Graduate House

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.

All UWaterloo Graduate Students who have paid service fees for the Fall 2020 term but wish to opt out, must do so during the Fall Change-of-Coverage Period from September 8 to September 28, 2020.

If you’re a new student starting in the Winter Term, the Winter Change-of-Coverage Period is 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
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
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.

GRT & ION UPass Transit *New refund program

The GSA will be continuing the GRT & ION UPass program for Fall 2020 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.

The GSA-UW and GRT negotiated terms of a new 5-year contract with a base of $105.00 per term for 2020-21. 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 September 8 to September 28, 2020 (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 8, 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 Fall 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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 Fall 2020 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 Fall 2020 term. *Note: You can only apply for either option F or G once per school year (September 1 – August 31).

Eligible students who drop out of UW or change their enrolment 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.

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 Fall 2020 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.

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.

International Students

Additional accommodations for International Graduate students who are currently not residing in the Waterloo Region due to COVID-19 are still being determined by GSA-UW. More information will be provided in the coming days.

Questions?

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

David Billedeau, President & CEO

Hi folks!

My name is David Billedeau, and over the coming academic year I’ll be serving as the President of your Graduate Student Association (GSA). In this role, I hope to support the social and academic experience of all UW gradaute students while advancing the GSA’s efforts in student wellness, equity, engagement (including increased outreach to our satelitte campuses), and community development.

The GSA has considerably evolved over the past year, and I’m confident that our continued organizational growth will result in material improvements for our graduate student community. I aim to collaborate with our student membership, the GSA Board and Council, members of campus administration, and graduate student union organizers to advance the mission, vision, and values of the GSA.

A bit about myself: I’m currently a second year PhD student in the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development. My research is primarily focused on matters pertaining to corporate social responsibility. I hope to leverage my research interests in order to make the GSA a model non-profit organization within the Region of Waterloo, and to become a premier student organization within Canada.

Cindy H.T. Yeung, Vice President of Administration

Hi everyone,

My name is Cindy Yeung and I am excited to serve as your Vice President of Administration of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) this academic year.

In my role, I will mainly be focusing on improving graduate student wellness, policy development, international student and satellite campus engagement, and reporting and data visualization on our activities and services. These initiatives also happen to fall under topics that I am passionate about. This year we have a strong team consisting of the GSA President, VP of Communications, Management team, Coordinators, and myself as VP of Administration. We strive to improve the academic and social experience of graduate students at the University of Waterloo, and I am confident that we can accomplish this.

Outside my role in the GSA, I am in my second year of PhD in the School of Pharmacy. My thesis work uses modeling and simulation in the field of pharmacokinetics to help better understand how medications might affect breastfeeding infants of mothers taking medications. As seen through my research, my primary drive in life is to help others. In fact, this was my key motivator to be involved in the GSA and work towards our mission, values, and Ends.

Zabeen Khamisa, Vice President of Communications

Hello Folks!

My name is Zabeen Khamisa and I will be serving as your Vice President of Communications for the Graduate Student Association. In this new role, I aim to ensure our transparency, accessibility, and inclusivity to maximize graduate student engagement in the GSA, in campus life, and in the wider Waterloo Region.

I will be primarily focused on advocating for equity and anti-racism by calling on the University of Waterloo to address systemic oppression, with the aim of working collaboratively to prioritize the needs of graduate students.  I will be working to cultivate partnerships with campus and community organizations to form new services and programming for the benefit of all graduate students. I will also continue to strive to create a positive and thriving graduate student community by supporting Graduate House communications and virtual event planning. I look forward to working closely with our new and ever-evolving team and graduate students!

About me: I am a doctoral candidate in the joint Laurier-Waterloo PhD program, Religious Diversity in North America. I research the intersections of “religion”, socio-political movements, social media, and cultural economics. My current research examines the lived experiences of millennial Sikh innovators in Canada. As resident on the Haldimand Tract since 2006, I have been involved in our region as a community organizer and advocate, am invested in our local independent arts scene, and have a passion for urban gardening. 

Read more about our team, the GSA Board and GSA Council here.

Our team is growing!
Check out our new organizational structure:

This past year the GSA worked tirelessly to tackle unprecedented external pressures while striving to improve the graduate student experience. Through the coordinated efforts of our Board, Council and the Executive team, we not only sustained our operations but improved overall service delivery and support for graduate students. Here are highlights of our efforts:

• GSA core services: new GRT UPass agreement with once-a-year refund option; expansion of the health plan to include the EmpowerMe service at no cost; new legal service program; renovations of all spaces in the Graduate House and the addition of a ground patio.
• Community building: pint of politics events; faculty nights; social events at Grad House including events focused on integrating satellite campuses and international themed events.
• Advocacy: access to resources during COVID-19; term extensions; funding support; signature commitments from uWaterloo; equity strategy; faculty-level advocacy; and endorsing unionization of graduate workers.
• Funding contribution: $75,000 for thesis completion awards and international student support; over $20,000 to support social and academic graduate student initiatives; $2000 to support equity groups; $1000 to support research on sexual violence.
• Internal governance: permanent hires (Executive Manager and Hospitality Manager), revamping of GSA website and social media channels; risk management framework, directors handbook, 4 short-term research contracts; amalgamation of political positions from 16 to four; and 3-year Strategic Plan.

To find out more, read our Annual Report and Strategic Plan.

All resolutions were passed at GSA’s Annual General Meeting held online on August 20, 2020.

MNP LLP was re-appointed as auditors of the Association for the current fiscal year.

All by-laws changes were confirmed by the Association’s members.

All Officer appointments were ratified.

Members elected the following Directors to serve on the GSA Board: Nastaran Mosavari, Aiden Feng, Cyrus Fiori, Nicholas Palaschuk, Thomas Storwick, Twesh Upadhyaya, Kelly Zheng. See more details here.

We thank all the members who participated at the meeting in person or cast their votes via a proxy. 

When you joined UWaterloo as a graduate student, you became part of something bigger than just a place to study. You became part of a community of people who live, work and study together on different campuses of the university, and who are passionate about research and gaining new knowledge. The Graduate Students Association at UWaterloo (GSA-UW) represents and serves this community where every graduate student is a member and everyone’s voice counts.

Now is your chance to vote for people who you want to see lead this community of graduate students with dedication and commitment to enhance the quality of our academic and social experience. It is time for our Board of Directors election!

Voting is easy. The Annual General Meeting of the GSA-UW will elect new directors. To vote you must complete the proxy/vote ballot emailed to you on August 10th. The polls are open and will close during the AGM on August 20, 2020.

To find the individualized ballot link, check your email inbox and spam folders or search for “GSA-UW AGM Notice and Proxy/Vote form”.

Please contact the Chief Returning Officer at gsa-cro@uwaterloo.ca for any questions or if you have not received the link.

The Graduate Student Association (GSA-UW) represents all graduate students at the University of Waterloo. Over the past few months, we have been engaging with our membership through surveys (e.g., the Vital Signs Survey and COVID-19 Impact Survey), the GSA-UW Council, and conversations with our fellow graduate students in order to determine the issues impacting their experience at the University of Waterloo.  

The GSA-UW has worked collaboratively with Jeff Casello, Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA), and other campus stakeholders to ameliorate problems faced by graduate students. Some of these concerns involve inconsistencies in the delivery of funding support to graduate students for scholarships, TAships, and RAships.

As a result of collective efforts to support GSA-UW members, on June 20, 2020, the Deans’ Council has approved several commitments to graduate students.

These commitments pertain to the disbursement of graduate student funding and funding levels, TA/RA-ship payment and time allocations, graduate students acting as sessional instructors, as well as non-financial challenges in graduate student academic programs.

Over the coming months, the GSA-UW will continue to work with GSPA and other campus stakeholders to improve the graduate student experience at the University of Waterloo – and to fully realize the commitments made by the Deans’ Council.

The approved commitments are noted below in full.

University Commitments Regarding Existing Business Practices And Graduate Students

1. The University is com­mitted to ensuring that graduate students receive their financial support without delay and consistent with the following schedule of disbursement:

a. For TAships, support will be processed monthly, normally beginning at the end of the first month of term;

b. For RAships, support will normally be processed not later than the end of the month in which the RAship begins;

c. For GRSs, support will be processed in full in the first month of term;

d. For other awards, disbursement will take place according to the terms of the award;

e. In the case where a TAship is coupled with another scholarship or award, the TAship will be processed as in case a. while the award will be processed as in case d.

Moreover, the University is committed to communicating the structure and timing of student support as transparently as possible.

2. The University is committed to ensuring that a graduate student is supported appropriately for the roles they are playing in delivering the University core educational functions.  Specifically, if a student is acting as a sessional instructor, the student shall receive at a minimum the sessional rate.

3. The University is aware that in some cases, student support in the first month of term is automatically applied to tuition and fees, leaving a student with no net support for that month. The University is committed to exploring options by which the timing of student support can be coordinated with the charging of tuition and fees to avoid this situation.

4. The University is committed to being actively engaged in supporting students for whom the requirements of their TAships exceed the predefined expectations.  Graduate TAs and instructors are encouraged to engage in regular conversations regarding TAs’ time allocations and when appropriate, adjust requirements to be respectful of the total expectations.  In cases where students and instructors cannot reach a resolution, graduate officers and Faculty Associate Deans are eager to be made aware of TAs’ concerns and when appropriate will support students in the achieving a timely resolution.

5. The University has assessed and is committed to continuing to monitor student support levels with special attention to

a. Situating the University’s funding levels relative to peer institutions;

b. Assessing changes in the University’s minimum funding levels taking into account students’ costs – tuition, fees, shelter and other expenses.

6. In cases where students experience (non-financial) challenges in their academic programs, the University and Faculties are committed to supporting those students through Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA), the Faculties’ Associate Deans Graduate Studies, and other offices on campus (e.g., HREI, SSO, Campus Wellness).

The recent killing of George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department has set off a series of protests across the world. It is important to acknowledge that acts of racially motivated violence and oppression occur on an ongoing, frequent basis within Canada. We must reflect and understand that racialized members of our campus and off-campus community face structural oppression due to longstanding systemic racism.

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) of the University of Waterloo stands with the growing chorus of voices calling for change.

During this necessary time of outrage and emotion, the executive team of the GSA wants to ensure all members of our graduate student community that our organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, which means providing a campus free of racial bias and ensuring equitable treatment for all students. We will revamp our efforts to work with members of administration to ensure that all individuals working and/or studying at the University of Waterloo are not marginalized due to conscious/unconscious bias and structural inequalities.

We intend to report on our progress in supporting racial equity on an ongoing basis.

We understand that current events can be mentally and emotionally stressful. If you need support, please contact us at gsa-wellness@uwaterloo.ca or review the Empower Me program offered to all UWaterloo graduate students via StudentCare.

In solidarity,

Naima Samuel, President

David Billedeau, Vice President

Kevin McKay, Executive Manager

Rebecca Stirling, Chair of the GSA Board

Matthew Robbins, Speaker of the GSA Council

Cam Bartel, Manager, Hospitality

Zabeen Khamisa, Director, Communications

Ashley Ryan, Director, Student Wellness

Sara Drisdelle, Director, Student Engagement

With COVID-19 disrupting many of our plans, your WUSA and GSA worked with the Region to secure the UPass program on an opt-in basis for spring term. This program had been suspended due to the pandemic, and in response, Grand River Transit (GRT) provided free service throughout April and May. As an exception, undergrad and grad students can now participate in the program by purchasing the UPass at Turnkey in the Student Life Centre (SLC).

• Standard grad rate: $98.60
• Students who forgo this option must begin paying fares at their standard rate, June 1
• To opt-in, students must show their WatCard and proof of registration in an academic or co-op program, with some exceptions, including medical leave or registration with Accessibility Services
• For those opting in now, UPass will remain valid according to the standard schedule
• Opt-ins take 1-2 days from date of purchase to register on WatCard and GRT systems

We want to remind students that local transit remains a safe and affordable way to get around, that is well aligned with Canadian health guidelines for COVID-19. Students can access Turnkey between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

We hope you continue to keep safe during these changing times.

Sincerely,

Naima Samuel
President & CEO, Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo (GSA-UW)

Alana
VP Operations & Finance, Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA)

Today we sent out official notice of the upcoming referendum for the Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo.

The following question is presented to the GSA members for approval:  

“Do you support the implementation of a fee for a GSA-UW administered legal protection service at an initial cost of less than $30 per academic year, from which students may opt out within a change-of-coverage period?”

The referendum will take place via online ballot from 9:00 AM on MAY 11, 2020 to 5:00 PM on MAY 18, 2020.  All members are eligible to vote. Each graduate student can vote once.

Here is a link to the Legal Service Fee Referendum page on our website for more information.  Campaign information will be uploaded here once campaigning starts, and the green “Vote Here” button will become live once voting begins.

The GSA’s COVID-19 Impact Survey is designed to gather feedback about how the pandemic has impacted your experience as a graduate student at the University of Waterloo.

As your representatives on campus, we are working diligently and closely with university administration and campus partners to support graduate student life. Your input will guide a review of our current services, help us create more effective virtual support systems, and support our continuous efforts to advocate for all graduate students at UWaterloo.

The survey covers four areas: demographics; financial concerns; program completion timelines and milestones affected by COVID-19; and mental health and well-being.

The survey will be available until next FRIDAY, APRIL 24 at 5:00 PM.

To take the survey, visit GSA COVID-19 Impact Survey.

The Annual General Meeting 2020 has been postponed until further notice due to COVID-19.

GSA Director Elections for 2020 have also been put on hold until a new date for the AGM 2020 has been determined.

More information will be provided in the coming weeks.

On March 31 we hosted our first Live Q&A with the GSPA over Zoom. We summarized key points from our discussion, which is now available for your reference.

Thank you to all of those who submitted questions to us, by email or by live chat.

The GSA intends to host more live Q&A events. More updates about our services and events will be communicated in the days to come.

The GSA-UW is working on creating alternative service access points for UWaterloo graduate students during this time.

Office Hours: Our office is closed. In-person office hours are suspended for the time being. Our team is working remotely. Please, email us to arrange remote appointments or for any questions you may have:
Kevin McKay, GSA Executive Manager gsa-gm@uwaterloo.ca  
David Billedeau, GSA Vice-President gsa-vp@uwaterloo.ca    

Website Maintenance We are preparing the launch of our new website. Our current website will be undergoing some maintenance on Thursday April 9 from 7:00am-12:00pm. Many of our links will be removed or redirected during this time.

Free Legal Consultations for the month of April:  Due to COVID-19, you may find yourself in a difficult or complicated situation with your employer, landlord, or academic institution, which may leave you wondering about your rights. To support you during the crisis, you now have free access to a legal consultation helpline for 1 month. To consult with a lawyer on issues arising from the pandemic, contact the Appointment Booking Centre at 1-833-288-4620. An agent will take note of your request and forward it to a lawyer who will promptly contact you.

Income Tax Video Seminar: Please note that our in-person Tax Seminar is cancelled for Winter 2020. Instead, our accountant has created a video seminar and PowerPoint Presentation to provide graduates students with an introduction to filing taxes in Canada. The Income Tax video seminar is supplemented with a PowerPoint Presentation that you can download, print, and use to take notes as you complete the seminar. After watching the video, you should be somewhat comfortable with starting and hopefully completing and filling your tax return for 2019. The GSA offers additional support if you feel the need to clarify specific issues regarding your tax return after watching the video seminar. This support is in the form of a series of personal consultation tax clinics that will occur between April and the end of May. Through a one-on-one 15-minute phone call with our accountant, you will be able to ask any further questions you may have. Visit our website for more details.

Empower Me: Should you wish to talk to someone about how you’re feeling or coping during this time, we encourage you to call Empower Me, a mental health and wellness service that offers confidential and accessible support. With Empower Me, you are able to connect with trained counsellors, consultants, and life coaches who are available 24/7, 365 days/year. Learn more at www.studentcare.ca or call 1-844-741-6389.

AGM 2020 Our Annual General Meeting is postponed until further notice. The GSA Board of Directors is working diligently to make new arrangements for the AGM. More details will be announced in the days to come.

Board of Director Elections The campaigning period for the GSA Board of Directors has been put on hold for the time being. More details will be announced shortly.

Council Speaker and Deputy Speaker Elections A second call for GSA Council Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be opened on April 8, 2020 until April 22, 2020. Interview dates will be communicated to candidates directly. For more information, please see our “Get Involved” page.

Live Q&A – Summary Notes Details from the Live Q&A we hosted on March 31 will be sent out in the coming days. We are hoping to host more Live Q&A sessions in the near future. Stay tuned!  

We’re hiring!
The GSA-UW is issuing several short-term research contracts to support the operations of the GSA Council on the following topics:

• Graduate student contributions to UWaterloo
• A review of UWaterloo’s environmental sustainability strategy

Deadline to apply is April 13, 2020 at 11:59PM EST. For application details, please see our “Get Involved” page.

More to come regarding:

• GSA Fees update
• GSA leadership term extensions
• Leadership Awards

The GSA-UW will continue to provide updates regarding our services and operations.

The GSA-UW will be hosting a live Q&A to answer questions you may have regarding our services and responses to COVID-19.

A link to the ZOOM meeting will be sent to you via email and posted on social media on the morning of.

We will be joined by the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) to address further questions you may have about your programs, fees, university resources, and graduate student life during these times.

We will be going live on Tuesday, March 31 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm EST on ZOOM.

Personal one-on-one tax consultations with the GSA Accountant will now take place over-the-phone beginning March 26 and will continue throughout April (see our website for upcoming dates).

Graduate students who have paid their Advising Fees and that have already registered for this service, have been assigned a consultation appointment that has now been confirmed by the GSA Accountant.

Should you wish to book a personal consultation, please email gsa-gm@uwaterloo.ca. Appointments are made on a first-come, first-served basis and you will be booked for the next available appointment once you submit your request.

We understand that the deadline for submitting taxes has been extended. As such, we are considering adding additional appointment dates to accommodate these changes. Stay tuned for more updates.

The GSA Council is the democratic voice of graduate students at the University of Waterloo.

We are looking for a new Speaker of council to facilitate council meetings, be the voice of council at GSA board meetings, and serve on other committees as necessary.

We are also looking for a Deputy Speaker to assist the speaker and serve in the Speaker’s place when they might be unavailable. 

All applications for Speaker will also be considered for Deputy Speaker. Candidates will be interviewed by the Council Executive Committee, and be expected to attend the April meeting of Council to provide a case for their election to the role. These volunteer positions are open to all graduate students, and come with a small monthly stipend.

Interested candidates will have until March 15, 2020 to submit their cover letter and CV to Cindy Yeung by email at chtyeung@uwaterloo.ca.

Here are the job descriptions for each role:

Council Speaker Job Responsibilities

Council Deputy Speaker Job Responsibilities

The Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo (GSA-UW) has extended the close date of the Vital Signs Survey to March 8 at 5:00pm EST.

This survey is designed to support the GSA-UW’s strategic planning process outlined in GP-15, and will help the GSA-UW to improve services and supports available to graduate students at the University of Waterloo.

The VSS will now be until March 8at 5:00 PM EST.

We want to ensure we get as many responses as possible, as your feedback will directly impact our strategic planning process.

Participants of this survey will be entered into a competition to win one of the following:

• Two $100 cash prizes in each Faculty for 1st prize
• Two $50 Amazon gift cards in each Faculty for 2nd prize
• One $50 Graduate House coupon in each Faculty for 3rd prize
• One $30 Graduate House coupon in each Faculty for 4th prize
• One $20 Graduate House coupon in each Faculty for 5th prize

To take the survey and read more, visit our Vital Signs Survey 2020 page.

The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.

Thank you to all of those who have already completed the survey!

The GSA-UW is now accepting nominations for the upcoming Board of Directors election to fill seven (7) vacant positions. Official notice is hereby served for the election to fill the vacancies of the GSA Board of Directors.

The directorships terms of office are: 

• One (1) directorship beginning May 1, 2020 and ending April 30 2021, and
• Six (6) directorships beginning May 1 2020 and ending April 30, 2022.

Description of Position:

The GSA-UW Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing corporate interests of the Graduate Student Association. Directors are elected by graduate students each year at the GSA Annual General Meeting held in the Winter term. The Board is governed by the GSA Bylaws and may consist of ten to fifteen Directors.

The Board of Directors have monthly regular meetings (2 hours), and operates according to the Carver Policy Governance framework, meaning that the Board focuses on strategy and oversight, and delegates day-to-day management to staff.

We are seeking people with not-for-profit experience and a familiarity with Robert’s Rules of Order. A technical description of the position can be found in our Policy Registry, and in GSA Bylaw #5.

Nomination Period & Form:

• The call for nominations is open from FEBRUARY 24, 2020 and closes on MARCH 13, 2020 at 3:00 PM EST.
• Nomination forms can be downloaded here.
• Paper copies of the nomination form are available at the GSA Office in the MC 2029.
• Nomination forms must be submitted to the GSA Office before the posted deadline.
• Nominees will receive a confirmation of receipt from the GSA Chief Returning Officer (CRO) within three business days of submission.
• If required, a second call for nominations will open March 16, 2020 and close on March 20, 2020 at 3:00 PM EST.

Campaigning Period

• Begins on March 16, 2020 (business hours) and closes on March 30, 2020 (business hours).
• Candidates may provide a photo and a brief statement to be posted on the GSA website. (Maximum 150 words)

Voting Period

Eligible graduate students may vote once using one of the following options:

• Online voting: Starts on March 31, 2020 at 10:00 AM EST and closes on April 7, 2020 at 12:00 PM EST or,
• In-person by paper ballot: At the AGM on April 7, 2020 at 4:00 PM (location TBD)

The Board of Directors is responsible for the operations of the GSA and is accountable to the graduate students of the University of Waterloo. For information please view Board of Directors, the Association’s governance webpage, and By-Laws (By-Law#5).

The GSA Office is located at MC2029.

Comments, concerns, and questions should be directed to the Chief Returning Officer at gsa-cro@uwaterloo.ca.