STRATEGIC PLAN
The GSA Strategic Plan is an overarching document that helps to guide the organization over the upcoming years. It focuses on enhancing academic support, fostering a sense of community, and advocating for policies that promote student well-being. By prioritizing inclusive initiatives, amplifying student voices, and forging strong university partnerships, we aim to create an environment where every graduate student thrives academically, socially, and personally.
Our Themes & Guiding Principles
1. Enhancing Advocacy & Representation Efforts
Our commitment to enhancing advocacy and representation aims to amplify the voices of the graduate student community at the University of Waterloo.We actively advocate for graduate student interests to university administration and government at all levels.
2. Fostering Community Building and Membership Engagement
Our objective is to cultivate a community that celebrates and respects diversity, ensuring that every graduate student is welcomed and empowered with fair chances for academic and personal advancement.
3. Affirming our Commitment to Indigenous Heritage
The Graduate Student Association at the University of Waterloo commits to promoting awareness and respect for Indigenous cultures through educational programs, events, and collaboration with Indigenous communities in Waterloo.
4. Building Partnerships with Campus and Community Partners
We aim to enhance the membership’s resources, support, and opportunities through strategic partnerships with existing and new partners. Working closely with like-minded partners will enable the GSA to develop and deploy new initiatives that improve the well-being of members.
We acknowledge that we work on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River. We acknowledge that we work on these territories as beneficiaries of settler colonialism. We also acknowledge that members of our UWaterloo community live on Indigenous territories around the world.
This statement is only a small step in the process of reconciliation. Decolonization requires systemic change. The GSA-UW is committed to this effort.