York Federation of Students

York Federation of Students (YFS) is a student union that represents approximately 55,000 students at York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The York Federation of Students is a member of the Canadian Federation of Students (Local 68).

The student government was founded in 1968 as the York Student Council. Around 1975, the student government had become the Council of York Student Federations. By the early 1990s the name changed to York Federation of Students by their president at the time, Jian Ghomeshi (later a CBC Radio host).

The York Federation of Students' purpose is to ensure that students have a holistic university experience through their four main pillars: Services, Events, Clubs and Campaigns. The composition of its Board of Directors includes five Executive members and 18 Directors representing every College government and Faculty at York University. Few of their purposes among others are to represent, promote and defend the common interests of undergraduate students at York University; and to promote and support the interest and activities of undergraduate student associations in all departments, faculties and colleges at York University. Many campus organizations and clubs are recognized under the YFS.

The student government is administered by five full-time undergraduate executives, along with several full and part-time staff members. Other part-time staff are mostly made up of undergraduate students.

The day-to-day operations are overseen by the elected Executive, who also run the various campaigns and provide advocacy for all undergrads and are assisted by the full-time long-term staff. The elected and appointed Board of Directors holds open meetings whenever deemed necessary. The general membership (all York undergraduate Students) meets to ratify the decisions of the Board of Directors as well as provide ground level participation to the operation of the YFS.

Elections are held during the Winter semester every year elect the next year's Executive and Board. Along with this, all the part-time positions are re-staffed annually. Elected terms last from May 1 to April 30 of the following year. Elections are held in the Fall term for any vacancies in the Board or Executive that occur before September 1.

There are 5 executive positions; President, Vice President Operations, Vice President Campaigns & Advocacy, Vice President Equity, and Vice President Campus Life. They are elected into full-time positions and serve their term running the union. The five executives also comprise the Executive Committee, along with the Executive Director.

The YFS Board of Directors meets to vote on certain functions of the union. Only members of the Board of Directors hold voting rights outside of Annual General Meetings.

All votes for the YFS Board of Directors are held by the Executive, and 11 college and 7 faculty seats. The College Board Members represent students at their respective College Councils while Faculty Board Members represent students on an academic level and sit on the various Faculty Councils.

There are 10 full time staff employed by the YFS. The positions assist and manage the various departments within the portfolios of the Executives. There are also various part-time staff positions employed by the organization.

The YFS offers a wide selection of many free and affordable services and discounts. Some of their services are:

• Photocopy Service
• Place4Students
• TTC Post-Secondary ID
• Student Work Abroad Program
• Free International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
• Free Handbook & Daily Planner
• U-File
• Student Advocacy Services
• Food Bank

Their Members’ Service Office (MSO) offers one of the most affordable printing on campus. Some of the discounted tickets that are available at MSO are:

• Cineplex
• Imagine Cinemas
• Canada's Wonderland
• CNE
• Ripley's Aquarium
• TTC Passes
• Raptors

In addition to discounted tickets available at the MSO, the Federation offers some deals that can be accessed whenever and wherever. Some of those online discounted services are:

• PrintersPlus
• Ergotron
• The Princeton Review
• Levelup VR Arcade Toronto
• FlightHub
• HelloFresh
• Contiki Holidays
• Medieval Times Save
• Pinot's Palette
• Wet 'n' Wild Toronto
• UFile Tax Filing
• K1 Speedway
• Fresh Paint Studios
• York United FC
• Enjoy Travel Car Rental
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Pursuit OCR

All undergraduate students at York University participate in a health plan (YFS). 65.5% of voting Glendon College students voted to join the health plan during their 2006 Spring Elections (Elections York). Glendon College was a previous non-participant in the plan. This plan includes: basic dental care, vision care, prescription medication, mental health services, travel insurance and more. Students with alternative comparable extended health coverage are permitted to opt out of the plan.

YFS strives to create memorable and accessible events for all students so that the students can take a break from their stressful semester. They also strive to ensure all of their events are FREE or subsidized for their members so that all of their students can confidently access them. YorkFest and CultureFest are two of their biggest events. YorkFest is the largest Orientation week in the country and CultureFest is the largest celebration of cultural diversity on any university campus across Canada.

YFS ensures to develop campaigns that reflect the social, economic, and political interests of students. They are an equity-based organization that works with an anti-oppressive lens throughout. They continue to work though an equitable lens by hosting annual events series’ such as Mental Health Awareness Week, Xpressions Against Oppressions (XAO) Week. They have five Community Service Groups that provide spaces to diverse communities to reflecting their identities and experiences. The Community Service Groups are as follows:

• TBLGAY (Trans, Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Asexual at York)
• YUBSA (York United Black Students Alliance)
• YFS ACCESS CENTRE
• ISAY (Indigenous Students Association at York)
• USAY (United South Asians at York)

Majority of the clubs at York are ratified with the YFS. They provide base funding as well as event funding to allow clubs to service students. There are almost 400 clubs ratified under the YFS.

Over the years, the union has secured many wins for York students. Past executives have:

• Lobbied for and won a full Fall reading week
• Fought for and helped create the Second Student Centre at York University
• Facilitated the provision of free menstrual products in all bathrooms of both Student Centres
• Lobbied for the removal of ProctorTrack proctoring software usage in examinations
• Lobbied for Bottled Free Campus at York University
• Women’s only gym time at York’s gym
• Lobbied for a freeze on increases in international student fees in 2021
• Successfully defeated the Ontario Provincial Government in court and reverse the unlawful Student Choice initiative (SCI)

• List of Ontario students' associations
• Jian Ghomeshi, former YFS president 1990-1991

• Official website
• College Councils
• Faculty Councils
• York University