1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8
905-525-9140 Ext: 23322
Burke Science Building (BSB), B108
OSSA 2015-2016 Year Plan
Letter from the Ontario Science Students’ Association (OSSA)
Discuss briefly goals for the year. How you are building on previous progress? Please
acknowledge previous work being done in the role of your position in past year – if you are
uncertain please make contact with individuals who were previously in your role.
Last year, OSSA held the first annual OSSA Leadership Conference at Mohawk College with
great success while also establishing an online presence through social media (Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, and the MSS Website). This year, we plan to improve the efficiency
conference planning and execution while creating a stronger connection to the student body.
We will be working with MSS and the Ontario Science Games (OSG) team to create the first
annual inter-university science competition. We aim to improve conference planning and
execution while strengthening communication between member institutions (see PARTNERS for
a full list of member institutions). OSSA also aims to expand in partnership with external
organizations and improve annual sponsorship and funding. Expansion our member institution
network is a long-term, ongoing project. Through these plans, our team hopes to increase
OSSA’s presence in the Faculty of Science within all member institutions this year.
Natalie Tran
OSSA Coordinator
ossa@mcmastersciencesociety.com
OBJECTIVES (big picture stuff)
OSSA Leadership Conference Planning
Goal
- Science societies across Ontario have never gathered prior to our
organization’s existence to exchange best practices and receive support from
fellow institutions
- Geographical boundaries, faculty structure differences, and differences in
perspectives create a challenge in unifying institutions to an organization
- Last year’s first annual conference had room for improvement in areas
including organization, time management, and content
Vision
- Create an accessible network for member institutions to exchange and
gather best practices to improve their student services
- Resolve obstacles that prevent the unification and communication of
institutions across Ontario
- Improve conference planning and execution within the OSSA planning
committee for an efficient, successful conference
1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8
905-525-9140 Ext: 23322
Burke Science Building (BSB), B108
Challenges
- Communication between schools due to geographical boundaries and the
conference taking place outside of the school schedule
- Funding is difficult to with such a small period of time (with our term
beginning in April)
- Funding within member institutions to bring delegates to the conference
can be difficult
Student Body Outreach
Goal
- OSSA has not experienced a strong presence in the science student body
within McMaster nor within other member institutions
- OSSA has yet to provide a service for its science students
Vision
- We will work with the OSG team to create an inter-university competition
for member institutions to engage their students in a weekend of activities
- We aim to improve our presence within the Faculty of Science at all member
institutions such that students will have heard about the OSSA
Challenges
- Difficult to coordinate OSSA outreach at all member school campuses with
such different campus dynamics and student numbers
- Funding is difficult
Expansion
Goal



The OSSA will reach out to more Ontario universities to take part in this
exciting initiative
The OSSA will begin partnering with external organizations with shared
interests to help achieve our goals
Due to time constraints, many universities were not contacted for the
2015 Leadership Conference but the OSSA would invite the opportunity
to expand its reach beyond the six member universities
Vision

We hope to expand our network to eight universities for the 2016
Leadership Conference as well as solidify connections between the
existing five universities
Challenges

Communication is a constant obstacle that we face as the OSSA is a new
initiative spread geographically all over Ontario
Reaching out to new universities is an extreme obstacle as societies may
not have heard of our initiative before or are unclear as to the purpose

Constitution
Goal

Reaching out and forming bonds with external organizations is difficult
for a new organization such as OSSA

Complete edits on the OSSA constitution to be voted upon at the 2015
1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8
905-525-9140 Ext: 23322
Burke Science Building (BSB), B108

Vision




Challenges


Leadership Conference
Work towards the OSSA as an organized association
The OSSA will work to improve on the constitution to make it clear and
easily understandable
With the constitution, the OSSA will work towards building a governing
structure spread across the universities
Changes will be made according to feedback from the General Meeting at
the 2015 OSSA Leadership Conference and the constitution will circulate
among all member schools
Member institutions will be familiar with the constitution and find it
accessible, agreeable, and understandable
As there are various structures spread among the member societies of
the OSSA, it may be challenging to agree on a governing structure for the
OSSA
As a new initiative, it will be difficult to adjust the constitution in order to
avoid foreseeable problems
PROJECTS & EVENTS (more specific; please organize in chronological order)
2015 OSSA Leadership Conference
TENTATIVE DATE (S)
August 14 – August 16, 2015
PURPOSE (HOW THIS
PROJECT RELATES TO
ONE/SOME OF YOUR GOALS)
PROCEDURE
PARTNERS
Science societies across Ontario have never gathered prior
to our organization’s existence to exchange best practices
and receive support from fellow institutions. OSSA aims to
create an accessible network for member institutions to
exchange and gather best practices to improve their
student services while helping to cultivate leadership skills
for attending delegates.
The OSSA team will meet every week to plan for the
annual conference. Throughout the summer, each
member will be responsible for reaching goals set by the
team to create a successful conference. We will contact
local venues and organizations.
- The Journal of Student Science and Technology (JSST)
- Project Pulse
- MSS and science societies from other member
institutions (Carleton University, University of Windsor,
1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8
905-525-9140 Ext: 23322
Burke Science Building (BSB), B108
Western university, Wilfred Laurier University, McMaster
University, University of Ottawa, Ryerson University)
- OSG
PROJECTED OUTREACH
(# OF STUDENTS)
Science societies within OSSA member institutions
(Carleton University, University of Windsor, Western
university, Wilfred Laurier University, McMaster
University, University of Ottawa, Ryerson University) ,
approximately 30 students will be in attendance
2016 Ontario Science Games
TENTATIVE
March 18 – March 20, 2016
DATE (S)
PURPOSE
(HOW THIS
PROJECT
RELATES TO
ONE/SOME
OF YOUR
GOALS)
PROCEDURE
PARTNERS
PROJECTED
OUTREACH
(# OF
STUDENTS)
OSSA seeks to enhance the university experience for its undergraduates.
OSSA will work with OSG to create a successful annual inter-university
competition that will encourage leadership, teamwork, and spirit. We aim to
provide science students across Ontario with the opportunity to engage with
their science student community on a wider scale.
The OSSA Coordinator will meet with the OSG team to help plan for the first
annual Games. OSSA will assist the OSG team in achieving their weekly goals
while also assisting in their event planning. Throughout the summer and well
into the school year, each member will volunteer their resources as needed to
help the OSG team achieve a successful Games.
- MSS
- OSG
- Local community sponsors and partners
Science students under the Faculty of Science within OSSA member
institutions (Carleton University, University of Windsor, Western university,
Wilfred Laurier University, McMaster University, University of Ottawa,
Ryerson University), approximately 350 students from 7 universities will be in
attendance