SSU Board of Directors Update
Curious what your newly appointed Board has been up to this month?
July was an exciting and productive month for your SSU Board of Directors!
SSU board of directors attending Financial Literacy Training led by Alicia Damely
We began with a two-part Financial Literacy Training led by CPA Alicia Damley on July 11 and 25. These sessions enhanced our ability to read nonprofit financial statements, clarified our fiduciary responsibilities, and reinforced our role as stewards of student resources. The training prepared us to confidently review and approve key financial documents, including SSU’s audited statements.
Reflecting on the experience, HMC Board Director Navdeep Kaur shared, “I used to think a large bank balance meant a large spending capacity—now I understand that most of that money is already spoken for. The hands-on exercises helped me connect theory to practice.” She added, “As a BOD member, I now see financial oversight not just as a task but as a responsibility—to ensure transparency, protect student dollars, and leave next year’s board with clarity rather than confusion.”
The sessions were designed to be accessible and practical, enabling even those without a financial background to actively participate. Navdeep noted, “Even with a non-finance background, I can still understand and engage with this information—it just takes the right explanation and practice.” Davis Board Director Sania Sachdeva also emphasized the value of the training: “The Financial Literacy Training was an incredibly valuable experience that strengthened both my knowledge and confidence as a Board Director.”
In Part One, Directors were introduced to key concepts and documents like the statement of financial position, statement of operations, and budget reports. Sania noted, “Terms like cash reserves, surplus, and deficit became clearer, and I began to understand how budgeting decisions reflect both the financial health of SSU and its long-term priorities.” Part Two focused on applying these concepts to SSU’s 2023–24 audited financial statements. Sania described it as “an interactive and insightful session” where Directors “worked through challenge questions and engaged in Q&A.” She said, “It was reassuring to see how transparent and accountable the process is.”
Sania concluded, “This training has made me feel more prepared to contribute meaningfully to financial discussions, ask informed questions, and support responsible decision-making. I now feel much more equipped to fulfill my responsibilities as a Board member with greater awareness, purpose, and clarity.”
We reached a milestone in student engagement by hosting our July 28 Board meeting at Davis Campus, meaning we’ve visited all SSU campuses this term! A few students even joined us spontaneously that day, a reminder that showing up where students are really does make a difference. At that meeting, we reviewed the quarterly financial condition update for the period ending April 30, 2025, and we officially approved the date of our next Annual General Meeting (AGM): Wednesday, November 12, 2025. You may be thinking, didn’t we already have an AGM this year? Yes, but that February meeting covered SSU’s work in 2023-2024. This November’s AGM brings us fully up to date, highlighting our progress in 2024-2025, including finances and impact. We hope to see you there!
SSU Board of Director, Austin Sharpe at the Ontario Student Voices (OSV) Policy Conference.
To wrap up the month, Austin Sharpe, TRC Director and Vice-Chair, attended the 2025 Ontario Student Voices (OSV) Policy Conference to represent the SSU. Hosted by the Niagara College Student Administrative Council at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus from July 30 to August 1, the event brought together student leaders from across Ontario to finalize policy recommendations, build advocacy plans, discuss Bill 33, and connect with sector experts.
Over the course of the three-day conference, Austin participated in full-day sessions covering a wide range of student-focused issues. “We explored several important topics that revolve around the student experience,” he explained. “Day one, we focused on food insecurity alongside health and wellness. Day two, we tackled college funding and financial aid. Day three, we wrapped up with learning around WIL (work-integrated learning), skills development, and aligning strategies with our growing family of student organisations.”
He emphasized the importance of SSU’s involvement, noting that the team joined OSV to help shape legislative recommendations “targeting these key areas affecting our student body, backed with the experience we hear you–our constituents–expressing to us.” Austin also highlighted the collaborative nature of the event, saying, “I had the privilege to join with Samiya and Christian, and together we participated in three days of building hope and sustainability for a better tomorrow.” With a full agenda and a focus on student-driven solutions, he left the conference energized: “I am excited to see what this year still holds for us, I am digesting a lot [italicize "a lot"] of information, and as always I am proud to be representing this student body.”
This month, one of our biggest conversations focused on making office hours more student-centred. We want booths to feel welcoming, with opportunities for conversation and connection. In August, you’ll start seeing whiteboards at our booths with rotating discussion prompts, plus snacks to keep you fueled during the day. We’re excited to begin these changes to create more meaningful interactions. Office hours are a core part of how we stay connected to you, and we know that each campus and program has a different rhythm and student community. Whether you’re at TRC, Davis, or HMC, enrolled full-time, part-time, or anywhere in between, we want to make sure you feel seen and represented.
Our Board-wide focus next month is Financial Equity, and we’re excited to explore this theme with you during our office hours. Whether it’s a scholarship that shaped your journey or an idea for what financial support should look like today, we want to hear it. Your input will help us understand what support looks like across programs and campuses and guide the future of SSU’s bursaries, awards, and scholarships. We’re excited to learn from your experiences and build stronger financial supports together.
So, if you see us during office hours in August, stop by and join the conversation; we’d love to connect with you!
— Your SSU Board of Directors
May has officially welcomed our newly appointed SSU Board of Directors! Find out about the updates from their board retreat and learn about their upcoming plans for #SheridanLife.