A Comprehensive Introduction to the World of EngSoc, By: Eric Cousineau

What is EngSoc?

EngSoc, short for Engineering Society, is your undergraduate student society, and we do a lot things. Every undergraduate engineering student is a member, and pays a $14.25 fee each term. This fee is our only source of income, which we use to support all of our services and events. This article will answer some very common questions that we receive about the society in general.

Why is there an “A” Society and a “B” Society?

Since we alternate between Co-op and school every four months, the Engineering Society is split into two separate entities: Society “A” (A-Soc) and Society “B” (B-Soc).  Each term the “on-stream society” switches between the two entities, allowing us to maintain a consistent set of executive, directors, and members.  A-Soc consists of students having a spring term in an odd-numbered year, and B-Soc represents students having a spring term in an even-numbered year.

What kind of social events do you run?

EngSoc hosts lots of social events, it’s probably what we’re most known for (probably because they’re pretty awesome). While it’s true that we host social events, it’s too easy to forget everything else we do. I’m sure there are lots of articles in here describing events, so I am going to refer you to our website for descriptions of all of our events, instead of going into detail here (http://engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/events). Navigate by selecting different categories on the left hand side, Eg. “Social/Fun”.

Okay, I don’t go to events, what else can you do for me (Services)?

EngSoc has a TON of services, and all students that don’t refund their EngSoc fee can take advantage of them. I’m going to list them ALL off quickly: Exam Bank, Work Report Centre, Course Critiques (those forms that you fill out to evaluate your professor each term), Resume Critiques, academic rep training, Novelties Store (that swag shop beside POETS that’s open at lunch), cheap photocopying, binding, laminating, faxes (all in the EngSoc Office which we call Orifice), courtesy phone (In E2 Foyer, free local and on campus calls), Orifice front desk is staffed 8:30-4:30 to answer miscellaneous student questions, POETS (we maintain it, provide services such as: showing movies and tv shows, student lounge space, games and activities, venue for student group events, and bring in bar services Thursday/Friday at lunch to sell beverages), sports equipment (football, soccer ball, dodgeball, frisbee), and certainly not least the CnD (Really cheap; coffee, snacks, and food). I know this is a long list, but EngSoc provides a lot of services EVERY DAY to students.

Cool, that is a lot of useful services, do you do anything else (Representation)?

Aside from the plethora of events, and multitude of services, we are officially YOUR VOICE to the faculty and the rest of the University. The President, VP Education and a few directors sit on countless committees, councils, groups, and even tribunals. Yes, EngSoc fights for your rights as well! A few highlights that you may or may not have heard of: Co-op Working Group, WatPD-Engineering Curriculum Committee, WEEF Board of Directors, and over a dozen more. I implore you to visit the representation section of our website to see where and how each executive represents you (http://engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/executive/representation).

I’ve been hearing some stuff about conferences, what are those about?

As if we didn’t represent you enough, we love you so much we even leave this campus we call home and travel, Ontario, Canada, and even the world to make sure Waterloo Engineering has a voice, and believe me it’s a strong one! Our student society is a member of ESSCO (Engineering Student Societies Council of Ontario) and CFES (Canadian Federation of Engineering Students), and interacts with students from other parts of the world as well. Waterloo attends several conferences each year and bring along student delegates, for example, both Waterloo A and B attended ESSCO AGM in Ottawa in late June. For more info on conferences see: http://engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/events/conferences.

Seems like you do a lot of things for your members, what do you do for non-members?

EngSoc does care very much about people who aren’t engineering students, as demonstrated by all the charity and community outreach events we run. Some community charity events that have been hosted in the past include Cancer Headshave (very successful), Bus Push (pull a GRT bus from campus to Kitchener), and Purpling for Alzheimers (Read more at: http://engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/events/charities). We organize outreach events like Shadow Day, and Explorations that allow elementary and high school students to get exposed to Waterloo Engineering. We also have a float in the local Santa Claus Parade every year, host a Remembrance Day Ceremony in CPH Foyer every fall, and have a huge part in organizing Canada Day Celebrations (http://engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/events/outreach).

How will I know when all this is going on?

We advertise and communicate all of these things as much as we can through tons of different mediums. We use poster boards, our mailing list, announcements at EngSoc Meetings, Facebook Events and Groups, our Google Calendar, the whiteboard outside the Orifice, and we even have a TV outside the CnD with advertisements on it. For info on joining our mailing list or google calendar see the home page of our website. To preview the google calendar go to the event page included above.

This sounds great, who organizes all of this?

Guess what!? Everything, and I mean everything that I listed here is student-run and organized (with some help here, and a ton of help there from Mary Bland, Full Time Business Manager). Getting involved in something outside of class gives you the chance to build your leadership, communication, and other management and soft skills. I highly suggest that YOU get involved in the Engineering Society either by attending events, making use of our services, or even becoming a director or executive. It is a very rewarding experience, and allows you to make the school a better place for everyone. For a list of current directors go to: http://engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/directors

You previously mentioned executives, what are those?

Engineering Society Executives are officials of the society that are elected every other on-stream term. Watch our communication channels for info on elections (Next ones are in Winter 2011, and Spring 2011). The executives are responsible for the society and its well being. It’s our job to maintain the three pillars of EngSoc that are events, services, and representation, as outlined in this article. We are in charge of directors, and any other initiatives on the go. Please see the next page for more in depth explanations of each of the 5 positions (President, VP Education, VP External, VP Internal, VP Finance).

Thanks for the explanation, do you have anything else to tell me?

That was a quick factual explanation of what EngSoc does for students, especially things we do for the entire student body. EngSoc is here to represent the interests of all students, and we really try our best to reach out and positively affect as many students as possible. We would really like to see significantly more students getting involved in the Engineering Society, and come out to our events and have a blast! If you have any questions about what I said here or you have an idea of your own for something EngSoc can do/run, please don’t hesitate to drop any of the executive a line, and tell us your thoughts (eng_exec@engmail.uwaterloo.ca).