”  Singh also says that he wants to “highlight the position that I cater to, which is the Vice-President of Student Affairs role and the immense opportunities it brings with it regarding providing the necessary support to our fellow students in non-academic matters. It is a tremendous opportunity to work towards creating a welcoming campus-wide community and to increase student engagement through social, cultural, and professional initiatives… being able to achieve this and witnessing an atmosphere of contentment and happiness fills all those boxes of accomplishment for the person in this role.”

Chavda asks readers to let the USSU be the bridge between the challenges students face, from academics to housing, and the solutions to those challenges. He says “Together, we can turn obstacles into opportunities and challenges into triumphs.”  

Bauman agrees with this sentiment, encouraging students to “seek support when you start feeling stressed and overwhelmed. There are better solutions than cheating when you do not think you can complete an assessment and there are people on campus who would be happy to help you.”

Ahiabu has a message for leaders of Campus Groups  saying, “You are the heart of our campus community.” He goes on to say, “Your passion, creativity, and dedication drive student life and make our university a more vibrant and inclusive place. Through your hard work and dedication, you create opportunities for connection, growth, and transformation that enrich the lives of every student. Without your contributions, the thriving community we all cherish would not exist. “ He encourages Campus Groups to “leverage the tools, resources, and support systems the USSU has to offer.”

Chavda wants readers to know that “you are the driving force behind everything we do at the USSU… This is your union. This is your community. Let’s shape it together. Because when we listen, when we act, and when we stand united, there’s nothing we cannot achieve. Your voice matters. Your story matters. You matter.”