The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on April 7th, 2020. The GSA-UW is asking graduate students to suggest decision and/or discussion items for the upcoming AGM. Please send your request to the Corporate Secretary by MARCH 13, 2020. The GSA will consider inclusion of the suggested topics into the agenda. The official notice of the meeting with the finalized agenda, will be distributed later, at least 10 days 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, 2020 to April 30, 2022.
Elections will follow if necessary. If required, elections will be held beginning March 12, 2020 and close March 18, 2020.
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!
The GSA Board of Directors has approved new changes to the policy registry.
The following items have passed second reading by the Board of Directors and Council:
On February 18, 2020, the Board approved changes to GP-15 and EL-10
These changes are now reflected in the online policy registry.
The following items have passed first reading by the Board of Directors:
On February 18, 2020, changes to EL-12, GP-9, and GP-11 passed first-reading.
The Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo (GSA-UW) has launched the Vital Signs Survey (VSS).
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 be open from FEBRUARY 14 at 2:30 PM until FEBRUARY 28at 5:00 PM.
Participants of this survey will be entered into a competition to win one of the following:
To take the survey and read more, visit our Vital Signs Survey 2020 page.
Dear Graduate Students,
The Graduate Student Association – University of Waterloo is seeking a graduate student with a proven record of leadership and administrative experience for the role of President.
Qualified candidates are invited to apply by the new deadline, 5:00 pm EST on Monday, February 10, 2020. Please include your résumé/CV and a cover letter addressing your qualifications and your interest in the position.
Applications should be addressed to the Presidential Nominating Committee and sent to gsaboard@uwaterloo.ca with the Subject Line “GSA President Application”.Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place February 10-14, 2020.
Detailed information regarding this opportunity can be found in the job description on the GSA Website. This opportunity is open to all graduate students enrolled at the University of Waterloo and will be compensated at 30 hours per week at $36.60 per hour.
Thank you for your interest in working with the Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo.
On January 23rd, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) Council launched a 24-hour e-vote on the following resolution:
Members of the GSA Council holding voting rights were eligible to participate. The vote surpassed quorum and included representation from all faculties.
The results of the vote are as follows:
It is important to understand that the vote does not automatically unionize graduate students. Organizing a labour union is a multi-stage process detailed under Ontario’s Labour Relations Act, which ultimately requires a formal vote wherein all members of a proposed bargaining unit would have the final say in supporting or opposing unionization.
The result of the vote means that the GSA Council now officially supports unionization, and that the GSA Board of Directors will review the topic in more detail.
The GSA Council is the body responsible for determining the official positions of the GSA as they relate to academic and political representation of University of Waterloo Graduate Students. The GSA Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the corporate interests of the GSA, per Ontario’s Corporations Act. More information on GSA governance is available on our website.
The GSA Council has discussed several issues facing UW graduate students, including (but not limited to):
Over the weeks and months ahead, all members of the graduate student community will be offered an opportunity to have their voice heard on whether the GSA should further pursue seeking union representation at the University of Waterloo.
Additional information will be distributed over social and campus media soon. Until then, graduate students are encouraged to keep up to date with GSA news via our social media channels:
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the GSA office.
Dear Graduate Students,
The Graduate Student Association – University of Waterloo is seeking a graduate student with a proven record of leadership and administrative experience for the role of President.
Qualified candidates are invited to apply by 5:00 pm EST on Friday, February 7, 2020. Please include your résumé/CV and a cover letter addressing your qualifications and your interest in the position.
Applications should be addressed to the Presidential Nominating Committee and sent to gsaboard@uwaterloo.ca with the Subject Line “GSA President Application”.Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place February 10-14, 2020.
Detailed information regarding this opportunity can be found in the job description on the GSA Website. This opportunity is open to all graduate students enrolled at the University of Waterloo and will be compensated at 30 hours per week at $36.60 per hour.
Thank you for your interest in working with the Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo.
By: Seneca Velling, VP Operations & Finance (WUSA); Naima Samuel, President (GSA)
We’re excited to announce additional mental health supports under your WUSA/GSA Health Plan coverage! The expanded coverage will make it easier for students to access mental health services where and when you need it, and from an increased number of licenses health practitioners.
The changes are part of one of the most comprehensive updates to a student healthcare plan in the country. The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) and the Graduate Student Association (GSA) worked extensively with UW Campus Wellness and StudentCare to re-evaluate our insurance coverage offerings. The Health Plan expansion will further recommendations laid out in the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health (PAC-SMH) for expanding healthcare funding and developing better referral mechanisms to community partners.
We have been able to minimize any financial impacts that may come from the expansion of coverage, so that the associated student fees will not increase in the upcoming winter and spring terms and see only minimal increases next academic year (estimated at less than or equal to $5.00 annually).
These changes are now approved and will come into effect on January 1st, 2020. WUSA and GSA will be working to have the program fully integrated with UW Campus Wellness over the coming terms.
Expanding Health Plan Coverage
Owing to excellent financial management, the Health Plan is well positioned to expand benefits with next to no changes in student fees. The plan’s current coverage limits for psychology, referral requirements, and supported practitioners are dated and provide impractical barriers to what is often much needed care.
In an effort to increase the resources available to students at a time when on-campus partners are overwhelmed, WUSA & GSA are proud to announce:
Addition of EmpowerMe
EmpowerMe is a short-term, solution-focused counselling service available 24/7/365 that operates on an uncapped model – ensuring that you receive as much care as you need. You can connect with counsellors, psychologists, health professionals, and life coaches. Sessions are offered in person, by video, or over the phone – and your first point of contact is always with a masters-level clinician with at least 5-years’ experience, rather than an operator or receptionist.
Support is available over the phone in over 200 languages, is culturally sensitive, and gender- and faith-inclusive. You can get support for issues like:
EmpowerMe gives students the option to access services off campus, on evenings and weekends, anywhere in the world. Our hope is that it helps to remove barriers to accessing mental health supports while broadening options for support. All part-time and full-time on-campus students will have access to this program!
On November 21, 2019, the Student Choice initiative (SCI) was struck down in a Divisional Court of Ontario ruling.
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) at UWaterloo is pleased to see the provincial courts recognize the rights of students to organize and the autonomy of post-secondary academic institutions more broadly. However, we expect the Government of Ontario to seek an appeal – meaning that the SCI may yet return.
In the immediate future, the fee structure for the winter term will remain unchanged. Graduate students will have the option to opt-out of certain fees; however, doing so will have lasting implications on the academic and social experience of graduate students at UWaterloo. We encourage all of our members to review the services offered to full and part-time graduate students through the GSA, and to support the graduate experience on campus over the coming terms.
The GSA is continuing to work with on and off campus stakeholders to ensure that the interests of graduate students—summarized in the GSA’s Ends and Political positions—are advanced with each passing term. To that end, the GSA will monitor the legal proceedings in relation to the SCI and will communicate any implications towards graduate student fees to our members.
We encourage all members to follow the GSA on social media to stay up to date on SCI, as well as events and services offered by the GSA.
Instagram: @gsa.uwaterloo
Twitter: @GSA_UWaterloo
Facebook: @gsauw
The GSA Board of Directors has approved new proposed changes to the policy registry.
The following items have passed first reading by the Board of Directors:
On July 16, 2019, changes to GP-2 passed first-reading.
On September 17, 2019, changes to EL-9 passed first-reading.
With 30 days for feedback from Council, the Board will revisit the above policies in November.
The GSA Board of Directors has also approved new policy actions.
On October 15, 2019, changes were approved to BM-5.
The GSA Board of Directors has approved new proposed changes to the policy registry.
The following items have passed first reading by the Board of Directors:
On July 16, 2019, changes to GP-2 passed first-reading.
On September 17, 2019, changes to EL-9 and BM-5 passed first-reading.
With 30 days for feedback from Council, the Board will revisit these policies in October.
The GSA Board of Directors has approved new changes to the policy registry.
The following items have passed second reading by the Board of Directors and Council:
On June 25, 2019, changes were approved to EL-9, EL-15, GP-1, GP-4, and GP-12.
On July 16, 2019, changes were approved to GP-13 and BM-5.
These changes are now reflected in the online policy registry.
The following items have passed first reading by the Board of Directors:
On July 16, 2019, changes to GP-2 advanced to second-reading.
As the official representative of graduate students on all campuses at the University of Waterloo, the GSA offers great initiatives to improve the academic and social experience of all graduate students.
What we do:
Recent accomplishments:
The GSA is dedicated to the continuous improvement of the graduate experience at the University of Waterloo. In light of recent legislative developments in the province, the GSA is doubling-down on this dedication and will work tirelessly to protect the rights and interests of graduate students. We will also be increasing our efforts toward student engagement to create awareness of political, academic and social issues impacting graduate students.
A major undertaking will be working with the Government of Ontario to protect the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and the democratic and collective-bargaining rights of students that is currently being undermined through the Student Choice Initiative (SCI).
OSAP
The cuts to OSAP are going to be felt deeply across campuses and will significantly impact life at the graduate level. Some of these effects include:
GSA Fees & SCI
The SCI will limit the ability of graduate students across Ontario to engage in collective bargaining as the establishment of association fees was done through referendum and student advocacy. What fees are considered essential under the SCI was done without consultation of stakeholders and this results in a number of services being deemed essential – such as health and dental – and yet the association that offers these services are considered non-essential. This threatens our ability to provide graduate students with ongoing essential, and needed, services. More information on the SCI can be found here.
In compliance with the SCI, GSA fees have been restructured and are now categorized as essential and non-essential.
| GSA Fees for Essential Services | GSA Fees for Non-Essential Services |
| Academic Support Wellness Support Health & Dental Plans GRT U-Pass Essential Services Administration | Representation at UW: allows GSA to be the official voice of graduate students at the University. External Representation: representation and advocacy to government and external organizations. Advising Services: free legal, tax and academic counselling. Social Initiatives: social events and initiatives including first year graduate student orientation. Graduate House: subsidized food pricing, social programming and use of space. |
Visit our web pages for detailed information on the new fee structure and changes to the administration of GSA services.
As a result of the SCI, many of the services that graduate students have fought for are at risk. The GSA provides graduate students with academic support, a social community, mental and physical health supports, legal aid, as well as advocacy and representation. To safeguard the continuity of these services, we need your help.
Choosing to support the GSA by not opting-out of fees will ensure the sustainability of our services to all graduate students and enable us to continue to represent every student on all campuses of the University.
We look forward to continuing to serve you in the new academic year and we will keep our membership updated as to our progress.
The Ontario Government recently announced and enacted the ‘Student Choice Initiative,’ a policy intended to make a majority of university ancillary (non-tuition) fees non-mandatory. This policy raises considerable concerns for students, their families, and for the continued strength of education in Ontario and Canada as a whole. We firmly believe this policy lacked proper consultation with students and was a step backward, designed to undermine the independence and well-being of students.
The Student Choice Initiative threatens many of the services and programs provided through ancillary funding. Consequently, these would be entirely unaffordable for students to access on their own, without the shared purchasing power of their combined contributions. The across-the-board implementation of this policy without first consulting stakeholders puts the accessibility and viability of the postsecondary experience at risk.
As the future of our country’s workforce, we cannot afford to leave post-secondary students without supports that our educational institutions otherwise do not provide.
At the core of this policy direction is student representation, student governments and associations that now risk being defunded and the essential work they do being eroded and we stand in solidarity with the impassioned student advocates who are resisting this degradation of constitutionally-entrenched democratic rights.
The work of elected student associations are broad and essential, and each year, hundreds of students are elected to student associations across Ontario to ensure that our post-secondary institutions’ governance bodies are accountable to and representative of their respective student bodies; to advocate on behalf of students’ academic and professional interests, and to protect the health and safety needs of our students. These services fill crucial gaps that our institutions do not provide, such as: transit passes, health and dental plans, peer-to-peer support, and independent student media. Student associations are essential representational bodies that provide uniquely tailored services that directly impact students and increase their well-being and quality of life.
The student governments that are being defunded are the very same entities on the front lines working hard on behalf of students’ interests, doing important advocacy work that enriches the lives and wellbeing of students. The provincial government has made recent clarifications in regards to which services are deemed ‘essential’, however, student associations have been left out of this framework, despite being the organizations that initially lobbied for and who now administer these types of programs, and – most importantly – who continually fight to protect these essential services from being negatively impacted by institutional and government decision-making.
Further, while this policy currently only affects Ontario students, it risks setting a national precedent for undermining the student experience and campus culture across the country. Post-secondary students will be markedly more vulnerable under this new policy while simultaneously having a reduced voice to collectively advocate on their behalf to address these vulnerabilities. The Student Choice Initiative threatens the post-secondary student experience by undermining the financial sustainability of non-academic programming and the ability of student associations to advocate for and/or deliver these services and activities. With this, we strongly urge this government to sit down, in good faith, with student associations to better understand the important role that programs funded through ancillary fees play in supporting students, both within and outside of the classroom.
For the GSA-UW’s political position on this topic and other areas relevant to the graduate student experience, visit our Political Positions page.
The GSA-UW currently has one vacant Director Position to be filled on the 2019/2020 Board of Directors. The candidate will be required to serve a term from date of appointment to the AGM in April 2020.
Specifically, the following skills would be assets:
Nomination forms can be found here or at the GSA Office. Completed nomination forms can be delivered in a sealed envelope addressed to GSA-UW Board – Director Position to the GSA Office in MC 2029.
Description of Position
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. Additionally attendance is required at special meetings (approx. 1-3 per term). Board members are expected to sit in on at least one committee (ex. Presidential nominating committee, Board executive committee, Joint policy review committee, plus additional committees as the need arises). Attendance of the monthly GSA Council meeting is recommended but not required. While neither of these skills are strictly necessary, we are seeking people with not-for-profit experience and a familiarity with Robert’s Rules of Order. The total time commitment is at least 5 hours per month. A technical description of the position can be found here and in GSA Bylaw #5 here.
The Graduate Student Association – University of Waterloo is seeking a graduate student with a proven record of leadership and administrative experience for the role of Vice-President.
Qualified candidates are invited to apply by 4:00 pm EST on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Please include your résumé/CV and a cover letter. addressing your qualifications and your interest in the position.
Applications should be addressed to the Vice-Presidential Nominating Committee and sent to gsaoffice@uwaterloo.ca with the Subject Line “GSA Vice-President Application”. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place on May 31, 2019.
More detailed information regarding this opportunity can be found in the Job Description on the GSA Website. This opportunity is open to all graduate students enrolled at the University of Waterloo and will be compensated at 20 hours per week at $32 per hour.
Job Opening: GSA Political Director
Deadline: Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 6:00 PM EST
The Graduate Student Association – University of Waterloo is seeking
applicants with a proven record in advocacy and activism for the role of
Political Director.
Qualified candidates are invited to apply by 6:00 PM on Tuesday April
9, 2019. Please include your résumé or CV and a cover letter addressing
your qualifications and your interest in the position. This position is
open to graduate students registered at the University of Waterloo, as
well as recent graduates, alumni and the general public.
The Political Director is expected to work 20 hours per week at a rate
of $32.00 per hour. The duration of employment is from the date of hire
in April 2019 to December 20, 2019.
Applications should be addressed to the President and sent to gsaoffice@uwaterloo.ca with
the Subject Line “Political Directior – Job Application”. Only
candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will
held April 10-11, 2019.
The GSA-UW is now accepting nominations for the upcoming Board of Directors election to fill nine (9) vacant positions. Specifically four (4) one year directorships are available from May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020, and five (5) two year directorships from May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2021. Official notice is hereby served for the election to fill the vacancies of the GSA Board of Directors.
Description of Position
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. Additionally attendance is required at special meetings (approx. 1-3 per term). Board members are expected to sit in on at least one committee (ex. Presidential nominating committee, Board executive committee, Joint policy review committee, plus additional committees as the need arises). Attendance of the monthly GSA Council meeting is recommended but not required. While neither of these skills are strictly necessary, we are seeking people with not-for-profit experience and a familiarity with Robert’s Rules of Order. The total time commitment is at least 5 hours per month. A technical description of the position can be found here and in GSA Bylaw #5 here.
Nomination Period
The call for nominations is now open and closes at 3:00 pm on April 4, 2019. Nomination forms can be found here or at the GSA Office in the MC 2029. If required a second call for nominations will open April 4, 2019 and close at 3:00pm April 8, 2019.
Campaigning Period
The campaigning period will begin at 9:00 am April 10, 2019 and closes at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 16, 2019 at 4:00 pm. Candidates will provide a brief bio (100 words) and picture for their GSA web page. Candidates will be given an opportunity to speak to the membership at the AGM.
Voting Period
Online voting will begin at 8:00 am on Friday April 12, 2019 and closes at 12-noon on April 16, 2019. Votes may also be made by secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting on April 16, 2019. Following the election, the Board appoints the officers of the GSA (President, Secretary and Treasurer).
The GSA will be hosting a Meet and Greet for all interested candidates on Tuesday April 2nd from 5:00pm to 7:00pm upstairs at the Grad House.
Comments, concerns, and questions should be directed to gsa-cro@uwaterloo.ca
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.
Location
SLC 3222
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Monday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Friday: Closed
For parties of 10 or more
All of our prices include HST; 15% gratuity will be added to large party orders.
Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic drink tickets can also be arranged for your party. Please feel free to request a quote.
