Let’s Talk: GSA Fall 2020 Survey

On May 14, the University of Calgary announced a combination of face-to-face and remote or online learning for instruction in the Fall 2020 term. Prior to that announcement, the GSA had been working diligently to obtain information on what graduate students can expect from the University. Now that the University has made its announcement, we focus our work on behalf of graduate students by voicing your need for additional support to ensure your academic success in the fall term.

To that effect, on June 2, the GSA launched its Fall 2020 survey for UCalgary graduate students to gather your input about Fall 2020. The survey covers a wide range of topics including your transportation and accommodation arrangements, your preferred course delivery method, resources and support you would need for Fall 2020. 

Christine Cao, your GSA VP External, stressed how important this survey is for UCalgary graduate students: “The Fall 2020 Survey will help the GSA understand your circumstances, concerns, and needs as we prepare for the Fall semester. Your answers will provide us with important testimonials and perspectives when we advocate for your needs through the many committees we seat on at the University. Your feedback is especially important as it will help our GSA President better represent your concerns and priorities at the UCalgary’s Academic Crisis Management Team, the ultimate body that is vetting all decisions for Fall 2020 term.” 

Your feedback is especially important as it will help our GSA President better represent your concerns and priorities at the UCalgary’s Academic Crisis Management Team, the ultimate body that is vetting all decisions for Fall 2020 term.

Christine Cao, GSA VP External

Below is the list of UCalgary committees that the GSA sits on, and that are particularly important in shaping decisions about the Fall 2020 term:

• Academic Crisis Management Team (ACMT) – This is a subcommittee of the University’s Crisis Management Team that was formed to focus on how to mitigate the academic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
• UCalgary’s Board of Governors and its committees including Finance and Property; and Environment, Health, Safety and sustainability Committee
• Faculty of Graduate Studies Council
• FGS ii’ taa’poh’to’p Working Group
• General Faculties Council (GFC) and its committees/subcommittees including Research and Scholarship Committee; Teaching and Learning Committee; Associate Dean’s Research Council; and Academic Planning and Priorities Committee (APPC)

So far, we have received over 135 responses for our Fall 2020 survey. (Thank you!) The more responses we get, the more informed your representatives could be in order to bring the graduate perspective to the decision-making table. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email Tanille Shandro, GSA President, at pres.gsa@ucalgary.ca. If you haven’t already, please take some time to complete our Fall 2020 survey and encourage other graduate students to do the same. Your input will help us put our best foot forward in advocating for graduate student success in the Fall 2020 term.

The GSA is the voice of University of Calgary graduate students. We advocate on behalf of graduate students at the University of Calgary and to the municipal, provincial, and federal governments. As your graduate student representatives, the GSA Board of Directors and the Research and Advocacy Analyst worked on many advocacy priorities to the best interest of UCalgary graduate students. To learn more about the GSA’s advocacy efforts, please visit gsa.ucalgary.ca/advocacy. If you have any questions or concerns, please email askgsa@ucalgary.ca.