GRADUATE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING 5:30 PM TUESDAY, March 31, 2015 ST 147 Attendees: Sarah Akierman, President Cari Gulbrandsen, VP Academic Mike Webster, VP Finance and Services Danica MacDonald, VP Student Life Chris Carlile, VP External Adam Mitter, Speaker Veronika Kiryanova, Clerk Jeremy Hexham, CRO Quorum Biochemistry and Molecular Biology DGA Biological Sciences Graduate Students' Association Biomedical Engineering GSA Biomedical Technology Graduate Students Association Cardiovascular Respiratory Students Association Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Graduate Students' Association Chemistry Graduate Student Association Civil Engineering Graduate Society Communication, Media, and Film Graduate Student Association Community Health Sciences Student Executive Computer Science Graduate Society Council of Foothills Economics Graduate Association Electrical and Computer Engineering GSA English Graduate Student Association Environmental Design Student Association Gastrointestinal Sciences Graduate Program Geography Graduate Students' Association Cortt Piett Sean Booth Christina Ridley Ashley Jarding Karri Bertram Asma Amir Ali Gurkeet Lalli Nadia Maarouf Thiago Tighi Kamila Bladek Samira Rizaee Jeremy Hexham Jennifer Caswell Anuya Pai Ibrahim Karakia Zahra Shakeri Sara Turner Kristen Barton Sisi Fu Alaz Munzur Yasaman Amanejad Mohammad Noaeen Yuting He Braydon Beaulieu Jessica Nicol Liam Cummings Gabriella Leung Jesse Fraser Geomatics Graduate Group Graduate Association of Energy and Environment Specialization Graduate Association of Geoscience Students Graduate Music Society Graduate Programs in Education Students Association Graduate University of Calgary Mathematics Society Haskayne PhD Student Group History Graduate Students Union Immunology Graduate Association Kinesiology Graduate Students Association Law Graduate Students Association Libation Bearers, The Linguistics Graduate Students' Association MBA Society Medical Science Graduate Student Association Neuroscience Hotchkiss Brain Institute Trainee Organization Philosophy GSA Physics & Astronomy Grad Students' Association Political Science Graduate Student Association Psychology Graduate Students Association Religious Studies Graduate Association (SPIRAL) Sociology Graduate Students' Caucus Strategic Studies and Security Graduate Association Sustainable Energy Development Society Veterinary Medicine Grad Students Association Vox Condiscipulum (French, Italian, Spanish) Aida Nciri Victoria Lukasik Adam Clare Aida Nciri Jessica Guselle Ilkim Tongur Brianna Hilman Mark Girard Heather Hardeman Chris Morin Chris Hyland Connor Sweazy Ania Zuba Amanda Black Bill DeJong Megan Falconer Una Chow Sumeet Mehta Nicholas Jette Kristen Barton Heather Leduc Shelley Hulbert Marcelo Wu Elizabeth Watt Rob Currie-Wood Ivan Sedov Erica McLachlan Stefan Lewis Kristen Chaisson Harris Stephenson Timothy Choi Gustavo Mesa Lenis Moin Syed Matilde Tomaselli Victor Bedoya Ponte OPEN SESSION 1. Approval of Agenda (For approval) 2. February 2015 minutes (For approval) 3. GSA 2015-16 Budget 4. President Report 5. Vice-President (External) Report 6. Vice-President (Academic) Report 7. Vice-President (Student Life) Report 8. Vice-President (Finance & Services) Report 9. Question period 10. DGA Period 11. Other Business 12. Adjournment of Open session GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Meeting Began 5:30pm Roll Call 1. Approval of Agenda Motioned/seconded Opposed:0 Abstained:0 CARRIED 2. February, 2015 Minutes Motioned/seconded Opposed:0 Abstained:0 CARRIED 3. GSA 2015-2016 Budget (Mike Webster) Budget –The Journey so far… Late January • Started to create a draft of the 2015-2016 budget. • We consolidated all the contingencies into a single contingency fund, instead of having contingencies built into multiple budget lines. February • We presented the draft budget to Finance Standing Committee (FSC) • FSC requested that we move the occupancy charge to the LDL and that we add the Capital Recapture Expense • We presented the budget to the Board with options • We presented the budget with options to GRC March • The budget was presented to FSC for recommendation • The budget was presented to the Board for approval • Now we are presenting the 2015-2016 budget to GRC for ratification Highlights (LDL) • Assumes no increase in sales (although signs are sales will increase) • Recapturing $14,000 in discounts from GSA operations • $67,101 Occupancy cost moving from GSA Operations to LDL Operations • $85,000 cash loss in 2015-16 • $18,000 before occupancy expenses • $155,000 loss after amortization Conclusion: • These measures help to better reflect the true cost of operating the LDL • Strategy change possibilities include increasing prices but with discounts for grad students Highlights (GSA Operations) • • • Anticipates increases in salary expenses to account for COLA and merit increases for staff $18,000 (1/2) of the cost of the Ombuds moves to GSA Operations this year, with the entire amount to be paid through GSA Operations in 2016-17 Executive fellowships will increase by $300/month for each of the five executives • This increase is the third-year of a planned three-year schedule of increases passed by GRC in 2013 Changes since February We’ve made 5 changes since February • There is only one suggestion for the fee increase of 10% or $13.55 • The Quality Money proposal for 2015-16 is included • A $5000 expense was added to cover the cost of the Awards Gala • $12,500 was moved from Quality Money to GSA Operations for Website Development and Marketing • The Occupancy charge was adjusted slightly to account for a miscalculation by the University when the charge was assessed 2015-16 Fee Recommendation Probable Case: No change in the number of students $23,541 Worst Case: -5% change in the number of students ($21,280) Quality Money comparison In comparison with 2014-15, this year the proportion of budget dedicated to GSA programs will decrease, while the proportion of budget dedicated to student conferences/ideas, DGA student events and awards/bursaries will increase. Q: How does budgeting for quality money work? A: at the moment, we provide proposals to BOG including current year initiatives pool (about $60K). Q: Congress- have you made any special allocations for the Congress next year? A: No money set aside specifically. Congress occurs in the fiscal year after next. We will build this into the strategic plan. Congress also has funding from the University, we are not expected to contribute money towards the congress. Q: I think it’s a great idea to increase funding for students. Do you think the University may say that since you will cover more of those expenses we will cover less? A: What we cover is not a lot. The university is free to do what they want with their budget allocation. But because we do not contribute as much, it is very unlikely that the University will consider those. Motion #1: That the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) on the recommendation of the Graduate Students’ Association’s (GSA) Vice-President Finance & Services, on behalf of the GSA Board of Directors, and with the support of the Finance Standing Committee, ratify the Comprehensive 2015-2016 Budget, including proposed Health & Dental fee (no change) and proposed GSA operation fee (10% increase), beginning April 1st, 2015. Motioned/seconded Opposed:0 Abstained:0 CARRIED Motion #2: That the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) on the recommendation of the Graduate Students’ Association’s (GSA) Vice-President Finance & Services, on behalf of the GSA Board of Directors, and with the support of the Finance Standing Committee, endorse the 2015-2016 Quality Money proposals. Motioned/seconded Opposed:0 Abstained:0 CARRIED 4. President Report (Sarah Akierman) Upcoming plans for April: • • • • • Executive Annual Report Exec Transition Finalize new Executive Director Implement GSA annual survey Swear in new executives • • • Upcoming events of May: New executives start GRC input on 3 year strategic plan Last GRC until September Upcoming events of June: • Recruit new volunteers 5. Vice-President (External) Report (Chris Carlile) GU 15 Update § § § Conference April 6-8 12 GSAs attending, including Ucalgary. 38 delegates. Making final bookings and logistical arrangements Provincial Budget and IAE Update Alberta Budget 2015 Release on Thursday, March 26 § 4% cut to Campus Alberta Grant § 2015-16: 1.4% cut ($27M) § 2016-17: 2.7% cut ($60M) Consultation § March 27 Budget Conference Call § Monthly Meeting in April Campus Alberta Budget Reduction (%) 0 -‐1 2015-‐16 2016-‐17 -‐2 -‐3 $27M $60M Our message to the government that graduate students are very important for the economic growth 6. Vice-President (Academic) Report (Cari Gulbrandsen) Background • The research protocol and ethics application were developed by the Academic Standing Committee. The Committee sought feedback from international students. • • • • Dr. Julie Deans, Associate Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies will collaborate with the GSA on this project as the PI. This project will involve graduate students in producing knowledge about international graduate student experience and aligns with the University’s Eyes High Strategic Plan priorities related to internationalization. The project will produce a report that will be presented to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the University to inform policies and practices. The project will invite participation from other GSA Standing Committees and the graduate student body. Research project: International Student experience Research Questions: 1) What specific challenges do international graduate students encounter while completing their programs at the University of Calgary? 2) What academic, psychosocial, cultural, and other factors do international graduate students identify as having a significant impact on their student experience and how do those factors affect their student experience? 3) How do factors such as ethnicity, language, age, marital status and religion affect international graduate student experiences studying at the University of Calgary? 4) What recommendations do international graduate students have for University services that would improve or enhance their student experience? 5) How do international graduate students obtain information about the services and programs available to them at the University of Calgary? 6) How does the international student experience affect the spouses and families of graduate students? (If applicable) • • Methods Data collection: Advisory Group Focus Groups The priority will be to involve international graduate students at every stage of the research process. Data analysis Thematic analysis of advisory group and focus group data. Knowledge creation: Manuscripts, report to University, presentations. 7. Vice-President (Student Life) Report (Danica MacDonald) Recruitment for Chairs and Committee members Volunteer Opportunities with the GSA in 2015-2016 § Residence and Family Housing Committee § International Students’ Committee § Student Experience Standing Committee § Chairs will be appointed mid-end of April for a 1 year term § In you’re interested in any position or have questions, please send me a message § If you’d like to apply, please send you CV and a paragraph outlining your interest in the position to [email protected] Announcements… § LDL Space: § The side room in the LDL will be available for booking for game nights (PS4 and/or board games) § If you’re interested in booking one of these rooms for your DGA, please contact Kathy at [email protected] § There will be a charge for the rooms (however, if you order food and drinks then that expense can be used to cover the room charge). 8. Vice-President (Finance & Services) Report Finance Standing Committee (FSC) Bi-annual Report • • • • MAJOR EVENTS Lots of change-over in accounting office this year § Previous accountant started in March 2014, left Sept. 2014 § New accountant started beginning of October 2014 • The result has been a delay in receiving documents for the remainder of 2014 • Accounting office is now caught up, documents arriving in a timely manner with a greater improvement expected after year-end § Fiscal year-end today! New Financial Year begins tomorrow (April 1st) § Audit scheduled for Early June (2 ½ months ahead of last year) Changes in Process The budget now has a centralized contingency fund • Will result in greater oversight by FSC The Financials for the Lounge now include all expenses related to the Lounge, including the Occupancy charge • This will be important when shaping the new Lounge strategy The GSA will now set aside an amount for Capital Recapture • Ensures that the GSA’s assets are maintained 9. Question period Q: For the study – do you guys know how you are recruiting? A: This was included in the ethics application. You’re not allowed to approach people directly. Hoping to get people early and late in their programs. “Individual that came to Canada to study and have citizenship on another country” Q: Please describe quality money A: The University decided to allocate money to the GSA to enhance student experience. One of the big areas is projects received from students. Q: What is the schedule for the study? A: Depends of when it comes back from ethics. Not determined yet. Probably into the fall. Q: Is LDL space available to be booked by groups other than DGA’s? A: Any group can rent LDL space Q: Is there a strategy of communication for the quality money? A: Yes, there is a strategy, but it needs improvement. We promote it on our website, during the GRC, in FGS council to graduate program directors. We receive a reasonable number of applications. Q: Was the Leadership Award part of quality money? A: No. Came from GAT levy. Q: Please clarify the LDL booking room charge A: There is a room charge. You can apply that money to order food Q: Quality money. Please explain A: Julie Brown is out employee liaison and runs internship program. This money is set aside to develop that program. To pay her salary and related expenses. This program is very well utilized. Leadership enhancement- training of board members and committee members, and other related committee expenses. 10. DGA Period 11. Other Business Student Experience Committee. To remind you every other Monday (trivia and board games). We have Telus Spark and Calgary Philharmonics [email protected] for tickets Student Care (health and dental) will be conducting a phone survey in the fall. Please take a few minutes to answer the survey!! Adjournment of Open session Motioned/seconded CARRIED Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 Meeting adjourned at 6:25 pm GSA 2015-16 Budget Frequently Asked Questions Q. We saw budget documents in February. What is different? A. We moved $12,500 in Website and Marketing expenses from the Quality Money budget to GSA Operations. We also added $5,000 for the Awards Gala. There are other small changes to the expenses in the budget due to rounding. We also corrected the Occupancy cost in the LDL Operations budget because of an error we found in the University’s calculation of the floor space in the LDL. Q. I thought the LDL was closer to break-even. Why does it lose money? A. The GSA’s position on the LDL for the past few years has been that it is meant to provide a service to students. As a result, the prices in the LDL are lower than market prices, and we run events for students in the LDL that do not allow the Lounge to maximize its revenue. We will be reexamining the LDL strategy in the coming year, at which time we may elect to take a different position on the purpose of the LDL. In the meantime, we are making efforts to improve the efficiency of the LDL to bring it closer to break-even. Q. Why are LDL losses larger than we were told to expect? A. The change is largely the result of moving the Occupancy charge over to LDL operations from GSA operations. The Finance Standing Committee believes that placing the Occupancy expenses in the LDL budget provides a more accurate picture of the overall performance of the LDL, which will be important if we make changes to the LDL strategy next year. Q. Why is there a $50,000 contingency built into the budget this year? Is the Board free to spend that any way it wants? A. No, the Board must have approval from the Finance Standing Committee to move the Contingency to supplement any budget item. In previous years, each item in the budget had its own contingency built in. This year, we budgeted much closer to last year’s actual costs and pooled all of the contingencies into the one Contingency amount. In past years it was possible for high costs to be concealed in the individual contingencies for each item. Instead, this year, costs surpassing last year’s expenses will require FSC approval. This process should result in more oversight, not less. Q. Can you explain the Capital Recapture? A. Capital Recapture allows the GSA to set aside funds to replace assets as they become worn out. All assets depreciate following an amortization schedule. This year’s capital recapture has been set at $50,000. The Finance Standing Committee felt this was the appropriate amount to set aside to allocate to asset replacements in the future Perhaps the best way to explain capital recapture is with an example. Imagine we have an asset; say a table, that is worth $100. It’s lifespan is 5 years before it needs to be replaced. Each year it decreases $20 in value, so at the end of the first year the table is worth $80. Over 5 years, the value of the table and the expenses look like this: Value at beginning of Amortization Value at end of the year Expense year $100 $20 $80 $80 $20 $60 $60 $20 $40 $40 $20 $20 $20 $20 $0 Eventually, we need to replace the table, so we add a capital recapture of $20 per yearThis $20 goes into a capital recapture fund that accumulates until the asset is replaced (or fully amortized). Accumulated Value at Capital beginning of Amortization Value at end of Recapture the year Expense year Expense Recoverable Value $100 $20 $80 $20 $100 $80 $20 $60 $40 $100 $60 $20 $40 $60 $100 $40 $20 $20 $20 $20 $0 $80 $100 $100 $100 Q. Why are Executive Salary expenses higher? A. In addition to adding an executive, the VP External, as a new position last year, we are also in the third year of a three-year planned increase in executive pay. Graduate Students’ Association 2015-‐16 Quality Money Proposal GSA 2014-‐15 Quality Money Proposal Funds Received from UCalgary Quality Money Initiatives: Student Awards & Aid: Awards & Bursaries Top-‐Up Fund GSA Emergency Bursary GSA Organized Grad Student Programming: GSA Leadership Enhancement Research, Promotional Items GSA DGA/Student Events: Departmental Grad Assoc. Incentive DGA Consortium Student Space & Wayfinding Initiative Student Life Events Self Defense Workshops International Student Program Dev Fund Special Interest Program Dev Fund Graduate Research Networks Career Development: Employer Liaison Program External to the GSA: Grad Student Orientation Ombudsperson Office Let’s Talk Science Engineering: Beakerhead Faculty of Medicine Symposium Community Engagement Dev Fund Same year Pool: Current Year QM Initiatives Pool Total Quality money Initiatives Variance 394,000 $20,000 $10,000 $82,000 $5,000 Increased bursaries available GSA/GRC conferences, training... $18,000 $6,500 $10,000 $20,000 $7,000 $1,500 $2,500 $5,500 $75,000 $15,000 $18,000 $12,000 $4,575 $2,000 $20,000 Collaboration with Office of Student Experience $59,425 $394,000 -‐ Details 1 2 Graduate Students’ Association 2014-‐15 Quality Money Proposal This year the GSA presents the following 20 projects, some of which are housed within the GSA and augment current programming; others are pan-‐university in scope and partner with university service providers. Awards & Bursaries Top-‐Up Fund $15,000 The GSA often finds itself with more deserving students for our awards and bursaries than funds to award them. Further, the number of grants we are able to give depends on the market and the amount of interest our endowment fund creates. This fund allows us to stabilize our awards pool and ensure that we can award a greater number of the deserving students whose research contributes to the profile of the University of Calgary and its graduate programs. GSA Emergency Bursary $5,000 The Graduate Students’ Association sees a significant number of students each year who end up in dire financial circumstances due to events outside of their control. It is for these situations that the GSA started the Emergency Bursary Program. Students can apply for loan amounts up to a maximum of $1000. These loans are only meant for emergency circumstances that a given student could not have foreseen nor budgeted for. All full and part time students in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Design are eligible to apply for these emergency grants. GSA Leadership Enhancement $65,000 This program allows the GSA to train and support its student leadership by supporting the Graduate Representatives Council, the GSA Executive council, and their standing committees. Initiatives from this program underwrite travel to key student leadership conferences and training programs, and provide for Board training and retreats. The program also supports communication between GSA leadership stakeholders through such initiatives as our GRC Digest, and it supports the fellowship program that allows the GSA, with its limited means, to offer small honorariums to the most active and invested of our student leaders. Research and Promotional Items $5,000 This program supports the research that the GSA performs in order to best deliver its programs to graduate students. The GSA also uses this fund to obtain the materials with which we promote our students and activities to potential partners and members who can help the organization execute the delivery of those programs. Department Graduate Association Incentive $17,000 The GSA recognizes that its most important resource lies in the members themselves, who organize department-‐ and unit-‐based student groups called Departmental Graduate Associations. Since May 2008, the GSA’s Departmental Graduate Student Association (DGA) program has encouraged the growth of DGAs on campus, now numbering approximately 54 associations. These groups operate autonomously of the GSA but elect members who serve as representatives to the 2 Graduate Students’ Association 2015-‐16 Quality Money Proposal Graduate Representative Council (GRC), which meets to inform them of GSA and campus-‐wide initiatives and activities. Thanks to this program, which gives event grants and support to participating DGAs, the GSA has revolutionized social engagement, academic involvement, and communication methods and strategies for graduate students. Because of this program, graduate students in every department can invest in the leadership needed to run conferences, perform fundraising activities, and manage their own departmental association -‐ regardless of size -‐ so that their graduate students gain valuable experience that they can add to their resumes, CVs, or co-‐curricular records. DGA Consortium $5,000 In some faculties, multiple DGAs work towards similar ends in related fields. Because of this, the GSA supports the social and academic engagement of multiple DGAs in the same Faculty through the Consortium pool. Each Consortium leads multiple department groups in discussions with their faculty, the GSA, and the rest of the university community. The DGA Consortia have proven a successful tool for understanding the unique needs of graduate students within a faculty and the Consortia create avenues for positive change in the working environments of graduate students. Currently, Education, Engineering, and Medicine have created consortiums, and we are working with Arts and Science to develop Consortia for their faculties also. Student Space & Wayfinding Initiative $10,000 One setback that many DGAs and graduate student groups face is the lack of proper signage, space allocation, and wayfinding and an inability to apply for funds to address this issue through University and department channels. This year, we address this with an initiative that allows these groups to apply to enhance their club/department space and partner with their departments to ensure that proper signage exists to alert members to the presence and location of the DGAs. Student Life Events $20,000 The GSA also supports other student groups when they organize their own events. These student-‐run events are often fundraisers for charities like the United Way and the Alberta Diabetes Foundation, or part of larger campus initiatives such as Mental Health Awareness Week. The GSA supports these events by allowing them to use the Last Defence Lounge, by supplying food and beverages, and by providing gift certificates to the LDL to use directly for the event or to offer as prizes in fundraising and awareness-‐raising activities. We also support community engagement events, such as the Calgary Youth Science Fair and we produce and support many events on campus that enrich the experience of graduate and undergraduate students. The GSA hosts events that allow students to celebrate diverse cultural festivities including Oktoberfest, 3 4 Graduate Students’ Association 2014-‐15 Quality Money Proposal Halloween, and the Day of the Dead; all on campus and free to both local and international students who might otherwise not have access to such programming. Self Defence Workshops $7,000 This fund supports our Self Defence workshops, which rank among the most popular initiatives offered by the GSA in recent years. We bring in Kerry Sauve, of Street Sense Self Defence, to teach Level I, II, and III workshops. The Level I workshops, offered in Fall and Winter terms, focus on awareness and basic strategies for holding off attackers. The Level II workshops, likewise offered in Fall and Winter, train members to defend themselves if they are knocked off their feet. The Level III workshops, which can only be attended by members who have completed Level II, train students to protect themselves if they are attacked with weapons. This workshop is typically offered only in the Winter term. International Student Program Development Fund $1,500 Over the last year there has been a significant increase in the engagement of international students through the GSA International Student program. This program allows international graduate students to come together and be engaged with the rest of the university community and Calgary. Examples of events funded through this program include snowshoeing, Calgary Tower visits, and discounted access to CPO performances, operas, plays, and sporting events (Flames, Stampeders, Roughnecks). This program also provides us with an opportunity to understand international graduate student needs and a volunteer pool of students who are engaged on the Countries/regions of emphasis committees). Special Interest Program Development Fund $2,500 Increasingly, the GSA is finding that students choose to self-‐identify and gather together on bases other than academic discipline. While mature students had been identified previously as a potential common trait around which graduate students could gather, this year the GSA recognized the potential for other forms of collective identity. These include, but are not limited to, age, ethnicity, gender, etc. As an example, the GSA has successfully piloted a group of events under the GSA Squared, or Graduate Students' Association Gay-‐Straight Alliance, banner. These funds will allow the expansion of already successful initiatives and the launch of similar events for other special interest groups. Graduate Research Networks $5,500 In 2013-‐14, a need for recognition of interdisciplinary research networks led to the formation of GRNs. Recognition was important, because no outside agency would fund a research network without some form of legitimizing acknowledgement of their existence and accountability for their governance structure. GRNs allow graduate students to form loose interdisciplinary collective of graduate student researchers centered around a particular object of study. While existing University structures can acknowledge research networks formed by faculty, a recognition that allows those networks to fund raise for conferences, for instance, nothing comparable existed for graduate students. Graduate Research Networks were 4 Graduate Students’ Association 2015-‐16 Quality Money Proposal launched as a GSA initiative, but with no budget. This year, the GSA chose to add minimal funding to encourage the establishment of these interdisciplinary research networks for graduate students. Employer Liaison Program $75,000 This program (dating back to 2004) strongly exemplifies what the Eyes High philosophy means when it says, …”one of the university’s aims is to be fully integrated into the community…” The GSA Mentorship Program helps graduates achieve practical and realistically attainable career goals by pairing graduate students with industry mentors. Mentors help students understand the critical next steps needed for realizing their career goals, whether through re-‐entering industry after graduation (as 80 percent of grad students do) or continuing along an academic path. This program is free to all graduate students, thanks to Quality Money funding, and it assists graduate students in making those vital professional contacts in their professional communities. In doing so, students gain invaluable advice and experience when they are paired with a mentor of their choice and in their field of interest. Grad Student Orientation $13,000 Graduate Orientation is an important opportunity for giving our incoming graduate students the tools they need to succeed at the University of Calgary. Organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Leadership and Student Engagement, the Office of Student Experience, and the Graduate Students’ Association, this event introduces students to resources available to them on campus, ways to find funding, and strategies to manage the diverse challenges of grad school. This item contributes to the creation and implementation of that Graduate Orientation. Ombudsperson Office $30,000 The Ombudsperson serves as a non-‐partisan party on campus to assist students who are experiencing difficulty or conflict with an aspect of their university experience. In 2004 the GSA allotted a portion of its Quality Money to a two-‐year pilot project to develop an Ombudsperson position at the University of Calgary. This position did not previously exist at the university, and as the GSA had surveyed its members and clearly saw the need, it approached the then Associate Vice President Student Affairs, Dr. Peggy Patterson. An office was established in Counseling Services, and Naseef Muhammad (a graduate of the University of Calgary Law Faculty) was hired for this part time position. The Ombudsperson has been in place ever since, and has become a critical and heavily used service on campus. A majority of the graduate student cases that the Ombudsperson addresses involve conflict within the supervisory relationship of the student and/or academic appeal support. Because of the Ombudsperson’s office, the majority of cases brought to the office are mediated and resolved at an earlier stage than they might have otherwise been, and students feel that they have recourse outside of an institutional 5 6 Graduate Students’ Association 2014-‐15 Quality Money Proposal mechanism that may have caused the challenges, which brought the student to the office in the first place. Given this, we see it as crucial that the position remain supported by the GSA, but we also recognize that, moving forward, this may better be supported as an operational expense. We have moved 50% of the Ombudsperson Office cost to GSA operations, and next year will move 100% of the cost to GSA operations. Let's Talk Science $12,000 Let’s Talk Science (LTS) is student run program that exposes the children to the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math through outreach programs. Volunteers of LTS are primarily graduate students in the departments of Medicine, Engineering, and Science. The student volunteers gain valuable professional skills through the programs by teaching, leadership, and hands-‐on activities. This program allows the GSA to support academic research and community engagement. Engineering Education Student's Society – Beakerhead $4,575 The Engineering Education Student’s Society partnered with the University of Calgary branch of Let’s Talk Science to participate in Beakerhead: events and programs held in September that combine art, science and engineering. Their previous years participation received very positive feedback from the public and the graduate student volunteers involved so they plan on a continued involvement. This year they will focus on the development of a scientific performance display. Funding the Engineering Education Student’s Society’s involvement in Beakerhead shows the GSA’s support of interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Faculty of Medicine Student Symposium $2,000 The Faculty of Medicine Student Symposium is a student-‐led conference that brings world-‐class speakers and researchers to the University of Calgary for the exchange of ideas and showcases the future direction of the disciplines of medicine and science. This yearly event is an excellent networking opportunity for our graduate students. Community Engagement Development Fund $20,000 In feedback from a number of interested graduate student groups, the GSA recognizes the importance of community involvement and volunteerism to both the graduate student experience and impact on the larger university, civic, and national communities in which graduate students participate. The Community Engaged Development Fund is intended to identify opportunities for graduate students to extend their work out to the community and also provide additional professional development for graduate students in those areas that directly multiply their effectiveness as volunteers and community supporters. This initiative builds on resources and strategies already in place on campus. Furthermore, the Initiative provides the GSA with the means to evaluate the extent of reach within the community from those graduate students involved, metrics that can be used to 6 Graduate Students’ Association 2015-‐16 Quality Money Proposal further maximize the value the University, and graduate students, provide to the community at large. Current Year QM Initiatives Pool $62,000 The current year initiative pool allows the GSA to directly fund worthy programs and projects proposed by graduate students and graduate partners. Projects kick started by this program include the Mentorship Program, Ombudspersons Office, and the Career and Employer Liaison Program. This pool, more than any other Quality Money initiative, allows the GSA to respond to the innovative programs and ideas generated by graduate students themselves and, as it operates on a full-‐year cycle, this allows the GSA to fund grass-‐roots/pilot projects with little bureaucratic delay. All graduate members and university partners of the GSA have the opportunity to submit proposals that enrich graduate student members’ quality and breadth of learning experience at the University of Calgary. 7 University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association 214 MacKimmie Library Tower 2500 University Drive. N.W. Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Tel (403) 220-5997 Fax (403)282-8992 www.gsa.ucalgary.ca March 31, 2015 March GRC 2015 Motions: 1. Motion to ratify the GSA 2014-‐2015 Budget: That the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) on the recommendation of the Graduate Students’ Association’s (GSA) Vice-‐President Finance & Services, on behalf of the GSA Board of Directors, and with the support of the Finance Standing Committee, ratify the Comprehensive 2015-‐2016 Budget, including proposed Health & Dental fee (no change) and proposed GSA operation fee (10% increase), beginning April 1st, 2015. 2. Motion to ratify the Quality Money 2015-‐2016 proposals: That the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) on the recommendation of the Graduate Students’ Association’s (GSA) Vice-‐President Finance & Services, on behalf of the GSA Board of Directors, and with the support of the Finance Standing Committee, endorse the 2015-‐2016 Quality Money proposals. GSA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: 1. [April/May] GSA Survey: Develop and analyze GSA survey. Email [email protected] 2. [Now until April 22nd] CAGS/SHHRC Project: Help plan or attend discussion on “how are the experience and aspirations of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada essential to building a successful shared future?”. Email [email protected] Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! [email protected] MOTION #1: That the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) on the recommendation of the Graduate Students’ Association’s (GSA) Vice-President Finance & Services, on behalf of the GSA Board of Directors, and with the support of the Finance Standing Committee, ratify the Comprehensive 2015-2016 Budget, including proposed Health & Dental fee (no change) and proposed GSA operation fee (10% increase), beginning April 1st, 2015. 6 BUDGET PROCESS Dec 2014Jan 2015 Input from GRC, FSC, Board Jan-Feb 2015 VPFS Drafts Budget with Input from Accountant, Board, FSC Feb 13, 2015 Preliminary Budget Proposal to FSC for Input Feb 20, 2015 Preliminary Budget to Board for Input Feb 24, 2015 Preliminary Budget to GRC for Input Mid-March 2015 Finalized Budget to FSC and Board for Approval March 24, 2015 Finalized Budget to GRC for Approval [email protected] 7 BUDGET –THE JOURNEY SO FAR… Late January • We changed the way we do budgeting, and created a draft budget February We presented the draft budget to FSC § FSC requested that we move the occupancy charge to the LDL and that we add the Capital Recapture Expense • We presented the budget to the Board with options • We presented the budget with options to GRC March • The budget was presented to FSC for recommendation • The budget was presented to the Board for approval • [email protected] 8 HIGHLIGHTS (LDL) Assumes no increase in sales (although signs are sales will increase) Recapturing $14,000 in discounts from GSA operations $67,101 Occupancy cost moving from GSA Operations to LDL Operations $85,000 cash loss in 2015-16 • $18000 before occupancy expenses • $155,000 loss after amortization Conclusion: • These measures help to better reflect the true cost of operating the LDL • Strategy change possibilities include increasing prices but with discounts for grad students • • • • [email protected] 9 HIGHLIGHTS (GSA OPERATIONS) • Anticipates increases in salary expenses to account for COLA and merit increases for staff • $18,000 (1/2) of the cost of the Ombuds moves to GSA Operations this year, with the entire amount to be paid through GSA Operations in 2016-17 • Executive fellowships will increase by $300/mth for each of the five executives • This increase is the third-year of a planned three-year schedule of increases passed by GRC in 2013 [email protected] 10 CHANGES SINCE FEBRUARY We’ve made 5 changes since February • There is only one suggestion for the fee increase (10% or $13.55) • The Quality Money proposal for 2015-16 is included • A $5000 expense was added to cover the cost of the Awards Gala • $12,500 was moved from Quality Money to GSA Operations for Website Development and Marketing • The Occupancy charge was adjusted slightly to account for a miscalculation by the University when the charge was assessed 2015-16 FEE RECOMMENDATION Probable Case: No change in the number of students Worst Case: -5% change in the number of students $13.56 10% Income (Probable Case) Income (Worst Case) Expenses (AUer LDL trasfer, Amor`za`on; AUer Capital Recapture) Net Income (Probable Case) Net Income (Worst Case) FSC and Board Recommendation 896422 851601 872881 23541 (21280) QUALITY MONEY COMPARISON 2014-15 ($385,000) Awards/Bursaries/ Scholar GSA programs DGA/Student events Student Conferences/ideas Employer Liasion Program Ombuds 2015-16 ($394,000) MOTION #2: That the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) on the recommendation of the Graduate Students’ Association’s (GSA) Vice-President Finance & Services, on behalf of the GSA Board of Directors, and with the support of the Finance Standing Committee, endorse the 2015-2016 Quality Money proposals. 14 Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! [email protected] 16 UPCOMING: April May • Executive Annual Report • Exec Transition • Finalize new Executive Director • GRC input on 3 year strategic plan • Implement GSA annual survey • Swear in new executives June • New executives start • GRC approve 3 year strategic plan • Last GRC until September • Implement 3 year strategic plan • Recruit new volunteers 17 Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! [email protected] 19 GU 15 UPDATE § Conference April 6-8 § 12 GSA’s attending, including Ucalgary. 38 delegates. § Making final bookings and logistical arrangements 20 PROVINCIAL BUDGET AND IAE UPDATE Alberta Budget 2015 Release on Thursday, March 26 § 4% cut to Campus Alberta Grant § 2015-16: 1.4% cut ($27M) § 2016-17: 2.7% cut ($60M) Consultation § March 27 Budget Conference Call § Monthly Meeting in April Campus Alberta Budget Reduction (%) 0 2015-16 2016-17 -1 -2 -3 $27M $60M 21 Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! [email protected] 23 BACKGROUND • The research protocol and ethics application were developed by the Academic Standing Committee. The Committee sought feedback from international students. • Dr. Julie Deans, Associate Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies will collaborate with the GSA on this project as the PI. • This project will involve graduate students in producing knowledge about international graduate student experience and aligns with the University’s Eyes High Strategic Plan priorities related to internationalization. • The project will produce a report that will be presented to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the University to inform policies and practices. • The project will invite participation from other GSA Standing Committees and the graduate student body. RESEARCH PROJECT: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXPERIENCE Research Questions: 1) What specific challenges do international graduate students encounter while completing their programs at the University of Calgary? 2) What academic, psychosocial, cultural, and other factors do international graduate students identify as having a significant impact on their student experience and how do those factors affect their student experience? 3) How do factors such as ethnicity, language, age, marital status and religion affect international graduate student experiences studying at the University of Calgary? 4) What recommendations do international graduate students have for University services that would improve or enhance their student experience? 5) How do international graduate students obtain information about the services and programs available to them at the University of Calgary? 6) How does the international student experience affect the spouses and families of graduate students? (if applicable) METHODS DATA COLLECTION: • Advisory Group • Focus Groups The priority will be to involve international graduate students at every stage of the research process. DATA ANALYSIS Thematic analysis of advisory group and focus group data. KNOWLEDGE CREATTION: Manuscripts, report to University, presentations. Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! [email protected] 29 RECRUITMENT FOR CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS § Volunteer Opportunities with the GSA in 2015-2016 § Residence and Family Housing Committee § International Students’ Committee § Student Experience Standing Committee § Chairs will be appointed mid-end of April for a 1 year term § In you’re interested in any position or have questions, please send me a message § If you’d like to apply, please send you CV and a paragraph outlining your interest in the position to [email protected] [email protected] ANNOUNCEMENTS… § LDL Space: § The side room in the LDL will be available for booking for game nights (PS4 and/or boardgames) § If you’re interested in booking one of these rooms for your DGA, please contact Kathy at [email protected] § There will be a charge for the rooms (however, if you order food and drinks then that expense can be used to cover the room charge. [email protected] Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! [email protected] 33 [email protected] FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEE BI-ANNUAL REPORT MAJOR EVENTS • I was appointed interim chair of FSC in August and confirmed at the AGM in Sept. • Lots of change-over in accounting office this year • Previous accountant started in March 2014, left Sept. 2014 • New accountant started beginning of October 2014 • The result has been a delay in receiving documents for the remainder of 2014 • Accounting office is now caught up, documents arriving in a timely manner with a greater improvement expected after year-end § Fiscal year-end today! New Financial Year begins tomorrow. § Audit scheduled for Early June (2 ½ months ahead of last year) [email protected] 35 CHANGES IN PROCESS • The budget now has a centralized contingency fund • Will result in greater oversight by FSC • The Financials for the Lounge now include all expenses related to the Lounge, including the Occupancy charge • This will be important when shaping the new Lounge strategy • The GSA will now set aside an amount for Capital Recapture • Ensures that the GSA’s assets are maintained [email protected] 36 BUDGET PROCESS Dec 2014Jan 2015 Input from GRC, FSC, Board Jan-Feb 2015 VPFS Drafts Budget with Input from Accountant, Board, FSC Feb 13, 2015 Preliminary Budget Proposal to FSC for Input Feb 20, 2015 Preliminary Budget to Board for Input Feb 24, 2015 Preliminary Budget to GRC for Input Mid-March 2015 Finalized Budget to FSC and Board for Approval March 24, 2015 Finalized Budget to GRC for Approval [email protected] 37 Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! Item Description Presenter Materials Time 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome! Presenter Materials Time Item Description 1 Agenda (For Approval) Speaker: Adam Mitter In package 6:05 PM 2 Feb. 24th, 2015 Minutes (For approval) Speaker In package 6:06 PM 3 GSA 2015-‐16 Budget Mike Webster (VP Finance & Services) Verbal/In package 6:07 PM 4 President Report Sarah Akierman Verbal/In package 6:27 PM 5 Vice-President (External) Report Chris Carlile In package 6:30 PM 6 Vice-President (Academic) Report Cari Gulbransen In package 6:33 PM 7 Vice-President (Student Life) Report Danica MacDonald In package 6:36 PM 8 Mike Webster/Kristen Barton In package 6:39 PM 9 Vice-President (Finance & services) Report -‐ Report from Finance Standing CommiNee Chair Question Period Speaker Verbal 6:43 PM 10 DGA Period DGAs Verbal 6:53 PM 11 Other Business Speaker Verbal 7:00 PM 12 Adjournment of Open Sessions Speaker Verbal 7:05 PM SEE YOU IN THE LDL! Please join us in the LDL aUer GRC! – all graduate students are welcome!
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