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