Services
The OCSU offers a number of programs and services to meet your needs as a student. Our services come in a variety of forms. Some are campus based and locally developed, such as free lockers in Penticton, Lunch Once a Month in Salmon Arm and print services in Kelowna. Some are organized for all members across our three campuses such as our water bottles/pens/lanyards/highlighters, while some are in partnership with the British Columbia Federation of Students – BCFS – like the free handbook/dayplanner that we give to every member.
Student Bus Passes are sold through the Kelowna Office (Room H125) at a discounted student rate offered through the city of Kelowna. We sell semester bus passes, monthly bus passes and sheets of 10 tickets.
Faxing can be expensive! Each office of the OCSU has a fax machine available for use for student related faxing. If you need to send off information for your student loan, for a summer work placement, or to apply to another college or university, we can help you fax for cheap.
How To Fax:
- Determine what you’re faxing and where it’s going.
- Come to any of our offices.
- Fill out a cover sheet, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Prices
Local: $0.25 per page
Long Distance: $0.50 per page
International: $1.00 per page
Every year, the OCSU hands out over three thousand handbooks/dayplanners to students absolutely free. This is achieved by partnering with the British Columbia Federation of Students – BCFS. This project allows the OCSU to deliver a quality handbook with full colour pages, better quality paper with unique cover art and local flavour.
The handbooks are also a testimony to the OCSU’s commitment to sustainability; they are printed on 100% post consumer recycled material with vegetable dyes. Even the binding is recyclable!
What You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
- Details of who we are and the services we provide to our members
• The in’s and out’s of our Health and Dental plan
• Monthly and yearly calendars
• A course timetable
• Information on your membership in the British Columbia Federation of Students
• Campus activities and events
• Campaign details
• Details on the Student Discount Card and a list of businesses offering discounts in the area
Come to your Students’ Union office to get your free handbook today!
If you feel you have been unfairly treated in the assessment of your performance in a course, or that the determination of your final course grade is inconsistent with the grading methodology outlined in your course syllabus, it is your right to request a formal review of your course work or final grade.
What we can do
The OCSU can help you wade through the Okanagan College grade appeal policy and guide you step by step through the grade appeal process.
The OCSU can appoint a Student Representative to sit beside you as a student observer, in a non-voting capacity, throughout the review process. This Student Representative will ensure you are being treated fairly during the appeal process.
What we cannot do
The OCSU cannot expedite the Okanagan College appeal process.
The OCSU cannot determine or influence the instructors who make up the appeal committee, although we will ensure that you are treated in a non-biased and fair manner throughout the appeal process.
If you would like advice on how to proceed with a grade appeal, feel free to stop by the OCSU office on your campus and set up a confidential meeting with one of your Student Representatives.
Okanagan College policy on General Appeals on Academic Standing can be found here
Quick Links
Contact Us
Benefits Card
Black Out Period
Fair Pharmacare
Graduating this Year
Insurance Information
Legal Assistance
Medical Services Plan
Need a Doctor
Online Access
Opting In
Opt Out
Sending in a Claim
Please Note:
The Students’ Union is required to adhere to and respect legislation, which governs the protection of privacy. Accordingly, personal information relating to student accounts, health and dental plan enrolment and application, and claims shall remain confidential to approved parties; and the personal details of a student account shall remain confidential to the Students’ Union, Okanagan College and the student. Therefore, private information about student accounts will not be released to parents.
Who’s Covered?
All OCSU members who are enrolled in full time studies (3 or more college level classes). To verify that you are enrolled check your tuition fee statement.
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- Part time students;
- ABE students;
- Co-op students
- Students enrolled in programs shorter than 12 weeks in length.
Opting In
If you are not automatically charged for the OCSU extended health and dental plan you may opt in by visiting your OCSU office within the first 30 days of your program start date and paying the extended health and dental fees directly to the OCSU.
Your family members are not automatically included in your plan, however, if you wish to add your spouse or dependant children to your plan please visit the OCSU office on your campus within the first 30 days of your program. Additional fees will apply for all family members added to your plan. For more information on the cost of adding family members please contact your OCSU office, or email health-dental@ocsu.ca
Medical Services Plan:
The OCSU extended health and dental plans do not replace basic provincial medical insurance benefits such as MSP (Medical Services Plan).
Black Out Period:
While we wait for Okanagan College to confirm your enrolment, your claims processing will be delayed. This delay can take up to two months.
You can now access your plan information here At the link you can find out information about how to opt out, your plan details, how to receive your money back for manual claims.
Enrolment in Fair Pharmacare is a requirement in order to make prescription drug claims. To find out more information about Fair Phamacare please visit here.
Green Shield Canada
(p) 1.888.711.1119
(w) www.greenshield.ca
Benefits Card:
Pick up your benefits card from the OCSU office on your campus or print one off when you sign up online with Green Shield to have your claims processed immediately at pharmacies and dentists in Canada once the blackout period has passed.
If you are unable to come to campus to pick up a card your Green Shield identification number can be e-mailed by contacting health-dental@ocsu.ca
If you need assistance mailing a claim, please stop by the OCSU office on your campus. You can also submit claims online by signing up for Green Shield member online. To sign up for plan member online please go here.
Opt Out:
If you are covered by an equivalent Health and Dental Plan you may opt out by going online to here. and following the step by step directions. Please note that you will have to send your proof of coverage to health-dental@ocsu.ca in order for your opt out to be complete. Both the online opt out and the proof of coverage must be completed no later than the third Friday after your program start date.
Please note that your provincial health card is not considered acceptable proof of coverage.
Proof of Coverage:
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- An extended health and dental insurance card with your name on it;
- A letter form your insurance company on company letterhead;
- A letter from the issuing employer on company letterhead;
- A screen shot from your insurance companies website. The screen shot must include your name, that you are covered for both health and dental and the company logo or url;
- A status card showing your current name.
Any Opt Out that is not accompanied by acceptable proof will result in your opt out being denied.
Legal Assistance
OCS Health Plan Members, through Prosum Health Benefits and Sykes Assistance Services provides you with timely, cost-effective access to experienced lawyers to guide you through most major types of law, including: Family, Criminal, Civil litigation, Landlord and tenant, Residential real estate, Wills and Estates, Tax, Employment, Condo/Strata, Immigration and Identity Theft Support. As a member of the Health Plan you have access to unlimited free summary telephone legal advice and unlimited referrals to local lawyers at preferred rates.
You can call on the toll-free number 1 877-333-3884 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to speak to a customer service representative who can put you in touch with a lawyer at no charge. Advice lawyers are available to call clients from 8 am to Midnight daily. Please do not hesitate to request a call back after regular business hours, on weekends or holidays.
Access to medical appointments online from anywhere, at anytime! If you don’t have access to your family doctor, need medical help after-hours, or are simply too busy to sit in a waiting room, we have a solution for you. The BC Federation of Students has arranged for Okanagan College Students’ Union members to access a cutting-edge, online medical service. GOeVisit provides access to Canadian doctors who can diagnose and treat over 80 minor illnesses all through your computer, smartphone or tablet. If you need a prescription, the doctors at GOeVisit can just send it straight to a pharmacy of your choice. It’s that easy! Download the free app or go online to goevisit.com and register today! For Canadian students, there’s no fee to enrol, and no fee to use GOeVisit! Have questions? GOeVisit is there to help! Give them a call anytime at 1.866.318.4748
The GSC Health Assist LINK program offers guaranteed coverage (no medical questionnaire) for you and your family for day-to-day medical, dental and travel expenses, as well as unforeseen health expenses. This program may be your solution if you, your spouse or your dependent children are losing or have lost group health and/or dental benefits within the last 90 days and are looking for coverage. Click here to apply, or contact Prosum Health Benefits Inc. at 1.855.751.6590 for assistance.
Contact Us:
(e) health-dental@ocsu.ca
(p) 250-762-5445 ext 4250
(f) 250-861-7074
On the Kelowna campus we have a housing board where you can view and post accommodations. It is located in the Health building, near our office (H125).
You can fill out the form below and print it, or email it to laitinen@ocsu.ca for posting.
In August 2018 the OCSU opened the Pantry, a foodbank service located on the Kelowna campus! Our Pantry is in room A149. Through partnerships with the Kelowna Community Foodbank and Okanagan College we were able to bring this much needed service to students facing food security issues.
After years of lobbying the institution on the importance of students’ mental well being and fighting hard for a foodbank, we were recently able to secure a location on campus. The OCSU Pantry is the first step in a movement towards increasing Health and Wellness services for Okanagan College students.
If you are in need, come find us in A149 or stop in H125 (our main OCSU office).
When you are living on a student budget every penny counts. That’s why we are proud to offer another one of our extremely popular services available FREE to all of our members: the Student Discount Program!
Every year we continue to grow this service and last year we managed to include over 150 local businesses throughout the Okanagan, plus discounts world wide.
How We Market Local Businesses
- Printed Material: printed in our Student Handbook and Student Discount guide, rotating promotion in e-newsletter and around campuses
- Online: rotating promotion on our website, rotating promotion on our Facebook pages.
- Poster Boards: rotating promotion on our poster boards, and custom posters*.
*Provided by business, must meet Poster Policy standards.
How To Give A Discount
Are you a business that would like to offer students a discount in return for free on-campus and online marketing? Every spring we search for local business who would. If you’re interested, contact us by phone or email. We accept new discounts anytime throughout the year.
Contact: info@ocsu.ca
| Penticton | |||
| Business Name | Business Address | Discount | Category |
| Hoodoo Adventures | 131 Ellis Street, Penticton | 15% off climbing gym/club & 10% off tours | Entertainment |
| Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad | #11611 – 115 Street, Osoyoos | 2 for 1 entry | Entertainment |
| Penticton Virtual Reality Studio | 1475 Fairview Road, Penticton | Book 2 VR stations for the price of 1. Minimum 1 hour booking | Entertainment |
| Sun n’ Sup | 176 Robinson Avenue, Naramata | Rent 1 for 1.5 hours and get the 2nd rental for free. 2 for 1 rentals | Entertainment |
| Barking Parrot Bar | 21 Lakeshore Drive West, Penticton | 50% off any pizza. Try the $5.95 food menu | Food |
| Burger 55 | #84 – 52 Front Street, Penticton | 10% off a classic burger recipe & fountain drink | Food |
| Craft Corner Kitchen | 557 Main Street, Penticton | 30% off food | Food |
| Match Eatery & Public House | 553 Vees Drive, Penticton | 15% off food. Does not include alcohol or specials | Food |
| Milo Zero Wine Bar | 200 Ellis Street, Penticton | $3 off jugs of craft beer on tap | Food |
| Stix Bao & Bubble Tea | #107 – 535 Main Street, Penticton | 15% off main dishes | Food |
| Sushi Kojo | 3480 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton | 10% off purchase up to $30 | Food |
| T-Bones | #110 – 300 Riverside Drive, Penticton | 10% off your purchase | Food |
| The Nest & Nectar | #301 – 1475 Fairview Road, Penticton | 10% off food. $5 off cocktail classes. Not applicable with other offers and promotions | Food |
| Veriberry Frozen Yogurt | 201 Martin Street, Penticton | 10% off your purchase. Cannot be combine with other offers | Food |
| Villa Rosa Ristorante | 795 Westminister Avenue West, Penticton | 15% off dine in food | Food |
| Best Little Hair House | 468 Main Street, Penticton | 2 for 1 spray tans and 10% off hair services | Health and Beauty |
| Get Bent Yoga & Dance | #115 – 1475 Fairview Road, Penticton | 50% off yoga 10 class pass & drop in classes. Expires 4 months after purchase | Health and Beauty |
| Headstart at Body & Sol | #105 – 2601 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton | 20% off all retail, $2 off all haircuts, $5 off colours and highlights, $2 off spa services | Health and Beauty |
| Just Fitness | 1475 Fairview Road, Studio 6 Cannery Building, Penticton | 50% off regular price classes | Health and Beauty |
| Okanagan Cosmetology Institute Ltd | 358 Main Street, Penticton | 30% off purchase | Health and Beauty |
| Purple Lotus Yoga | 100 Calgary Avenue, Penticton | 15% off 10 class pass. In studio purchase only | Health and Beauty |
| Sunkissed Tanning Ltd | 2006 Main Street, Penticton | 15% off lotions and moisturizers | Health and Beauty |
| Andre’s Electronic Experts | #133 – 2111 Main Street and #101 – 2601 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton | 15% off cellular accessories | Retail and Services |
| Best Western Plus Sunrise Inn | 5506 Main Street, Penticton | 20% off purchase. Not valid June 15 – September 15 or long weekends | Retail and Services |
| The Book Shop | 242 Main Street, Penticton | 10% off on books | Retail and Services |
| Buoy Clothing Company | 37 Backstreet Boulevard, Penticton | 15% off regularly priced items & 10% off Okanagan Lifestyle Apparel | Retail and Services |
| Divine Hammer Computers | 250-488-6964 | $20 off a complete computer cleanup | Retail and Services |
| Flirt Adult | 425 Main Street, Penticton | 10% off your purchase | Retail and Services |
| Freedom Bike Shop | 533 Main Street, Penticton | 15% off parts and accessories. Some restrictions apply | Retail and Services |
| FYI Doctors | #3 – 6511 Main Street, Osoyoos. 200 Marina Way & 3693 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton | 10% off on regular priced frames, lenses and contact lenses. Not compatible with other discounts & promotions | Retail and Services |
| Garden Works | 670 Duncan Avenue West, Penticton | 15% off all regular priced plants. Not valid on Customer Appreciation Days | Retail and Services |
| The Great Canadian Oil Change | 1801 Main Street, Penticton | $20 off any oil change package. Can’t be combined with other offers | Retail and Services |
| Kelowna | |||
| Business Name | Business Address | Discount | Category |
| Axe Monkeys | 3190 Sexsmith Road, Kelowna | $5 off purchase | Entertainment |
| Leo’s Videos | 2680 Pandosy Street, Kelowna | 1 new and 1 library rental for $5 or 5 library stock for 5 days for $5 | Entertainment |
| Blenz Coffee | Innovation Centre, 104-460 Doyle Avenue, Kelowna | 10% off your purchase | Food |
| Boston Pizza | 545 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna | 20% off your purchase | Food |
| Goji’s Frozen Yogurt | 2080-A Springfield Road, Kelowna | 10% off your purchase | Food |
| Mission Tap House | 3110 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna | 15% off food, $4 pints and $4 6oz house wines | Food |
| Soul de Cuba | 101 Sunset Drive, Kelowna | 15% off purchases over $16 | Food |
| Soy Asian Fusion | 101-2900 Pandosy Street, Kelowna | 10% off your purchase | Food |
| Teaberry’s Fine Teas | 1-3045 Tutt Street, Kelowna | 15% off regular priced items | Food |
| Fresh Dental | 206-1139 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna | 20% off preventative dental hygiene, including oral cancer screening | Health and Beauty |
| iSight Optometry | 4-2070 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna | 15% off a pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses with or without a prescription | Health and Beauty |
| Lifetime Eye Care Optometry | 46-301 Hwy 33, Kelowna | 20% off glasses, contacts and eye exams | Health and Beauty |
| Moksha Yoga | 206-2900 Pandosy Street, Kelowna | 15% off your purchase | Health and Beauty |
| Nuvue Optometry | 112-1950 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna | 15% off exams and purchase | Health and Beauty |
| Orange Theory Fitness | 590 KLO Road, Kelowna | 3 free classes, $20 off heart rate chest monitors, $109/month elite membership, $149/month premier membership | Health and Beauty |
| Oxygen Yoga & Fitness | 117-1950 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna | $75/month for a 12 month membership or 25% off an unlimited membership | Health and Beauty |
| Ryders Spin Barre | 648 Cook Road, Kelowna | 20% off all class packages | Health and Beauty |
| Andre’s Electronic Experts | 2180 Elk Road, West Kelowna. 266 Bernard Avenue & 2153 Springfield Road, Kelowna | 15% off cellular accessories | Retail and Services |
| Book Bin | 500 Groves Avenue, Kelowna | 10% off your purchase | Retail and Services |
| Cyclepath Kelowna | 2169 Springfield Road, Kelowna | 10% off accessories, parts and clothing. 2nd year service free on any new bike purchase | Retail and Services |
| Dragon Cards | 15-1771 Cooper Road, Kelowna | 10% off your purchase | Retail and Services |
| Great Canadian Oil Change | 1-1735 Richter Street, Kelowna | 15% off entire bill if other services in addition to oil change are purchased | Retail and Services |
| Mosaic Books | 411 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna | 15% off books and most special orders. Excludes any 3 for 2 deals and discounted new books | Retail and Services |
| OK Tire & Auto Shop | 2012 Springfield Road, Kelowna | 20% off hourly labour rate | Retail and Services |
| Pure Romance by Natasha Mangel | natasha.mangel@gmail.com | 10% off products | Retail and Services |
| Salmon Arm | |||
| Business Name | Business Address | Discount | Category |
| Lakeside Bowling | 1881 9th Avenue NE, Salmon Arm | Play 2 games and get the 3rd game free | Entertainment |
| Booster Juice | 160 Trans Canada Hwy, Salmon Arm | 15% off smoothies | Food |
| Cantina Vallarta | 331 Hudson Avenue NE, Salmon Arm | $10 Taco Tuesday | Food |
| The Cliffs Bistro & Bakery | 707 George Street, Enderby | 25% off your purchase | Food |
| Dolce Bistro & Cappuccino Bar | 371 Alexander Street NE, Salmon Arm | 15% off your purchase | Food |
| Pink Cherry | 111 Hudson Avenue NW, Salmon Arm | 10% off your purchase | Food |
| Shuswap Grill | 551 Trans Canada Hwy, Salmon Arm | 20% off excluding specials and alcohol | Food |
| The Shuswap Pie Company | A-331 Alexander Street NE, Salmon Arm | 20% off excluding liquor and Little Red Hen products. Limit of 2 full pies per purchase | Food |
| Smudge Whole Food Noshery | 140 Hudson Avenue, Salmon Arm | 10% off your purchase | Food |
| Wings Kitchen | 21 Shuswap Street N, Salmon Arm | 10% off your purchase | Food |
| Gratitude Yoga | 185 Hudson Avenue NE, Salmon Arm | 15% off your purchase | Health and Beauty |
| Tangles Salon | #1151 – 10th Avenue SW, Salmon Arm | 10% off retail | Health and Beauty |
| Apple Auto Glass | #1-1050 10th Avenue SW, Salmon Arm | 15% off, not available on insurance claims | Retail and Services |
| Computer Professionals | 160 B Trans Canada Hwy NE, Salmon Arm | 20% off labour services | Retail and Services |
| Critters | 271 Trans Canada Hwy, Salmon Arm | 10% off products | Retail and Services |
| Factor 3 | 160 Lakeshore Drive, Salmon Arm | 10% off regular priced items | Retail and Services |
| Hartty Clothing | #1151 – 10th Avenue SW, Salmon Arm | 20% off regular priced items | Retail and Services |
| Heritage House Jewellers | #2 – 2090 10th Avenue SW, Salmon Arm | 20% off your purchase | Retail and Services |
| Nutters | #441 – 360 Trans Canada Hwy SW, Salmon Arm | 15% off regular priced items | Retail and Services |
| Salmon Arm Stationary & Office Supplies | 310 Hudson Avenue NE, Salmon Arm | 15% off your purchase | Retail and Services |
| Minute Auto Tune | 2400 Trans Canada Hwy, Salmon Arm | 10% off Monday-Friday / 15% off Saturdays | Retail and Services |
| Blue Canoe | 121 Shuswap Street S, Salmon Arm | Wednesday smoothies buy 1 get 1 half off / Mondays Greek food buy1 get 1 half off | Food |
| Eco Treats | 190 Trans Canada Hwy, Salmon Arm | 15% off drinks on Mondays | Food |
| Gym of Rock | 111-2090 10th St SW, Salmon Arm | Students Climb for $14 | Entertainment |
| Hungry Panda | 180 Hudson Avenue NE, Salmon Arm | 15% off | Food |
| Meikle Studios | 148 Lakeshore Drive, Salmon Arm | 10% off | Entertainment |
| G-Pops Diner | 2401 10th Avenue SW, Salmon Arm | 15% off menu items | Food |
| Top Jimmy’s Canoe Beach Café | 7720 36 Street NE, Salmon Arm | 15% off burgers, fries and paddle boards | Food |
| Total Office Supply | 371 Alexander Street, Salmon Arm | 15% ogg all regular priced school supplies | Retail and Services |
| Think Monkey | 110-2090 10th Avenue SW, Salmon Arm | 10% off screen replacements, Free tempered glass with screen replacement, 15% off any computer repaur service | Retail and Services |
| On Alex Ltd. | 1-250 Alexander Street NE, Salmon Arm | 15% off regular priced merchandise | Retail and Services |
| Skookum Cycle and Ski | 141 Shuswap Street, Salmon Arm | 15% off store items | Retail and Services |
Are you a student who has an excellent project in mind that could help benefit the campus community? Are you a group of students who are fundraising to start a new a service or attend a conference? If you are an Okanagan College Students’ Union member and have a great initiative that would help benefit the campus community, we encourage you to apply for our Student Initiatives program. All you need to do is fill in the paper work for your individual or group application and we will consider each application and let you know if we can help financially or through letters of support. We know how important it is when a project is in the start-up phase and we would love to help out if we can. You can find more details in our policy manual.
Fill in the Student Initiatives Individual Funding Application:
2018:2019 Individual Student Initiatives Funding Application
Fill in the Student Initiatives Group Funding Application:
For students on the Penticton Campus, lockers are available for free! Choose an empty locker and place your own lock on it to claim it as your own. You may use this locker for a day, a week or the whole year.
Be sure to empty your locker before the end of your time here at Okanagan College. Annual lock cutting/emptying occurs every year in the last week of August to get ready for the next school year. Your lock and contents will be removed at this time if you have not done so yourself.
The OCSU manages over 25 poster boards in Kelowna and Salmon Arm. Check them out if your looking to get informed about our events, other student events, and great deals for students at local businesses. We welcome students, community members, and local businesses to post. We manage all poster boards in Kelowna and Salmon Arm with our Poster Policy, available at our offices. All posters must be approved at our office prior to posting.
If you would to post on the poster boards in Penticton, contact the Admin reception desk as they handle all poster boards.
How To Post A Poster?
- Read our Poster Board Policy, also available at our offices.
- Design your poster.
- Come to our office to get an approval stamp.
- Post approved posters.
Located conveniently in the OCSU office on the Kelowna – KLO campus at our office, room H125 the Students’ Union office in Kelowna sells bus passes, photocopying, and fax services for students! We also have the lowest priced printing on campus (print from USB with .pdf only).
You can also find the lost & found for the Kelowna Campus at the Students’ Union office. The Students’ Union is open from 8:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday (including throughout the Summer) and closed for lunch from 11:00am-11:30am.
SWAP offers programs for Canadians who want to go abroad to work and travel.
Have a lingering question about living and working abroad? When should you go? Where should you go? How do you prepare to live and work overseas? SWAP has all the answers.
SWAP not only gets you the Work Visa, but once in your destination, SWAP offer support services for the full duration of your stay.
For more information check out the SWAP website!
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Health and Dental Opt-Out
If you are covered by an equivalent Health and Dental Plan you may opt out by going online. If you already know you are eligible, click here to opt-out.