USSU News and Events

The graduate opportunities workshop is a collaborative event of USSU and GSA that aims to help undergraduate students navigate the steps to graduate school, inform them of various graduate opportunities and help them through the process of finding a graduate position and entering the research world.

There will be a presentation (overview) of graduate opportunities at USask, and how to find them, access them, land them, and write up an application. The event will have graduate students from various colleges provide peer-to-peer mentorship for students wanting to pursue graduate studies.

October 21, 2021
4:30PM on ZOOM
Eventbrite

Email vpacademic@ussu.ca for details

We would like to invite you to our special event: Storytelling by the river with USSU’s Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, Joseph Naytowhow.
Date: October 14th, 3:30 pm
Check-In: 3:20 pm at the USSU in Place Riel

Location and time of Storytelling: 3:35 pm By the river on the University side near the education building beside the big rocks.

Are you on campus during October 12th -15th? Sign up to pick up a baby plant at the USSU office while supplies last. Plants are a great natural mechanism to improve indoor air quality.

Grab Baby plants for free at the USSU in Place Riel
Sign Up: https://forms.gle/Rdnc3nAVnsqjaYfeA

Finally, we will do some highlights on our social media that will follow up with a quick quiz for a chance to win Louis’ gift cards.
First place: $25
Second Place: $15
Third Place: $10

We encourage you to tell your friends and constituencies about this great week.

The USSU Women’s Centre is hosting Sexual Violence Awareness Week. Our week will focus on awareness, steps that can be taken toward prevention, community, and healing.

Monday, September 20

Sexualized Violence 101: Understanding Sexualized Violence

Join us at 2:30 as Morgan Price (Education & Outreach Coordinator at Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre) kicks off our Sexual Violence Awareness Week with a presentation about understanding sexualized violence. Sexualized Violence 101: all the things we think you should know about this systemic issue and what we can do to begin eradicating sexualized violence from our community. Topics covered will include definitions of terminology, an overview of consent and the law, impacts on survivors, and ways to be a strong support person. All are welcome!

Tuesday, September 21

Consent and Campus Culture

In the era of the Me Too movement, conversations about sexualized violence have entered the mainstream media. As we learn to understand its harmful impacts, we also strive to eliminate this harm from our communities. In this session we will discuss power & privilege, consent, and the ways in which we can take action for individual and systemic change. Join us Tuesday at 2pm.

Wednesday, September 22

Ted Talk Night and Discussion 

Join us on the USSU Discord Server at 7pm

Thursday, September 23

Letter Writing Campaign at the Women’s Centre, 103 Memorial Union Building 2:30pm-4pm

Interested in joining a club? Campus Club Week is perfect for you! Check out the Arts Tunnel September 7-10 to see all the different clubs this campus has to offer. Groups will be promoting their events, recruiting members and informing students on their mandate. For more information regarding campus groups, visit the ussuhub

This year will be different in many ways, but the USSU is determined to continue to offer as many of our services as possible! Our Welcome Week contests and activities will take place in the Bowl September 2-3, from 10am to 4pm.

Survival Calendar
If you are looking for a copy of the Survival Calendar, you’ll be able to find it at the information tent in the Bowl, along with other great swag giveaways.

Entertainment
There will be DJs and a live performance from the Association Jeunesse Fransaskoise (AJF) each day at 12:30. SaskTel will be in the Bowl, providing games and opportunities to win great prizes. You will also see lawn games, cotton candy, and a lot more.

Carless Drive-In September 2, 8PM
Mean Girls
It’s going to be so FETCH!
SaskTel blankets will be available while supplies last.

Information Tent
Learn about the different things you can do and experience on campus.

Pop Up Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic
The Student Wellness Centre will be hosting a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the Bowl between 10am and 4pm on September 2 and 3. Students can make appointments in advance by calling 306-966-5768, and walk-up appointments are welcome. In the event of poor weather conditions, the clinic will be moved inside Convocation Hall. Vaccines are also available through most pharmacies and pop-up clinics across the province.

COVID-19 rapid screening test appointments are also offered at the Student Wellness Centre. To find out available times, call the Student Wellness Centre at 306-966-5768 or email student.wellness@usask.ca.

USSU Executive Buzzfeed Quiz
Ever wondered which USSU Executive you would be? Take our Executive Buzzfeed quiz and find out!

Online Scavenger Hunt
Get to know the USSU by taking our Virtual Scavenger Hunt. There will Be Louis’ and Louis’ Loft Gift cards for the winners.

You only need to enter one group to win, and the questions are the same in each group.

Group 1 Game PIN: 08674974

Group 2 Game PIN: 05840296

Group 3 Game PIN: 08035633

The USSU Childcare Centre is currently accepting applications for Toddlers (19months-2.5 years old) and Pre-schoolers (2.5-6 years old).

Visit ussuchildcarecentre.ca for details or contact

Executive Director
Colleen Gerling
306-966-2777
executivedirector@ussuchildcarecentre.ca

Calling all USask undergrad student leaders. This is your chance to make a difference on campus!

You are eligible to apply for Student At Large (SAL) positions on any of the USSU Committees. Committee descriptions are available here:ussu.ca/committees. Students may also read the SAL Policy at ussu.ca/bylaw for more information regarding SAL responsibilities.

Being a SAL gives you the opportunity to learn about student governance, grow your network, gain leadership skills, build your resume and earn a CCR credit! If any of the following committees are of interest to you, please submit your application by September 16, 2021 at 4pm.

We have numerous committees to help guide the USSU. Join a committee that matches your interests.

Academic Relations Committee
Campus Group Committee
Finance and Assessment Committee
Elections Committee
External Relations Committee
Indigenous Student Advisory Committee
International Student Advisory Committee
Student Experience Committee
Sustainability Committee

Visit ussu.ca/sal to fill out your application.

To use your smartphone as your U-Pass, follow these instructions:

Setup your smartphone:

1. Make sure you have been assessed the U-Pass fee or have filled out the opt-in application and that you see the U-Pass fee on your student tuition account on PAWS.
2. Go to your phone’s app store and download the Saskatoon mobile ticketing app, Transit Go (TGo)
   

   	Link to Apple’s App Store
   	Link to Google Play Store

3. Once you have downloaded and installed the app, follow these steps to create an account
   1. Open the Transit Go app and in the top right corner, click the three lines to be presented with the Utilities menu
   2. Select “My Account”
   3. Select “New account” if you haven’t created an account for the Transit Go app
   4. Enter your Usask email address in this format abc123@usask.ca
      1. It is very important that you use that email format, do not use abc123@mail.usask.ca or firstname.lastname@usask.ca. If you do not use that format, PAWS will not recognize your account and your U-Pass will not be available on your phone.
      2. Enter a password for your Transit Go account, we recommend not using the same password as your University accounts.
      3. After entering your password a second time, select the “Create a new account” button.
   5. Check your Usask email account (abc123@usask.ca) for a verification email from Saskatoon Transit. The email will be from noreply@justride.com (if you don’t see it within 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder)
   6. You will need to click the Verify Account link in the email to complete your account creation setup
   7. After you have verified your account, you can follow the next steps on PAWS.

Link your Transit App to your student account:

1. Login to PAWS and go to the U-Pass portal paws.usask.ca/go/upass
2. You will then be shown a list of term options available to you.
3. If the system shows that you are not eligible for a U-Pass, you are either:
   1. not enrolled in classes for that term, so you wouldn’t be eligible
   2. not registered for on-campus classes (only taking remote/distance classes), in that case you would have to opt-in if you want the U-Pass
   3. your college/department may not have finalized the class delivery method (in-person/online) but will have done that closer to the start of the term
4. If you are eligible for a U-Pass for a term, you will see an [Activate] button next to the list, click that button.
5. Your U-Pass will appear on your mobile phone in the Saskatoon Transit Go app in less than 3 minutes.
6. If you don’t see the pass after that time, select the “My Passes” button in the app and press the refresh icon in the top right corner.
7. You will then be able to activate your U-Pass on your phone after the start of the term (after 12:00am on July 1st for Summer term and after 12:00am on September 1st for Fall term)

U-Pass Opt-In

Students taking remote delivery classes will not be automatically assessed, and opt-ins are required each term.

1. Fill out the Opt-In Form
2. Check your PAWS account to see if the assessment has been placed on your account. This could take up to four business days.
3. Once you are assessed the fee follow the steps above to load your U-Pass onto your smartphone.
4. The last day to Opt-In for Fall Term U-Pass is November 30, 2021.

U-Pass Opt-Out

If you have been assessed the U-Pass fee, normal parameters exist for opting out for students attending on-campus courses. Students may apply to opt-out of the U-Pass service if they qualify in one of the following categories: living outside the city limits, living in on-campus housing (Ogle Hall, Voyageur Place Residence, Lutheran Theological Seminary, and St. Andrew’s, (College Quarter residences are not eligible), or they are unable to ride the bus due to a disability.

Fall Term Important Dates

August 16, 2021

Fall Term U-Pass can be loaded. Fall Term U-Pass allows you to access Saskatoon Transit from September 1 to December 31.

You will be required to activate your U-Pass each term.

August 16, 2021

Opt-Out applications may be submitted online to the USSU.

August 31, 2021

Summer Term U-Pass is deactivated at the end of the day. Fall Term U-Pass will be required effective September 1.

September 1, 2021

Fall Term U-Pass is active. You will be able to activate your U-Pass on your phone after the start of the term (after 12:00am on September 1st for the Fall Term)

September 16, 2021

Last day to apply for Fall Term Opt-Outs. Completed online applications are due no later than 4:30 pm.

November 30, 2021

Last day to Opt-In for Fall Term U-Pass is November 30, 2021.

December 31, 2021

Fall Term U-Pass is deactivated at the end of the day. Winter Term U-Pass will be required on January 1.

U-Pass is now available on your smartphone. The Saskatoon Transit app allows eligible U-Pass users to access their U-Pass directly from their smartphones. For more information on how to download the Saskatoon Transit app and link your student account visit ussu.ca/upass