Supporting Student Leaders to Create Change
The University of Toronto deeply values its relationship with student leaders in its governance processes. In partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost Students (OVPS), the Innovation Hub sought to better understand the needs of student leaders in executive positions. The university’s Governing Council formally recognizes five primary representative student bodies, collectively representing all U of T students: Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students; Scarborough Campus Students’ Union; University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union; University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union; University of Toronto Students’ Union. There are also numerous student societies within programs and departments, colleges, residences and other areas that drive change at the university. The relationship between the university and student leaders ensures that topics that matter to the tri-campus student body are discussed and addressed. This project explored how the university community could best support student leaders to build momentum to create positive change on campus.
Fall/Winter 2025-2026
How can the university best support student leaders to create change?
We found that both student leaders and university staff offer meaningful and distinct viewpoints that are important to changemaking at the University of Toronto. Students come into leadership roles with passionate platforms for change and a sense of commitment to represent their peers well in governance spaces. University staff and administrators share a strong desire to support student leaders to make an impact by sharing their wisdom and experience. We found that once trust is built, it acts as an anchor in the relationship that allows both student leaders and staff to weather the challenges, transitions, and unpredictable waters of student governance together.
OUR APPROACH
In the summer of 2025, we conducted stakeholder feedback sessions with nine student leaders and 20 staff members to discuss their experiences with student leadership. In fall 2025, we conducted seven group feedback sessions and one interview with 14 student leaders employing empathetic and story-based research methods to better understand their experiences in executive positions. In winter 2026, we conducted five co-creation sessions and engaged with 20 student leaders to brainstorm ideas and opportunities about how the university can better support future student leaders. We asked participants about their thoughts and reactions to the initial findings, vision, and design principles during these sessions and used the information to inform our final report.
KEY FINDINGS
Like a constant tide, trust between student leaders and the university creates a foundation that enables partnership.
During data collection we heard about the many challenges of creating change given complex institutional systems, frequent transitions between student leaders, and steep learning curves for the breadth of executive roles in many student organizations. We found that once trust is built, it acts as an anchor in the relationship that allows both student leaders and staff to weather the challenges, transitions, and unpredictable waters of student governance together.
Finding the Compass: Student leaders explained how much they value when staff are transparent about decisions, processes, and the ‘why’ behind university operations. Staff explained how much they valued honesty and openness in student leaders to support the working relationship.
Weathering the Tides Together: Student leaders expressed that they need the space to be vulnerable and the opportunity to learn. Staff shared that they value when student leaders express their needs, because it makes it easier for them to understand how to provide appropriate support.
What's on the Horizon?: Both staff and student leaders valued equity deeply and mutually agreed that equity issues are a barrier to participation and representation. Student leaders shared how much they value representing their peers in student government, while staff expressed how important it is for the university to understand the needs of the student community more broadly.