GSA Elections

Position: President

Expected Time Commitment: 30–40 hours per week

The President is responsible for the overall direction and oversight of the GSA. The President chairs the GSA’s Elected Council and is the primary person responsible for the conduct and communication between the GSA and internal and external stakeholders.

The President is expected to work on GSA related business 25–35 hours per week, but often only a portion of those hours are spent in the office. The actual time commitment varies over the course of the year and can change as situations arise.

Key aspects of the President’s portfolio include:

I. The President or their designate chairs all General Meetings and Elected Council Meetings.

II. Shall oversee the development of agendas for General Meetings and Elected Council Meetings.

III. Oversee the work of any Association committee dealing with or having an impact on the Association’s finances or financial well-being, and inform the Elected Council respecting such work.

IV. Representing University of Calgary graduate students as an association delegate to the Canadian Alliance of Students’ Associations;

V. Advocating on behalf of graduate students on all issues, including providing the graduate student viewpoint to the press;

VI. Upholding the interests of graduate students on all issues;

VII. Actively participating on various University committees including:

    VII.i. General Faculties Council and its various sub-committees, including:
        VII.i.a. General Faculties Council Executive Committee
        VII.i.b. Academic Planning and Priorities Committee

    VII.ii. Faculty of Graduate Studies Council

    VII.iii. FGSC Executive Committee

    VII.iv. Working Groups including FGS ii' taa'poh'to'p Working Group

    VII.v. Graduate College Oversight Committee

VIII. Overseeing the GSA’s Governance Committee;

IX. Actively participate on GSA’s Finance Standing Committee;

X. Overseeing all activities and operations of the GSA through the Executive Board and Executive Director, including GSA Committees;

XI. Acting as principal liaison and point of contact in dealings with the University, The University of Calgary Faculty Association, and the Students’ Union;

XII. Participating in candidate searches at the decanal level and above;

XIII. Traveling to represent the GSA at provincial and national conferences;

XIV. Participating in the performance reviews and appointment renewals of senior faculty and staff at the decanal level and above at the University;

XV. Supervising and evaluating the GSA’s Executive Director;

XVI. Carrying out special strategic projects as decided in the Spring planning session; and

XVII. Subject to the general authority of the Elected Council, the President or their designate is the official spokesperson on behalf of the Association.

Position: Vice President
(External Relations)

Expected Time Commitment: 30–35 hours per week

Expected Travel Commitment: 4–5 weeks out of the year

The Vice President supports the role of the President and serves to fill in on various capacities in their absence. One key and important responsibility that the VP holds is for the Association’s advocacy activities, which includes: developing and maintaining the Association’s relationships with all levels of government, representing the Association within student advocacy organizations, developing and maintaining stakeholder relations, promoting advocacy activities within the membership, and overseeing the Association’s advocacy-related media and communications activities jointly with the President.

The Vice President is a voting member of the GSA’s Executive Elected Council. As a Elected Council member, the VP is expected to be in the GSA office 10–15 hours per week, but the time commitment for the role varies per week depending on the time of year and political landscape.

Key aspects of the Vice President’s portfolio include:

I. Act as the President (Acting President) in the absence of the President for any reason.

II. Advocating on behalf of graduate students at the University of Calgary to the municipal, provincial, and federal governments;

III. Working with the President and the to determine the municipal, provincial, and federal advocacy priorities for the Association, developing strategies to act on these priorities and implementing them;

IV. Communicating and collaborating with student leaders across the country, including but not limited to:

    IV.i. Acting as a delegate and representing the GSA as a member of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA);
    IV.ii. Representing the GSA to relevant provincial groups and organizations;
    IV.iii. Representing the GSA within the Calgary Student Alliance (CSA);

V. Developing relationships with key stakeholders in government and relevant ministries;

VI. Participating in consultations with various stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Advanced Education;

VII. Traveling to represent the GSA at relevant municipal, provincial and national conferences;

VIII. Promoting engagement in and understanding of advocacy among membership;

IX. Oversee and coordinate consultations and advocacy between the Association and elected representatives of Municipal, Provincial and Federal governmental bodies, and any other entity considered appropriate, in advancing the Business of the Association on behalf of its members;

X. Electing chairs for and overseeing relevant GSA committees or working groups, if deemed appropriate by the Elected Council.

XI. Representing graduate students on key University councils such as Faculty of Graduate Studies Council (FGS), Tuition and Fees Consultation Committee (TFCC), General Faculties Council (GFC), or more as deemed relevant;

XII. Representing the GSA at official University events and those in the broader Calgary community (Stampede etc.);

XIII. Reporting to and sitting as a voting member of the GSA’s Graduate Representative Council, overseeing the governance of the Association.

XIV. Reporting to and serving as an executive member on the GSA’s Elected Council, overseeing the operations of the Association;

XV. Coordinating with the appropriate Staff Member(s) to keep the Association informed on relevant developments outside of the University that affect members of the GSA;

XVI. Act as the Keeper of the Seal;

XVII. Carrying out special projects as decided in the Spring planning session of the Elected Council and;

XVIII. Perform any duties assigned in Policy, or as otherwise delegated by the Elected Council.

Position: Executive Labour Officer

Expected Time Commitment: 20–30 hours per week

The Executive Labour Officer is responsible for all Labour Relations matters that effect graduate students. This includes working closely with GSA staff including Member Service Officer, HR Manager and the Executive Director to navigate the complex issues involving grievances on a wide range conflicts.

The Executive Labour Officer is expected to work on GSA related business 15–25 hours per week, with the workload being lighter when there is no requirement to negotiate a new collective agreement. The Executive Labour Officer also responsible for soliciting membership to understand the needs and desires of Academically Employed Graduate Students.

Key aspects of the Executive Labour Officer portfolio include:

I. Actively solicit graduate students to better understand their wishes for fair representation;

II. Support graduate students when dealing with grievances;

III. Work with GSA staff to manage violations of the collective agreement;

IV. Ensure that Academically Employed Graduate Students are fairly represented with respects to:

    IV.i. Their rights under the collective agreement; and
    IV.ii. the terms conditions of employment, as incorporated into the Association’s Collective Agreement with the Governors;

V. Actively participating and overseeing graduate student participation on external joint committees including but not limited to;

    V.i. The health and safety committee; and
    V.ii. Any joint committee as contemplated in the Collective Agreement.

VI. Serve as chair of the Collective Bargaining Committee and Negotiation Committee (when applicable) and oversee bargaining efforts;

VII. Serve on the Grievance Committee

VIII. Serve as the Associations Health and Safety Officer

IX. Engage graduate students to ensure they are aware of their collected agreement right;

X. Build out a group of stewards to support Academically Employed Graduate Students on a Faculty level

XI. Carrying out special strategic projects as decided in the Spring planning session; and

XII. Subject to the general authority of the Elected Council, the President or their designate is the official spokesperson on behalf of the Association

Position: Executive Academic Officer

Expected Time Commitment: 30–35 hours per week

The Executive Academic Officer is responsible for all academic matters that affect graduate students. This includes sitting on a wide range of University committees, attending appeals committee meetings, meeting with deans and students to support disputes

The Executive Academic Officer is expected to work on GSA related business 20–30 hours per week, however these hours can vary from light to heavy depending on student need. The Executive Academic Officer also curates the marque event “Peer Beyond” and is supported by the Academic Events Committee. The Executive Academic Officer is expected to be in the office from 10–15 hours per week.

Key aspects of the Executive Academic Officer portfolio include:

I. Advocating for academic concerns and interests of graduate students;

II. Representing graduate students on the development of University policies, academic services and activities;

III. Upholding the interests of graduate students on issues of academic appeal and grievance;

IV. Actively participating and overseeing graduate student participation on various University committees including;

    IV.i. General Faculties Council and its various sub-committees, including:
        IV.i.a. GFC Executive Committee;
        IV.i.b. Research and Scholarship Subcommittee;
        IV.i.c. Graduate Academic Programs Subcommittee; and
        IV.i.d. Teaching and Learning committee

    IV.ii. Working Groups including FGS ii' taa'poh'to'p Working Group

    IV.iii. Faculty of Tenure and Promotion Committees;

    IV.iv. Decanal Search committees as assigned by the Elected Council

    IV.v. Faculty of Graduate Studies Council and its various sub-committees, including:
        IV.v.a. FGS Awards Oversight Committee;
        IV.v.b. FGS Research Committees; and
        IV.v.c. FGS Appeals Committee

V. Various other potentional committees including but not limited to Academic Priorities and Planning Committee, Teaching and Learning Committee, Graduate Academic Programs Subcommittee, Research and Scholarship Committee, Assessment Principles Working Group, External Teaching & Learning Awards Committee, Associate Deans’ Research Council, FGS policy Committee, FGS Awards Oversight Committee, Teaching and Learning Subcommittee, Experiential Learning Advisory Committee, Student Accommodation Working Group, Learning Technologies Advisory Committee, Course Feedback Implementation Working Group, and the Copyright Committee

VI. Overseeing the Academic Standing Committee;

VII. Jointly oversee the University Ombudsperson with the Students’ Union and the officer of the Provosts

VIII. Overseeing all activities and operations of the GSA through the Executive Board and Executive Director, including GSA Committees;

IX. Responsible for overring the Association’s compliance with its privacy obligations under the Personal Information Protection Act.

X. Carrying out special strategic projects as decided in the Spring planning session; and

XI. Subject to the general authority of the Elected Council, the President or their designate is the official spokesperson on behalf of the Association.

Position: Officer at Large – 3 positions available
(Councilor)

Expected Time Commitment: 10–15 hours per week

The Officers at Large provide a collective voice of all graduate students by engaging with membership on a grass root level. Officers at Large will provide insight to the University on Gradate matters by providing direct feedback on GSA services and budget.

The Officers at Large will share delegated responsibilities to engage the student population through Department Graduate Associations (DGA) and Faculties outreach. They are a voting member of the GSA’s Executive Elected Council and are expected to work on GSA related business 10–15 hours per week. The months of August through to March are anticipated to be the busiest for these portfolios as they include the lead up to orientation and are when the bulk of internal and external committees commence. This role workload varies depending on Committee chair appointments and faculty liaison role

Key aspects of the Officer at Large portfolio include:

I. Serve as the official liaison for a third of the Faculties and DGA’s as delegated at the beginning of term;

II. Representing the GSA in engagement sessions, orientations and town halls;

III. Promote and activate GSA volunteers for important University events, such as Graduate Orientation;

IV. Providing feedback for GSA correspondence;

V. Advocating for students’ wellness to UCalgary.

VI. Serve as the Chair of a minimum of one standing committee or marque committee including but not limited to;

    VI.i. Finance and services committee
        VI.i.a. Serving as Treasurer
        VI.i.b. Reviewing budget
        VI.i.c. Presenting external audit findings

    VI.ii. Awards Committee
        VI.ii.a. Adjudicate student bursaries
        VI.ii.b. Oversee Quality Money

    VI.iii. Student Experience and Engagement Committee
        VI.iii.a. Support grass root membership sub committees
        VI.iii.b. Provide insights on events and engagement
        VI.iii.c. Provide insight on services such as health and dental.

VII. Overseeing all activities and operations of the GSA through the Executive Board and Executive Director, including GSA Committees;

VIII. Carrying out special strategic projects as decided in the Spring planning session; and

IX. Subject to the general authority of the Elected Council, the President or their designate is the official spokesperson on behalf of the Association