University of Waterloo Land Acknowledgement
We, the Waterloo Engineering Society, acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River. Learn More
Mission
The University of Waterloo Engineering Society exists to promote a positive undergraduate experience among its members through representation of student opinion as well as support of academic, professional and social needs. The Society will strive to provide means for its members to develop and succeed as undergraduate students, and in their future endeavors.
Vision
The University of Waterloo Engineering Society will work to better facilitate representation of its students on all relevant matters. The Society will strive to grow and improve its academic, professional, and social events and services to cater to the expanding diversity of its members.
As Waterloo Engineering students alternate between work terms and school terms every four months, the Engineering Society is run alternately by two teams of students: Society “A” (A-Soc) and Society “B” (B-Soc).
Each term the on-stream society switches between the two societies, allowing us to maintain a consistent set of executive, directors, and members. Depending on how each program’s streaming schedule is arranged, you may switch societies more than once during your time at Waterloo. Whichever society is on-term while you are in a school term is the society of which you are currently a member.
During even numbered years, A-Society is in school during the Winter and Fall terms, and B-Society is in school during the Spring term. During odd numbered years, A-Society is in school during the Spring term, and B-Society is in school during the Winter and Fall terms.
A-Society Executive Team
President: Duke Gand
VP Student Life: Joseph Ma
VP Finance: Anita Yang
VP Academic: Tyler West
VP Communications: Garnet Zhao
B-Society Executive Team
President: Dylan Ellingson
VP Student Life: Jacob Welfare
VP Finance: Michael O’Brien
VP Academic: Grace Marshall
VP Communications: Thomas Li
The President
The President is the face and voice of the Engineering Society, and it is ultimately their responsibility to ensure that the whole organization is properly represented and all operations are running smoothly. They represent engineering student interests at all times, including at various faculty and university meetings, where they do their best to ensure that actions taken by these groups serve their constituency. They are the official student link to the Dean’s Office and regularly meet with the Undergraduate Student Liaison Officer to present feedback on current issues affecting students. They also serve as the default student representative on tribunals held by the Faculty Committee for Student Appeals (FCSA). The President accompanies the VP Communications at certain larger conferences including CFES Engineering Leadership Conference (CELC), CFES Presidents’ Meeting (CFES PM), ESSCO Presidents’ Meeting (ESSCO PM), and ESSCO Annual General Meeting (ESSCO AGM). The on-term President serves as the spokesperson for the Tool, and is the sole person responsible for its wellbeing. They are also responsible for ensuring the Society’s documentation is up to date (Bylaws, Policy Manual, internal documents, and records). The president welcomes students to meet with them to discuss any concerns or suggestions they may have about the Engineering Society, and makes a strong effort to get to know their membership.
The Vice President, Academic
The VP Academic is responsible for representing student interests in all matters that are academic in nature. This includes curriculum, academic policies, cooperative education, and professional development. They attend meetings on various committees and are also responsible for managing the Society’s academic services and directorships, which include the Exam Bank, Resume Critiques and Interview Skills Workshops, Course Critiques, and the Career Fair. They also act as a liaison between Academic Reps and the Engineering Society, and may choose to offer resources to Academic Reps, which frequently include workshops. Another responsibility of the VP Academic is to actively pursue resolutions to any general academic concerns that students have.
The Vice President, Communications
The VP Communications serves as a representative of the Society to external organizations and to the community. They work with professional organizations such as Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) to promote student involvement in the engineering profession. In addition, the VP Communications frequently sits on student councils at a provincial and federal level, which allows them to liaise with representatives from other schools and share best practices for the benefit of the Waterloo Engineering Society. Another primary component of the VP Communications’ portfolio is to coordinate all of the advertising methods for the Engineering Society members through mailing lists and other social media platforms.
The Vice President, Finance
The VP Finance is responsible for the fiscal affairs of the society, which includes the dispersal of funds, and the creation and management of the termly budget. Directors use the VP Finance as a resource in planning the financial aspects of their events and services, and will submit their expense claims to the VP Finance for reimbursement. The VP Finance has signing authority of the Engineering Society Accounts, is responsible for managing the Novelties Store, RidgidWare, and POETS. The VP Finance typically also manages capital expenditures, and brainstorms ways to disperse funds in ways that most benefit students.
The Vice President, Student Life
The VP Student Life oversees all of the Engineering Society’s social events, and ensures all of the responsibilities of those directorships are fulfilled. The VP Student Life is prepared to provide any support required by such directors, which includes representing directorship concerns at executive meetings, answering resource and logistics questions, and resolving conflicts.The VP Student Life is responsible for creating the termly calendar of events and services. Another primary component of the VP Student Life portfolio is to promote Waterloo Engineering to the community at large through outreach and charity initiatives. The VP Student Life also manages and facilitates the Waterloo Engineering Competition (WEC) with the help of a commissioner and team of directors, and co-ordinates delegate participation in the Ontario Engineering Competition (OEC) and Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) as necessary.
Commissioners
The Waterloo Engineering Society employs commissioners to assist the executive with the day to day operations of the society, as well as exploring the growth of certain portfolios. Commissioners work closely with directors and Executive to ensure that all the Society services and events run successfully. Below are the current commissioners and their contact information. Applications open for positions at the end of each academic term. If you have any questions about the positions please e-mail president@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca.
Speaker
The Speaker is an officer position that is appointed by the President. The Speaker is responsible for the Engineering Society Council and its Meetings. This includes compiling the agenda, booking rooms, preparing AV, and chairing the meetings.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Emma White (speaker.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): Sheyda Shams (speaker.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Advertising Commissioner
This Commissioner is head of the Advertising Team. Their main responsibility is leading the team in all advertising of internal Engineering Society activities through mediums including social media, the website, mailing list, and posters. They also facilitate marketing services for other directors wishing to promote their events as well as the weekly EngSoc schedule!
A-Society (Spring 2023): Jennifer Jin and Chloe Chevallier (advertising.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): Thomas Li (advertising.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
First Year Commissioner
The First Year Commissioner is a joint effort between both societies to facilitate the transition process for incoming students. This commissioner welcomes first years by appearing as a familiar face at events, and acts as a reliable source of information and person at whom to direct questions or concerns. They are also responsible for overseeing events and services that are focused on first year students such as first year mentoring and the first year conference, and shall work with first year class reps and directors to promote first year involvement.
A-Society (Fall 2022): Curtis Hall (firstyear@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2022): N/A (firstyear@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Mental Health Commissioner
The Mental Health Commissioner is in charge of facilitating with UW MATES (Mentor Assistance Through Education and Support), working with MATES volunteers, and growing the MATES portfolio within the Engineering Society.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Clare Burnley (mentalhealth.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): Kennedy Hampson (mentalhealth.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Outreach Commissioner
The Outreach Commissioner is in charge of increasing the amount of community outreach opportunities offered through the Waterloo Engineering Society. This individual works closely with relevant directors by providing support and direction whenever needed, with the intent of developing Society outreach programs and increasing the impact of charity efforts. The Outreach Commissioner is also encouraged to develop new ideas for outreach events and programs.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Rheina Agullana (outreach.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): Kate Bendall (outreach.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Socials and Events Commissioner
The Socials and Events Commissioner oversees the majority of the Event Directors. They act as support to the VP Student Life in planning the calendar of events for the upcoming term and provide support to the majority of the Event Directors.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Thandekile Rejoice Sibanda (events.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): Theo Isidore and Jake Welfare (events.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Student Services Commissioner
The Student Services Commissioner oversees the majority of the service directors. This includes workshops, industry talks, exam bank and course critiques. They work closely with the VP Academic to plan the calendar and to continue expanding the amount of services offered by the Society.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Maia Tse (studentservices.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): Arya Dixit (studentservices.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
External Relations Commissioner
The External Relations Commissioner for creating and promoting interschool connections. They are in charge of our relationship with the PEO as well as the Employer Relations portfolio.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Rannjodh Waraich (externalcomm.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): Susan Chen (externalcomm.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Inclusivity Commissioner
The Inclusivity Commissioner is in charge of reviewing and providing suggestions to improve and promote equity, inclusivity, diversity and accessibility of the services, facilities, and events that EngSoc oversees. The full scope of this commissionership is under revision and creating new initiatives will be a portion of the responsibilities of this role.
A-Society (Spring 2023): N/A (inclusivity.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2022): Julia Patterson (inclusivity.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Involvement Commissioner
The Involvement Commissioner helps to spread the spirit of EngSoc to all. They support the running of historical term-long initiatives within the Engineering Society to increase class engagement, build community bonds, and showcase exciting initiatives that the Engineering Society is up to.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Anubhav Khanna (involvement.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2022): N/A
EDI Commissioner
The EDI Commissioner ensures that events, workshops and all other EngSoc initiatives are done with consideration of EDI. In addition, the role includes the education of EDI (including sustainability and Indigenous perspectives) in various forms.
A-Society (Winter 2022): Grace Marshall (inclusivity.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2022): Julia Patterson
Waterloo Engineering Competition Commissioner
The Waterloo Engineering Competition (WEC) Commissioner is responsible for organizing and running the Waterloo Engineering Competition, which is held every other on-stream term. The WEC Commissioner is charged with overseeing every aspect of the competition, including the details of the competitions for each group, organizing logistics, judges, and signup for interested teams.
A-Society (Spring 2023): Nathan Hon and Kael Murphy (wec.a@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
B-Society (Winter 2023): N/A (wec.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
Career Fair Chair
The Career Fair Commissioner is responsible for organizing and running the Waterloo Engineering Society Career Fair. They will oversee and manage all of the logistical aspects of the event, including finding employers, booking venues, and managing a team of directors to ensure that all aspects of the event are run successfully.
B-Society (Winter 2023): Liam Marshall (careerfair@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca)
EngHack Commisioner
The EngHack Commissioner is responsible for organizing and running the EngHack Hackathon, which is held every other on-stream term. The EngHack Commissioner is charged with overseeing every aspect of the competition, including the details of the competitions for each group, organizing logistics, judges, and signup for interested teams.
A-Society: N/A
B-Society: N/A
The Board of Directors manages all business and affairs of the Society. The Board is comprised of the two Presidents of the Society, four representatives from the A- Society membership, and four representatives from the B-Society membership. The Business Manager of the Society, as well as the two VPs Finance, also sits as an ex-officio non-voting resource member. The Board of Directors will select each term a chair to run the meetings. The term of office for each Director starts May 1st of the year they are elected, and lasts twelve months. The Directors, other than the Presidents, are elected at the Annual Joint General Meeting. Excluding the months of December, April and August, the Board of Directors shall hold a meeting at least once a month to handle higher-level Society and finance affairs. The Board of Directors is governed by the Board procedures in addition to the Engineering Society Governing documents.
Current Board of Directors 2021 – 2022
A Society Seats:
- Alaina Hansen
- Ahmad Kamal
- Kat Von Friedl
- Ian Truong
VP Finance A: Anita Yang
B Society Seats:
- Julia Patterson
- Mark Wallace
- Melda Kiziltan
- Curtis Hall
VP Finance B: Michael O’Brien
Feds Engineering Councilor Seat: Joey Ma
Chair of the Board of Directors: Claudia De Fazio
When the University of Waterloo, then called the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, opened to students in Spring of 1957, the first class on campus was composed of 74 young men who dreamed of being engineers. With a radical new co-operative education system and modified school year (at the time 4 terms of three months each), the University began to grow, and soon after, in 1958, the inaugural engineering classes formed the first formal student organization on campus, the Engineering Council.
Before the University of Waterloo began making headlines for its academic prowess, the engineering students made national headlines in 1958 with a prank they pulled on the City of Waterloo by painting “BEER” on a city water tower. It was this student spirit and unity that would give the Engineering Council the ability to grow, and to continue the tradition of faculty pride.
As time progressed, the Engineering Council became the Engineering Society, and in 1971 a Constitution was drafted and approved, creating the Society we know. While Waterloo grew out of the muddy farm fields into an international academic powerhouse, the Engineering Society grew out of the original engineering huts of the late 50’s into the largest, most active student society on campus and one of the most active in all of Canada. Built on legacy and tradition, the Engineering Society continues to be a role model for other student societies, and while the University forges into its seventh decade, EngSoc continues to unify the students in the Faculty of Engineering.