Health Plan, Dental Plan, and Legal Protection Program

Opt ins/opt outs for Health Plan, Dental Plan, and Legal Protection Program are managed by Studentcare and more information about their opt out program can be found on their website.

You must opt out of services during the Change-of-Coverage Period from September 7 – 27, 2022. Opt outs cannot be processed after the deadline.

Health Plan

If you are already covered by an equivalent health plan, you can opt-out and receive a refund for the Health Plan through Studentcare. You must be able to provide proof of coverage by an equivalent health plan. Your provincial health care does not provide coverage equivalent to the GSA Health Plan. You cannot opt out of the GSA Health Plan if you are only covered by OHIP (or a plan similar to OHIP).

Dental Plan

You may opt out of the Dental Plan through Studentcare and receive a refund for the dental portion of the Plan without submitting proof of equivalent dental coverage.

Legal Protection Plan

Full-time and part-time UW graduate students may opt out of the Legal Protection Program through Studentcare and receive a refund for this portion of the Plan without providing proof of alternative coverage.

**GRT & ION UPass Transit *New refund program**

The GRT & ION UPass program supports graduate students in the region. Since this is a Universal pass, it only works when all members pay their fees (this was approved by referendum when we started the program). As such, the GRT fees will be collected each term to support running the service. As agreed upon in GSA-UW and GRT contract negotiations, eligible graduate students at UWaterloo are able to opt out of the service and request a refund for a term.

All UPass refund requests must be completed between September 7 – 27, 2022 (overlapping the Change-of-coverage period with our other services).

An online form to process UPass refund requests will be made available to all graduate students starting September 7, 2022.

To complete the GRT & ION UPass Refund Form, please visit our website: https://gsauw.ca/services/upass/.

The following are the eligibility criteria/acceptable reasons for UPass refund request:

(A) You are a UW student who retains a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”) registration during the Fall 2022 term.

(B) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are taking a majority of academic courses at an out-of-region (outside Waterloo Region) University in the Fall 2022 term.

(C) You are a UW student who holds a valid Accessible Parking Permit issued by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, and are registered with UW Parking Services and UW AccessAbility Services at the beginning of the Fall 2022 term.

(D) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are considered on professional or academic placement outside the Waterloo Region as part of your degree, which is not considered part of co-operative education.

(E) You are registered in a research program, have completed your program’s required coursework, and are not taking courses in the Fall 2022 term. *Note: You can only apply for option E once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

(F) You are registered in a course-based program and are not taking a full course load in the Fall 2022 term. *Note: You can only apply for option F once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

Eligible students who drop out of UW or change their enrollment status at UW after the Drop Deadline per the UW Graduate Calendar shall NOT be eligible for a refund of the UPass. In such cases, eligible students who are not refunded shall continue to have access to UPass.

After submitting your refund application, you will receive a “Thank You” message that you can screen capture for your records. Please be assured that we have received your refund request. We kindly ask that you do not contact the GSA office to confirm receipt of your submission for a refund due to the high volume of emails we receive during this period. The GSA will process refunds after the submission deadline has closed. You will be notified in a few weeks by email if your refund request has been approved. The GSA Office will aim to process verified refunds by the middle of November 2022.

Accommodation to Opt In to the GRT & ION UPass Service

Graduate Students at UWaterloo who were previously not given the option to pay the GRT & ION UPass and would like to pay the fee to make use of the UPass for the current Term to be able to do so if they fulfill ONE of the following accommodation criteria:

(A) A Student Councillor, Director, or Officer of the GSA, or other student representative determined in accordance with the Policies & Procedures of the GSA who would otherwise be eligible for the UPass had they not adjusted their status to take on their current role.
(B) A Full-Time Student who is undertaking a reduced course schedule as a result of an accommodation as defined in UW Graduate Calendar or as otherwise defined by the University of Waterloo.
(C) A Full-Time Student that has been advised/ accommodated by the University of Waterloo to undertake a reduced course schedule based on International Visa considerations (or similar) and who would otherwise be eligible for the U-Pass had they not adjusted their status.
(D) A Co-op Student (student currently engaged in a co-operative work term who would otherwise be eligible for the U-Pass) that may not have been assessed the U-Pass fee.
(E) Graduate students enrolled at University of Waterloo Satellite campuses that may not have been assessed the UPass fee.

The Accommodation Process:

If you meet one of the accommodation criteria and are interested in opting in to the UPass, please complete the GRT UPass Accommodation Application. GSA-UW will then assess the application and will email the graduate student to let them know if they are eligible to opt in based on the request.

If approved, the student will send a cheque for the cost of the current UPass fee of $107.61 to the GSA to have the GRT UPass added to the student’s Watcard. Once the payment for GRT UPass Fee is accepted, GSA-UW will contact the WATCARD office, who will make the change of status within one week of request.

Please note: GSA-UW will be accepting submissions for accommodations effective immediately.

To complete the GRT UPass Accommodation Application, please visit our website: https://gsauw.ca/services/upass/.

Questions?

Should you have any further questions about GSA Services and opt out/opt in options, please contact our office.

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If you’re a new student starting in the Spring Term or a Co-op student who was not on Academic Term in Fall 2021 or Spring 2021, who has paid service fees for the Spring 2022 term but wish to opt out, you must do so during the Spring Change-of-Coverage Period from May 2 – 20, 2022.

You may opt out of the Dental Plan through Studentcare and receive a refund for the dental portion of the Plan without submitting proof of equivalent dental coverage.

As determined by the referendum in the Spring 2020 Term, the GSA-UW is offering a new Legal Protection Program through Studentcare. As such, the GSA-UW will no longer be providing in- person Legal Aid clinics. Full-time and part-time UW graduate students may opt out of the Legal Protection Program and receive a refund for this portion of the Plan without providing proof of alternative coverage.

The GSA will be continuing the GRT & ION UPass program for Spring 2022 to support graduate students in the region. Since this is a Universal pass, it only works when all members pay their fees (this was approved by referendum when we started the program). As such, the GRT fees will be collected for Spring term to support running the service.

The GSA-UW and GRT negotiated terms of a new 5-year contract with a base of $105.50 per term for September 2021 – August 2022. As part of these new contract negotiations, eligible graduate students at UWaterloo are now able to opt out by requesting a refund for a term.

All UPass refund requests must be completed between May 2 – 20, 2022 (overlapping the Change-of-coverage period with our other services).

An online form to process UPass refund requests will be made available to all graduate students starting May 2, 2022.

The following are the eligibility criteria/acceptable reasons for UPass refund request:

(A) You are a UW student who retains a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”) registration during the Spring 2022 term.

(B) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are taking a majority of academic courses at an out-of-region (outside Waterloo Region) University in the Spring 2022 term.

(D) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are considered on professional or academic placement outside the Waterloo Region as part of your degree, which is not considered part of co-operative education.

(E) Other: Exceptional refunds as may, from time to time, be approved (remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, while living outside the Region of Waterloo).

(F) You are registered in a research program, have completed your program’s required coursework, and are not taking courses in the Spring 2022 term. *Note: You can only apply for option F once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

(G) You are registered in a course-based program and are not taking a full course load in the Spring 2022 term. *Note: You can only apply for option G once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

Graduate Students at UWaterloo who were previously not given the option to pay the GRT & ION UPass and would like to pay the fee to make use of the UPass for the Spring 2022 Term may be able to do so if they fulfill ONE of the following accommodation criteria:

(A) A Student Councillor, Director, or Officer of the GSA, or other student representative determined in accordance with the Policies & Procedures of the GSA who would otherwise be eligible for the UPass had they not adjusted their status to take on their current role.

(B) A Full-Time Student who is undertaking a reduced course schedule as a result of an accommodation as defined in UW Graduate Calendar or as otherwise defined by the University of Waterloo.

(C) Graduate students enrolled at University of Waterloo Satellite campuses that may not have been assessed the UPass fee.

(D) Graduate students in the region of Waterloo who are on maternity leave or medical leave.

If approved, the student will send a cheque for the cost of the Spring 2022 UPass fee of $105.50 to the GSA to have the GRT UPass added to the student’s Watcard. Once the payment for GRT UPass Fee is accepted, GSA-UW will contact the WATCARD office, who will make the change of status within one week of request.

Please note: GSA-UW will be accepting submissions for accommodations effective immediately.

Should you have any further questions about GSA Services and opt out/opt in options, please contact our office.

The following is an update on resolutions discussed at the GSA’s Annual General Meeting held online on April 13, 2022.

Members approved the GSA-UW to seek an auditor request for proposals (RFP) to maintain the financial health of the GSA-UW. Based on the result of this search, members will vote at a future general meeting to appoint an auditor for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Members elected the following Directors to serve on the GSA Board of Directors from May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2024:

231 graduate students participated in the 2022 AGM vote; an increase of 6% from the 217 votes cast in the 2021 AGM vote.

The membership received informational reports and presentations from the GSA-UW President, Speaker of the GSA-UW Council, Chair of the GSA-UW Board, and the GSEF Coordinator

We thank all the members who participated at the virtual meeting or cast their votes prior to the meeting.

University of Waterloo is seeking nominations for two upcoming graduate student vacancies on Senate. Graduate Student Senators serve alongside senior campus administration in order to review and create bylaws, and establish committees and councils.

Two graduate students of UWaterloo will be elected by/from the full- and part-time graduate students of the University for the terms May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2024.

Senate Nomination Forms & Submission Details

Elections will follow if necessary. If required, elections will be held beginning Wednesday March 9, closing Wednesday March 16, 2022.

More Information

General information on Senate can be found in the UW Act and Senate Bylaw 1. Election information can be found in Senate Bylaw 3. Any questions regarding the Senate or the nomination/election process can be directed to Emily Schroeder, 519-888-4567, ext. 32749.

By joining Senate, you can have a direct impact on graduate student life and broader long-term university projects. This is a great leadership opportunity for any graduate student at UWaterloo!

If you’re a new student starting in the Winter Term or a Co-op student who was not on Academic Term in Fall 2021 or Spring 2021, who has paid service fees for the Winter 2022 term but wish to opt out, you must do so during the Winter Change-of-Coverage Period from January 5 – 25, 2021.

You may opt out of the Dental Plan through Studentcare and receive a refund for the dental portion of the Plan without submitting proof of equivalent dental coverage.

The GSA will be continuing the GRT & ION UPass program for Winter 2022 to support graduate students in the region. Since this is a Universal pass, it only works when all members pay their fees (this was approved by referendum when we started the program). As such, the GRT fees will be collected for Winter term to support running the service.

All UPass refund requests must be completed between January 5 – 25, 2022 (overlapping the Change-of-coverage period with our other services).

An online form to process UPass refund requests will be made available to all graduate students starting January 5, 2022.

The following are the eligibility criteria/acceptable reasons for UPass refund request:

(A) You are a UW student who retains a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”) registration during the Winter 2022 term.

(B) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are taking a majority of academic courses at an out-of-region (outside Waterloo Region) University in the Winter 2022 term.

(E) Other: Exceptional refunds as may, from time to time, be approved (remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, while living outside the Region of Waterloo).

(F) You are registered in a research program, have completed your program’s required coursework, and are not taking courses in the Winter 2022 term. *Note: You can only apply for option F once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

(G) You are registered in a course-based program and are not taking a full course load in the Winter 2022 term. *Note: You can only apply for option G once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

Graduate Students at UWaterloo who were previously not given the option to pay the GRT & ION UPass and would like to pay the fee to make use of the UPass for the Winter 2022 Term may be able to do so if they fulfill ONE of the following accommodation criteria:

(B) A Full-Time Student who is undertaking a reduced course schedule as a result of an accommodation as defined in UW Graduate Calendar or as otherwise defined by the University of Waterloo.

(C) Graduate students enrolled at University of Waterloo Satellite campuses that may not have been assessed the UPass fee.

(D) Graduate students in the region of Waterloo who are on maternity leave or medical leave.

If approved, the student will send a cheque for the cost of the Winter 2022 UPass fee of $105.50 to the GSA to have the GRT UPass added to the student’s Watcard. Once the payment for GRT UPass Fee is accepted, GSA-UW will contact the WATCARD office, who will make the change of status within one week of request.

Please note: GSA-UW will be accepting submissions for accommodations effective immediately.

Should you have any further questions about GSA Services and opt out/opt in options, please contact our office.

The Board of Directors have approved a change to the GSA-UW By-Laws in their November 16 Board meeting. At the request of The Council, the Board changed By-Law #7 (Council), by striking sections 7.2.0 through 7.2.2. This change to the By-Laws takes effect immediately, but must be approved by the membership at the 2022 Annual General Meeting.

If you’re a new student starting in the Fall Term or a Co-op student who was not on Academic Term in Spring 2021 or Winter 2021, who has paid service fees for the Fall 2021 term but wish to opt out, you must do so during the Fall Change-of-Coverage Period from September 7 – 28, 2021.

Health Plan
If you are already covered by an equivalent health plan, you can opt-out and receive a refund for the Health Plan through Studentcare. You must be able to provide proof of coverage by an equivalent health plan. Your provincial health care does not provide coverage equivalent to the GSA Health Plan. You cannot opt out of the GSA Health Plan if you are only covered by OHIP (or a plan similar to OHIP).

Dental Plan
You may opt out of the Dental Plan through Studentcare and receive a refund for the dental portion of the Plan without submitting proof of equivalent dental coverage.

Legal Protection Plan *New for 2021
As determined by the referendum in the Spring 2020 Term, the GSA-UW is offering a new Legal Protection Program through Studentcare. As such, the GSA-UW will no longer be providing in- person Legal Aid clinics. Full-time and part-time UW graduate students may opt out of the Legal Protection Program and receive a refund for this portion of the Plan without providing proof of alternative coverage.

The GSA will be continuing the GRT & ION UPass program for Fall 2021 to support graduate students in the region. Since this is a Universal pass, it only works when all members pay their fees (this was approved by referendum when we started the program). As such, the GRT fees will be collected for Fall term to support running the service.

All UPass refund requests must be completed between September 7 – 28, 2021 (overlapping the Change-of-coverage period with our other services).

An online form to process UPass refund requests will be made available to all graduate students starting September 7, 2021.

The following are the eligibility criteria/acceptable reasons for UPass refund request:

(A) You are a UW student who retains a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”) registration during the Fall 2021 term.

(B) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are taking a majority of academic courses at an out-of-region (outside Waterloo Region) University in the Fall 2021 term.

(E) Other: Exceptional refunds as may, from time to time, be approved (remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, while living outside the Region of Waterloo).

(F) You are registered in a research program, have completed your program’s required coursework, and are not taking courses in the Fall 2021 term. *Note: You can only apply for option F once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

(G) You are registered in a course-based program and are not taking a full course load in the Fall 2021 term. *Note: You can only apply for option G once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

Graduate Students at UWaterloo who were previously not given the option to pay the GRT & ION UPass and would like to pay the fee to make use of the UPass for the Fall 2021 Term may be able to do so if they fulfill ONE of the following accommodation criteria:

(B) A Full-Time Student who is undertaking a reduced course schedule as a result of an accommodation as defined in UW Graduate Calendar or as otherwise defined by the University of Waterloo.

(C) Graduate students enrolled at University of Waterloo Satellite campuses that may not have been assessed the UPass fee.

(D) Graduate students in the region of Waterloo who are on maternity leave or medical leave.

If a graduate student is eligible to opt in based on the request and the assessment made by GSA-UW, the GSA-UW will contact the WATCARD office, who will make the change of status within one week of request.

Please note: GSA-UW will be accepting submissions for accommodations effective immediately.

Should you have any further questions about GSA Services and opt out/opt in options, please contact our office.

After careful consideration, the Graduate Student Association at University of Waterloo has decided to re-open the Graduate House in the Spring 2021 term. To that end, the optional $23.50 Graduate House fee is being collected.

We appreciate your patience and continued support as we prepare to reopen the doors (and patios) of the Graduate House. More information on our opening day will be communicated soon.

We also want to say thank you to all graduate students. Whether or not you pay the optional Graduate House fee, please know that the Graduate House is a space on campus for all members of our graduate student community.

The Graduate House is a unique aspect of our campus, our community, and the graduatestudent experience at the University of Waterloo. Accordingly, your ongoing support for its continued operations is appreciated.

Please feel free to reach out to gsaoffice@uwaterloo.ca should you have any questions.

Thanks,
Your GSA

All UWaterloo Graduate Students who have paid service fees for the Spring 2021 term but wish to opt out, must do so during the Spring Change-of-Coverage Period from May 10 to May 31, 2021. Enrollments cannot be processed after the deadline.

Health Plan
If you are already covered by an equivalent health plan, you can opt-out and receive a refund for the Health Plan through Studentcare. You must be able to provide proof of coverage by an equivalent health plan. Your provincial health care does not provide coverage equivalent to the GSA Health Plan. You cannot opt out of the GSA Health Plan if you are only covered by OHIP (or a plan similar to OHIP).

Dental Plan
You may opt out of the Dental Plan through Studentcare and receive a refund for the dental portion of the Plan without submitting proof of equivalent dental coverage.

Legal Protection Plan
As determined by the referendum in the Spring 2020 Term, the GSA-UW offers a Legal Protection Program through Studentcare. As such, the GSA-UW no longer provides in-person Legal Aid clinics. Full-time and part-time UW graduate students may opt out of the Legal Protection Program and receive a refund for this portion of the Plan without providing proof of alternative coverage.

GRT & ION UPASS TRANSIT *NEW REFUND PROGRAM
The GSA will be continuing the GRT & ION UPass program for Spring 2021 to support graduate students in the region. Since this is a Universal pass, it only works when all members pay their fees (this was approved by referendum when we started the program). As such, the GRT fees will be collected for Spring term to support running the service.

The GSA-UW and GRT negotiated terms of a new 5-year contract with a base of $105.50 per term for September 2020 – August 2021. As part of these new contract negotiations, eligible graduate students at UWaterloo are now able to opt out by requesting a refund for a term.

All UPass refund requests must be completed between May 10 to May 31, 2021 (overlapping the Change-of-coverage period with our other services).

An online form to process UPass refund requests will be made available to all graduate students starting May 10, 2021.

The following are the eligibility criteria/acceptable reasons for UPass refund request:

(A) You are a UW student who retains a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”) registration during the Spring 2021 term.

(B) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are taking a majority of academic courses at an out-of-region (outside Waterloo Region) University in the Spring 2021 term.

(E) Other: Exceptional refunds as may, from time to time, be approved (remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, while living outside the Region of Waterloo).

(F) You are registered in a research program, have completed your program’s required coursework, and are not taking courses in the Spring 2021 term. *Note: You can only apply for either option F once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

(G) You are registered in a course-based program and are not taking a full course load in the Spring 2021 term. *Note: You can only apply for either option G once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

Accommodation to Opt In to the GRT & ION UPass Service
Graduate Students at UWaterloo who were previously not given the option to pay the GRT & ION UPass and would like to pay the fee to make use of the UPass for the Spring 2021 Term may be able to do so if they fulfill ONE of the following accommodation criteria:

(B) A Full-Time Student who is undertaking a reduced course schedule as a result of an accommodation as defined in UW Graduate Calendar or as otherwise defined by the University of Waterloo.

(C) Graduate students enrolled at University of Waterloo Satellite campuses that may not have been assessed the UPass fee.

(D) Graduate students in the region of Waterloo who are on maternity leave or medical leave.

The Accommodation Process:
If you meet one of the criteria noted above and are interested in opting in to the UPass, please contact the GSA Office and identify which ONE accommodation criteria you are using to opt in to the GRT & ION UPass plan.

If a graduate student is eligible to opt in based on the request and the assessment made by GSA-UW, the GSA-UW will contact the WATCARD office, who will make the change of status within one week of request.

Please note: GSA-UW will be accepting submissions for accommodations effective immediately.

Questions?
Should you have any further questions about GSA Services and opt out/opt in options, please contact our office.

This July the GSA-UW Council voted to support the student-led unionization effort ‘OrganizeUW’ by sharing information and educating the student community about the union drive. In the interest of enabling a chance for all students to hear about and engage with the drive, as well as enabling opportunities for full representation of all groups of students across campus within the drive, we write to you now regarding the union drive. In this open letter, we describe what the union drive is, what the organizers hope to achieve, and finish with a list of ways to engage with the drive and its organizers if you have any questions or would like to get involved.

OrganizeUW is a group of graduate students who have started a grassroots union drive with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Their stated aim is “to bring fairness, equality and respect to all graduate student workers and sessionals employed at the University of Waterloo”. In particular, the union would only cover students who have a TAship, RAship, or were a sessional lecturer in a given year. Conditions regarding the workplace that are achieved by the union may also cover other graduate students, such as improved working spaces or paid training opportunities. These conditions would be legally binding, ensuring all students have equal access.

What is a union and why does this group of students want to form a union of graduate student workers?
A union is a legally recognized association of workers in a workplace that grants them additional workers’ rights under the Ontario Labour Relations Act. Being part of a union allows workers to bargain with their employer to set minimum standards for their workplace (e.g., pay, hours, benefits, health and safety, discrimination protocols/protections, etc). It has democratically elected representatives (graduate students) that bargain with the university, as well as collect and synthesize ideas for a collective agreement. The collective agreement with the employer must be passed by a majority vote of the workers. This process and the collective agreement are regulated and protected by the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB).

If the organizing drive is successful, grad students would form a local union, which would be part of CUPE. CUPE National allows for local autonomy while also providing each local with an internally elected representative (elected by UW members – grad students), who will have a say in how CUPE fights for its members on a provincial and national level. CUPE offers training, legal, and other supports to create and enforce collective agreements between graduate students and the university, with the OLRB acting as a neutral intermediary body. As members of CUPE, 0.85% of TA, RA, or Sessional wages would be paid as dues to CUPE National, with any other dues set by the local and retained by the local.

Most universities across Canada have a graduate student union; this union drive is not an unusual initiative. To give a few general examples, graduate student unions at other universities in Ontario have negotiated collective agreements that include higher and timely pay, better hours, transparent hiring practices and an increased number of TA positions, the improvement or provision of benefits, improved health and safety conditions and procedures, paid anti-racism and discrimination training, and enforced accountability to prevent or address harassment and discrimination in the workplace. That said, collective agreements depend on the local concerns and issues that students are facing. Members can also form elected subcommittees within the union as need arises to represent and address specific issues and/or marginalized groups. For a collective agreement at UWaterloo, the organizers need to hear from the graduate student body to better represent the needs of working students.

How does the unionization process work?
To file for unionization, at least 40% of employed graduate student workers need to sign a CUPE union card. This entails signing union membership cards, a confidential process that is facilitated through the campaign’s website and CUPE organizing department. From here, CUPE is responsible for filing with Ontario’s Labour Relations Board for union certification, which will then be put to a vote in which all workers covered participate. To clarify, this means that signing a card now does not guarantee the union. There will be a final vote by all eligible graduate students to ratify the union (requiring 50%+1 of votes), before moving forward with the collective bargaining process.

Would you like to engage with the union drive or its organizers?
The graduate student organizers are looking to reach out to all students across campus and are open to addressing any questions or concerns. They are also actively seeking volunteers to join the organizing drive and be part of the campaign. Here are ways that OrganizeUW volunteers have provided to find out more information from OrganizeUW or engage with its volunteers:

All UWaterloo Graduate Students who have paid service fees for the Winter 2021 term but wish to opt out, must do so during theWinter Change-of-Coverage Period from January 5 to January 25, 2021.

If you’re a new student starting in the Spring Term or a Co-op student who was not on Academic Term in Fall 2020 or Winter 2021, the Spring Change-of-Coverage Period is from May 3 to May 21, 2021.

Enrollments cannot be processed after the deadline.

Health Plan

You may opt out of the Dental Plan through Studentcare and receive a refund for the dental portion of the Plan without submitting proof of equivalent dental coverage.

The GSA will be continuing the GRT & ION UPass program for Winter 2021 to support graduate students in the region. Since this is a Universal pass, it only works when all members pay their fees (this was approved by referendum when we started the program). As such, the GRT fees will be collected for Winter term to support running the service.

The GSA-UW and GRT negotiated terms of a new 5-year contract with a base of $105.50 per term for September 2020 – August 2021. As part of these new contract negotiations, eligible graduate students at UWaterloo are now able to opt out by requesting a refund for a term.

All UPass refund requests must be completed between January 5 to January 25, 2021 (overlapping the Change-of-coverage period with our other services).

An online form to process UPass refund requests will be made available to all graduate students starting January 5, 2020.

The following are the eligibility criteria/acceptable reasons for UPass refund request:

(A) You are a UW student who retains a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”) registration during the Winter 2021 term.

(B) You are a UW student who pays fees to UW, but are taking a majority of academic courses at an out-of-region (outside Waterloo Region) University in the Winter 2021 term.

(E) Other: Exceptional refunds as may, from time to time, be approved (remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, while living outside the Region of Waterloo).

(F) You are registered in a research program, have completed your program’s required coursework, and are not taking courses in the Winter 2021 term. *Note: You can only apply for either option F or G once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

(G) You are registered in a course-based program and are not taking a full course load in the Winter 2020 term. *Note: You can only apply for either option F or G once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

Graduate Students at UWaterloo who were previously not given the option to pay the GRT & ION UPass and would like to pay the fee to make use of the UPass for the Winter 2021 Term may be able to do so if they fulfill ONE of the following accommodation criteria:

(B) A Full-Time Student who is undertaking a reduced course schedule as a result of an accommodation as defined in UW Graduate Calendar or as otherwise defined by the University of Waterloo.

(C) Graduate students enrolled at University of Waterloo Satellite campuses that may not have been assessed the UPass fee.

(D) Graduate students in the region of Waterloo who are on maternity leave or medical leave.

If you meet one of the criteria noted above and are interested in opting in to the UPass, please contact the GSA Office and identify which ONE accommodation criteria you are using to opt in to the GRT & ION UPass plan.

If a graduate student is eligible to opt in based on the request and the assessment made by GSA-UW, the GSA-UW will contact the WATCARD office, who will make the change of status within one week of request.

Please note: GSA-UW will be accepting submissions for accommodations effective immediately.

Should you have any further questions about GSA Services and opt out/opt in options, please contact our office.

The Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo (GSA-UW) has been working with on-campus partners to increase financial supports for graduate students during the ongoing pandemic.

The GSA-UW, GSPA, and GSEF have collaborated once again to provide graduate students with an additional $60,000 in funding.

The GSA-UW understands that the ongoing pandemic has created academic, financial, professional, and social issues for graduate students. We intend to continue to work with our on-campus partners to help our membership through this difficult time.

If you have any questions on this trilateral initiative or would like more information on the GSA-UW and our services, please do not hesitate to contact us at gsaoffice@uwaterloo.ca.

After considerable discussion, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) has decided that the Graduate House will be closed for the Winter 2021 term. To that end, the Graduate House fee will not be collected until further notice.

The GSA Board and Management reviewed the changing risk landscape pertaining to COVID-19, including the operational costs and requirements of the Graduate House and new consumer preferences brought about by the ongoing pandemic. We have concluded that this is the right decision to continue protecting the health and safety of our staff and customers.

The last day of Graduate House operations will be December 18, 2020. However, an earlier closure may be required due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Until then, we hope you can stop by for a few more drinks and meals. We also offer takeout!

The GSA will continue to monitor regional and provincial COVID-19 statistics and requirements in relation to the future reopening and operations of the Graduate House. It is our aim to welcome members of our community back to the Graduate House patios soon.

Please note that the GSA is reviewing the possibility of holding occasional events at the Graduate House over the course of the Winter 2021 term. Accordingly, we encourage you to follow the GSA and Graduate House over social media.

Follow the GSA on social media:
▪ Instagram: @gsa.uwaterloo
▪ Facebook: @gsauw
▪ Twitter: @GSA_UWaterloo

Follow the Graduate House on social media:
▪ Instagram: @the_graduate_house
▪ Facebook: @uwgradhouse
▪ Twitter: @UWGraduateHouse

We thank you for your understanding and the continued support from our graduate student membership and wider campus community. Please be sure to stay tuned, and reach out to the GSA (gsaoffice@uwaterloo.ca) if you have any questions or concerns.

Cheers,

David Billedeau, President
Jennifer Reid, Board Chair
Cam Bartel, Hospitality Manager

To our campus community,

The Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo (GSA-UW) is committed to advocating for the continuous improvement of the academic and social experience of University of Waterloo graduate students. To that end, the GSA—in partnership with the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA)—is advocating for the creation of an independent, on-campus ombudsperson position.

During their studies, graduate and undergraduate students may experience conflicts with faculty members, advisors, and/or members of university administration. While the GSA supports ongoing efforts of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) to improve the graduate student experience, we believe that students can face serious conflicts and power imbalances requiring impartial mediation that existing policies and campus stakeholders cannot fully provide.

At a high level, an ombudsperson will work to ensure that student rights are not violated. There are numerous Canadian universities that employ an independent ombudsperson to oversee dispute resolution on campus. The University of Waterloo employed an ombudsperson until it adopted an advocacy and policy-oriented approach to dispute resolution.

The University of Waterloo should reinstitute an independent ombudsperson position to support procedural fairness for all members of our campus community. An independent ombudsperson should be empowered to provide a safe, confidential environment in which students can discuss a University-related problem or concern.

The scope of the ombudsperson should include academic issues (e.g., grades, scholastic offenses, program requirements, instructor conflicts, etc.) and non-academic issues (e.g., tuition, residence, etc.). Most importantly, the ombudsperson should be impartial—providing all members of our campus community with an independent stakeholder equipped to facilitate equitable dispute resolution processes.

Together with WUSA, the GSA Council and management team will continue to advocate for the creation of an independent, on-campus ombudsperson position at the University of Waterloo.

Matthew Robbins, Speaker of the GSA Council
David Billedeau, President
Cindy Hoi Ting Yeung, Vice President, Administration
Zabeen Khamisa, Vice President, Communications

Although some graduate students are provided with teaching assistant (TA) training prior to becoming TAs at the University of Waterloo, an important gap exists: this training does not include sufficient mental wellness content. We, the Graduate Student Association of the University of Waterloo (GSA-UW), are concerned about the lack of such universalized training in our membership and believe that the introduction of a mandatory mental wellness training module will support our membership serving as TAs, and for all graduate students.

Over the last few months, we conducted a graduate student experience survey (“Vital Signs 2020”) and a COVID-19 Impact survey. Both surveys identified mental wellness as a key issue for graduate students and suggest that associated supports need to be improved. To that end, the GSA-UW prioritises the mental wellbeing of all graduate students and believes that the University of Waterloo should provide students with improved mental wellness supports and services.

Like professors and select administrative staff members, TAs are front line contacts for students. A mental wellness training module for TAs will provide a skills development platform to support their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of our broader student community.

The GSA-UW supports the implementation of a paid 1-2 hour online module for new TAs that is recorded as a milestone on transcripts. The GSA-UW supports equitable and fair compensation for time spent in training as graduate employees of UW and therefore requests that graduate TAs complete the module with pay. We are happy to pilot the mental wellness module with members of our Council, which has broad graduate student representation from across all faculties, prior to a full roll-out.

If you have any questions about this open letter, please contact us at gsa-wellness@uwaterloo.ca

David Billedeau, President
Cindy Hoi Ting Yeung, Vice President, Administration
Zabeen Khamisa, Vice President, Communications
Ashley Ryan, Student Wellness Coordinator
Matthew Robbins, Speaker of the GSA Council

Eligible international students are automatically covered by and billed for applicable portions of the GSA Services offered through the Studentcare Plan. Note that Studentcare Plan benefits are only accessible within Canada, while other services remain available abroad. Certain limitations exist.

Due to the impact of travel restrictions related to COVID-19, options for international students have been expanded for the 2020-21 academic year so that you can make the best choice for your individual circumstances. Be sure to read the FAQ at to review your options, and find complete details on your Plan’s benefits and services online at the Studentcare website.

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