University of Canterbury Students' Association

UCSA is the University of Canterbury Students’ Association Incorporated. Established in 1894, UCSA is a not-for-profit organisation with charity status. Twelve elected student representatives govern UCSA with the support and guidance of external advisors via an Advisory Board. The UCSA employs up to 280 full-time, part time and casual staff who report through a Chief Executive. Since its inception the UCSA has grown into a diverse organisation with an annual turnover of around $10.0 million. The UCSA owns a 50% share of the University Book Shop, and has net assets valued at just over $12.0 million. After the February 2011 earthquake the UCSA moved premises from 90 Ilam Road to the South East Side of the James Hight Library. The Undercroft was redeveloped as a student space, and work is currently being undertaken to replace the facilities and services that were on offer in the old UCSA building. The UCSA operates a number of other facilities spread around the campus, including cafes at Kirkwood village (Kirkwood cafe), Dovedale Ave Campus (Collective) and in the Law (Alibi) and Engineering (Eng Cafe) buildings. There is academic advice and support through to social comment and entertainment by way of UCSA’s student magazine, CANTA; from huge events like Orientation, End of Lectures and Tea Party, to Childcare at UCSA’s Early Learning Centres. This diversity reflects the many services that students have initiated to ensure that the university experience for students at Canterbury is all that it can be.