About Us
About Us
Nau Mai Ki Te Rōpū Akonga ō Te Whare Wānanga ō Waitaha | Welcome to The University of Canterbury Students’ Association
The UCSA is the University of Canterbury Students' Association Inc. We're an organisation that supports students at the University of Canterbury to succeed and belong.
Established in 1894, we're a registered not-for-profit organisation with charity status. Led by an elected Executive who represent students on close to 50 boards and committees, we advocate and serve towards our mission of student success and belonging. With more than 200 staff working on our core operations, we dish up a range of student-focused services, including: advocacy and welfare; subsidised dental and optometry; early learning centres; club support; events; media and even some great cafes and bars.
We also work hard to provide approximately 4,000 lunches daily to primary and secondary schools across Christchurch (Ka Ora, Ka Ako), operate a catering business (OnCampus), an event equipment hire company (Chef’s Hire), and own a 50% share of the University Bookshop.
With all this going on, we’ve grown into a diverse organisation with an annual turnover of around $16 million and have net assets valued at approximately $12 million.
How we're governed
Elected UC students as well as a co-opted student representative from Te Akatoki make up the governing body of the UCSA.
Their core role is to provide strategic and overall governance of the UCSA, and to protect and enhance the value of the organisation's assets and services in the interests of UC's current and future students.
The Exec also represent students and ensure that they're heard at UC. Members sit on close to 50 boards and committees across the university.