Notes from Council: 2025–26 executive goals presented
The executive goals outline what each UASU executive seeks to accomplish during their term.
Helen Zhang“Notes from Council” is The Gateway’s ongoing series of recaps of noteworthy items from Students’ Council meetings.
At the July 29 University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU) Students’ Council meeting, the executive team presented their 2025–26 goals.
These goals outline what each executive seeks to achieve during their term. They’re informed by the UASU strategic plan and the Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee‘s (ARRC) recommendations.
This year’s goals are divided into four major priorities: “Enhancing Student Experience and Engagement,” “Fostering a Safe, Accessible, and Inclusive Campus,” “Improving Academic and Professional Development,” and “Strengthening Organizational Capacity and Financial
Sustainability.”
Expanding campus events, supporting student leaders
The “Enhancing Student Experience and Engagement” theme includes a plan to “re-envision what [UASU] online communication looks like” to create “a more unified UASU identity online,” President Pedro Almeida said.
The executive team is looking to expand its events and collaborate with on and off-campus partners to offer student deliverables. This work has begun with Vice-president (operations and finance) Nathan Thiessen’s collaboration with the Oilers Entertainment Group, Almeida said.
The UASU has committed to supporting Indigenous language and culture revitalization efforts through collaboration with the Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU) on various initiatives and events. Vice-president (student life) Logan West has been supporting the ISU as it plans to host its first Indigenous Student Leaders Summit, Almeida added.
Other goals include improving the event approval process for student groups, increasing building access for student leaders, and providing student leaders with elections software. The UASU is also looking to engage students in the upcoming municipal election.
“It’s really important that we get students out to vote in a non-partisan manner,” Vice-president (external) Abdul Abbasi said.
Campus safety and student wellness
As per the “Fostering a Safe, Accessible, and Inclusive Campus” priority, the UASU will conduct data collection to inform safety recommendations for the university.
To support student well-being, they will examine how menstrual health impacts the campus community. They will also support efforts to destigmatize sexual health and wellness.
“In order to understand what accommodations or policy recommendations are necessary, we must build awareness of the student experience of menstrual health,” West said.
The UASU Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Task Force, chaired by West, will examine existing student supports and identify areas for improvement. Their findings will be complied into a report which will be presented by West to various administrative bodies.
Additional goals include improving ONEcard access, advocating for equitable mobility across campus, expanding prayer and meditation spaces, and holding the university accountable to their commitments to Indigenous rights on campus.
“Our focus here is to work alongside the university to ensure that their commitments are being upheld and that there is better general awareness of them,” West said.
Advancing academic advising and student work opportunities
Under “Improving Academic and Professional Development,” the UASU seeks to advance academic support and student work opportunities.
Vice-president (academic) Katie Tamsett said the UASU is seeking to develop “a standardized framework for students in terms of being able to address their concerns that aren’t dealt with through [Student Perspectives of Teaching] (SPOT) surveys.”
The executive team is seeking to enhance academic advising and advance the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) program. There are also plans to expand accessibility to student research opportunities.
Additionally, the UASU will advocate for provincial and federal funding for work-integrated learning (WIL) programs.
“Youth unemployment in Alberta is the highest since 1992. We are advocating for WIL programs such as the Student Work Placement Program on the federal level and provincially, the Summer Temporary Employment Program,” Tamsett said.
Strategic planning and external advocacy
Lastly, the “Strengthening Organizational Capacity and Financial Sustainability” priority includes UASU strategic planning, budget planning, and external advocacy.
This includes developing and executing the UASU strategic plan, the Students Union Building (SUB) master plan, and fundraising strategy. There are also plans to revisit the Sustainability and Capital Fund (SCF) Green Fund and how it’s advertised.
“We need to ensure that SUB continues to serve students as a living room of campus and deliver a vision for a future that continues to serve students,” Thiessen said.
Other goals include creating agreements with dedicated fee unit (DFU) and student representative association membership fees (SRAMF) collecting organizations that reflect good governance and transparency.
Abbasi also discussed plans to secure discount opportunities with external partners.
“By pursuing discounts with external partners, we aim to find savings for students in their day-to-day life.”
Additionally, the UASU plans to advocate for increased operating grant funding and an increase to the Canada Student Grant.
