Advocacy
Advocacy is at the heart of the Acadia Students’ Union.
The ASU works to represent the interests and priorities of Acadia students and advocate for meaningful change on campus and beyond. From affordability, housing and student financial aid to academic accessibility and institutional accountability, we work to ensure student perspectives are part of the conversations and decisions that affect them.
Our advocacy happens at multiple levels — within Acadia University, across Nova Scotia, and federally. We also work alongside provincial and national student organizations to bring Acadia students’ concerns to decision-makers and strengthen the collective voice of post-secondary students.
Our Advocacy Partners
The ASU works with provincial and national student organizations to strengthen the student voice and advocate for issues affecting post-secondary students in Nova Scotia and across Canada.
Students Nova Scotia
Provincial Advocacy
Students Nova Scotia brings together post-secondary student associations from across the province to advocate for a more accessible, affordable and high-quality post-secondary education system. Through this partnership, the ASU helps bring the experiences and priorities of Acadia students into conversations about issues affecting students across Nova Scotia.
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA)
Federal Advocacy
The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) represents post-secondary students at the federal level, advocating on issues such as student financial assistance, affordability, housing, employment and other federal policies affecting students. Through CASA, the ASU helps ensure that the experiences and priorities of Acadia students contribute to national conversations about post-secondary education.
ASU Policy Positions
ASU Policy Positions outline the Students’ Union’s official stance on key issues affecting Acadia students. They help guide our advocacy, priorities, and conversations with the University and other decision-makers.
ASU policy positions establish the Students’ Union’s official stance on issues that affect Acadia students and the broader university community. These positions help guide our advocacy, conversations with decision-makers, and recommendations for institutional change.
💻 Digital Learning Opportunities Through Online Course Offerings
The ASU supports a balanced expansion of high-quality online learning opportunities at Acadia, with a focus on accessibility, flexibility and equity. The position emphasizes that online learning should enhance — not replace — the in-person Acadia experience, while ensuring students have equitable access to academic support, digital resources and flexible course options.
🌱 University Investments and Divestment
The ASU calls for Acadia University’s investment practices to reflect ethical, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable values. The policy recommends adopting a Socially Responsible Investing framework for the University’s endowment and strengthening accountability around how institutional investments align with Acadia’s stated values.
Government Submissions & Advocacy
Taking Acadia students’ priorities beyond campus.
The ASU also participates in provincial and federal advocacy by bringing student experiences, concerns and recommendations directly to government and other decision-makers. These submissions help connect the experiences of Acadia students with broader conversations about post-secondary education in Nova Scotia and across Canada.
🇨🇦 2026 Federal Pre-Budget Submission
The ASU’s 2026 Federal Pre-Budget Submission brings Acadia student priorities into the federal budget conversation while aligning with broader advocacy through CASA. It focuses on three major areas affecting students: housing, student financial assistance, and post-graduate employment.
The submission includes recommendations related to Canada Student Grants and Loans, continued support for the Student Work Placement Program, and federal investment in student and non-profit housing.
