November 23rd, 2020 Ottawa – This week, members of Undergraduates of Canadian Research Intensive Universities (UCRU) will meet virtually with MPs and their staff from across Canada to discuss a wide range of student-facing issues.
"COVID-19 has not only introduced a number of new issues that postsecondary students face but has also exacerbated and elevated existing concerns,” said Kristin Smith, UCRU Vice-Chair and Vice President Advocacy of the University of Manitoba’s Students’ Union (UMSU). Advocacy efforts will focus on four primary categories: student financial aid, supporting international students, undergraduate research opportunities, and access for Indigenous students.
Tyler Riches, the Vice-President Public & University Affairs at the University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU), also commented on the purpose of the lobby week: “We hope to have productive conversations with MPs from across Canada about how the federal government can support undergraduate students during this difficult time.”
Members of UCRU are excited to engage in meaningful discussions with politicians on essential matters in the postsecondary education sector and further UCRU’s goals to achieve an affordable, inclusive and high-calibre undergraduate university education with opportunities for increased access to undergraduate research.
To follow along with UCRU’s lobby week, follow @ucru_can and use the #UCRUlobbyweek on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
The Undergraduates of Canadian Research-Intensive Universities is a pragmatic, evidence-driven advocacy alliance of nine student associations dedicated to high-quality, affordable and accessible education, and represents over 250,000 undergraduate university students across Canada.