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  • Letter to GSA Council for SWP Update - 16Apr2018 · Dear GSA Council Colleagues, April 6, 2018 As many of you may remember, my team and I began the development of the 2017-2018 GSA
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8.0 Dear GSA Council Colleagues, April 6, 2018 As many of you may remember, my team and I began the development of the 2017-2018 GSA Board Strategic Work Plan (SWP) in May of 2017 and we presented the finalized plan to GSA Council in July. The complete SWP is available for your review on the GSA website at https://www.ualberta.ca/graduate-students-association/about/board-strategic-work-plan. Below is the final update concerning the GSA’s progress in pursuing the strategic goals outlined in the 2017-2018 SWP. Updates were also provided to GSA Council in October and January; in preparing this final update, I asked my team to individually identify the key initiatives they have engaged with this year. I welcome the chance to discuss what follows with you on April 16. • As you will recall, one of our main team goals was to advocate for the University to launch a review of the current state of graduate student funding on campus, and the potential to establish guaranteed minimum funding packages. After submitting a proposal to the Provost and the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) concerning this, the Dean of FGSR created and circulated a survey to University departments to gather more information about their current graduate student funding practices. Dean Zwicker attended the February meeting of GSA Council to share her findings from this survey and to answer questions. In my recent meetings with Dr. Zwicker, I have continued to discuss her next steps for this project and recommend that the 2018-2019 GSA Directly-Elected Officers continue working on this important issue (guaranteed minimum funding), especially in light of the coming campus budget reductions. • As outlined in the GSA’s public response to the International Tuition Fee Increase, we, along with the University of Alberta Students’ Union (SU), are disappointed that the 3.14% proposed tuition increase was approved, along with other increases that put cost pressures on students, such as a 4% increase to residence rates. Leading up to the final vote on March 16, Vice-President Academic, Firouz, Vice-President Labour, Sasha, and I met with as many Board of Governors members as possible to stress students’ concerns regarding the proposal. I also delivered presentations in various governance venues to argue against the tuition increases and voted against these motions. The GSA will continue to advocate to both the University and the government that international graduate tuition should be predictable, regulated, and communicated in a manner that will allow graduate students to make informed decisions regarding which institution they choose to attend, and the associated costs they can expect to incur for the duration of their program. • The Vice-President External, Masoud, and I have continued to actively participate in the Alberta Graduate Provincial Advocacy Council (ab-GPAC). This year, they launched a new website, which now includes the U of A GSA blog post that discusses the recent tuition increases and related advocacy work. Finally, the U of A GSA, through ab-GPAC, continues to pressure the government to release their long-awaited decision regarding tuition and funding models and to advocate that international student tuition should be regulated so that there is more stability and predictability for these students. • Sasha has submitted a proposal to the Assistant Vice-President, Finance and Supply Management Services, requesting that the University of Alberta allow scholarship holders to pay their tuition in installments, without installment fees or interest fees for late payments. This proposal would parallel the long-standing and well-established program that the U of A currently provides for automatic tuition deductions from Graduate Assistantships. • One of the priorities identified in the 2017-2018 SWP was for the GSA Vice-President External to “engage with Residence Associations and other stakeholders concerning the collection of Residence Association fees.” As Masoud noted in his March report to GSA Council, the GSA Board developed a survey on this topic in order to get feedback directly from graduate students living in residences about this issue. Following review of this survey with Residence Associations during a Council of Residence Associations meeting, it was circulated to graduate students living in University residence. I look

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Page 1: Letter to GSA Council for SWP Update - 16Apr2018 · Dear GSA Council Colleagues, April 6, 2018 As many of you may remember, my team and I began the development of the 2017-2018 GSA

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DearGSACouncilColleagues, April6,2018

Asmanyofyoumayremember,myteamandIbeganthedevelopmentofthe2017-2018GSABoardStrategicWorkPlan(SWP)inMayof2017andwepresentedthefinalizedplantoGSACouncilinJuly.ThecompleteSWPisavailableforyourreviewontheGSAwebsiteathttps://www.ualberta.ca/graduate-students-association/about/board-strategic-work-plan.

BelowisthefinalupdateconcerningtheGSA’sprogressinpursuingthestrategicgoalsoutlinedinthe2017-2018SWP.UpdateswerealsoprovidedtoGSACouncilinOctoberandJanuary;inpreparingthisfinalupdate,Iaskedmyteamtoindividuallyidentifythekeyinitiativestheyhaveengagedwiththisyear.IwelcomethechancetodiscusswhatfollowswithyouonApril16.

• Asyouwillrecall,oneofourmainteamgoalswastoadvocatefortheUniversitytolaunchareviewofthecurrentstateofgraduatestudentfundingoncampus,andthepotentialtoestablishguaranteedminimumfundingpackages.AftersubmittingaproposaltotheProvostandtheDeanoftheFacultyofGraduateStudiesandResearch(FGSR)concerningthis,theDeanofFGSRcreatedandcirculatedasurveytoUniversitydepartmentstogathermoreinformationabouttheircurrentgraduatestudentfundingpractices.DeanZwickerattendedtheFebruarymeetingofGSACounciltoshareherfindingsfromthissurveyandtoanswerquestions.InmyrecentmeetingswithDr.Zwicker,Ihavecontinuedtodiscusshernextstepsforthisprojectandrecommendthatthe2018-2019GSADirectly-ElectedOfficerscontinueworkingonthisimportantissue(guaranteedminimumfunding),especiallyinlightofthecomingcampusbudgetreductions.

• AsoutlinedintheGSA’spublicresponsetotheInternationalTuitionFeeIncrease,we,alongwiththeUniversityofAlbertaStudents’Union(SU),aredisappointedthatthe3.14%proposedtuitionincreasewasapproved,alongwithotherincreasesthatputcostpressuresonstudents,suchasa4%increasetoresidencerates.LeadinguptothefinalvoteonMarch16,Vice-PresidentAcademic,Firouz,Vice-PresidentLabour,Sasha,andImetwithasmanyBoardofGovernorsmembersaspossibletostressstudents’concernsregardingtheproposal.Ialsodeliveredpresentationsinvariousgovernancevenuestoargueagainstthetuitionincreasesandvotedagainstthesemotions.TheGSAwillcontinuetoadvocatetoboththeUniversityandthegovernmentthatinternationalgraduatetuitionshouldbepredictable,regulated,andcommunicatedinamannerthatwillallowgraduatestudentstomakeinformeddecisionsregardingwhichinstitutiontheychoosetoattend,andtheassociatedcoststheycanexpecttoincurforthedurationoftheirprogram.

• TheVice-PresidentExternal,Masoud,andIhavecontinuedtoactivelyparticipateintheAlbertaGraduateProvincial

AdvocacyCouncil(ab-GPAC).Thisyear,theylaunchedanewwebsite,whichnowincludestheUofAGSAblogpostthatdiscussestherecenttuitionincreasesandrelatedadvocacywork.Finally,theUofAGSA,throughab-GPAC,continuestopressurethegovernmenttoreleasetheirlong-awaiteddecisionregardingtuitionandfundingmodelsandtoadvocatethatinternationalstudenttuitionshouldberegulatedsothatthereismorestabilityandpredictabilityforthesestudents.

• SashahassubmittedaproposaltotheAssistantVice-President,FinanceandSupplyManagementServices,requestingthat

theUniversityofAlbertaallowscholarshipholderstopaytheirtuitionininstallments,withoutinstallmentfeesorinterestfeesforlatepayments.Thisproposalwouldparallelthelong-standingandwell-establishedprogramthattheUofAcurrentlyprovidesforautomatictuitiondeductionsfromGraduateAssistantships.

• Oneoftheprioritiesidentifiedinthe2017-2018SWPwasfortheGSAVice-PresidentExternalto“engagewithResidence

AssociationsandotherstakeholdersconcerningthecollectionofResidenceAssociationfees.”AsMasoudnotedinhisMarchreporttoGSACouncil,theGSABoarddevelopedasurveyonthistopicinordertogetfeedbackdirectlyfromgraduatestudentslivinginresidencesaboutthisissue.FollowingreviewofthissurveywithResidenceAssociationsduringaCouncilofResidenceAssociationsmeeting,itwascirculatedtograduatestudentslivinginUniversityresidence.Ilook

https://abgpac.net/
Page 2: Letter to GSA Council for SWP Update - 16Apr2018 · Dear GSA Council Colleagues, April 6, 2018 As many of you may remember, my team and I began the development of the 2017-2018 GSA

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forwardtoreviewingthedatathatthissurveywillprovideandsharingtheresultswiththeincomingGSAVice-PresidentExternal,the2018-2019Directly-ElectedOfficerteam,aswellaswithresidenceassociations.Pendingtheresultsofthissurvey,internaldiscussion,andananalysisofsomeadministrativeissues,wearehopefulthatthisinitiativecanmoveforward.

• AsdiscussedinearlierSWPupdatestoGSACouncil,keygoalsfromtheVice-PresidentLabour’sportfolioincludednegotiatingforincreasedcompensationforgraduatestudentassistantsintheCollectiveAgreementandensuringtheGSA’scompliancewithBill7.APre-BargainingTownHallwasheldinSeptember2017,andtheGSANegotiatingCommittee(GSANC)andtheGSALabourRelationsCommittee(GSALRC)reviewedthefeedbackandsuggestionsreceivedduringthissessiontodevelopaseriesofcollectivebargainingprioritiesandgoals.Academically-employedgraduatestudentswerethenaskedtovoteelectronicallyonthesepriorities.TheGSANCincludedtheseapprovedprioritiesintheOpeningPositionthatwassenttotheUniversityatthebeginningofNovember.TheGSANCisstillengagedinnegotiationswiththeUniversityandupdatescontinuetobesentthroughtheLabourNewslettertocurrentacademically-employedgraduatestudentsastheybecomeavailable.AsSashapresentedduringtheMarch2018GSACouncilmeeting,draftchangestoGSABylawandPolicytoensuretheGSA’scompliancewithBill7arecurrentlywiththeGSAlawyersforreviewandwewillbeengagingwiththeirfeedbackshortly.

• Intheinterestofsupportingavarietyofhighqualityprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesforgraduatestudents,theVice-PresidentAcademic,Firouz,hasbeeninvolvedinasub-groupoftheProfessionalDevelopmentAdvisoryBoardtocreateanonlinegraduatestudentcommunitythatwouldlinkgraduatestudentswithmentorsintheindustryandcommunity.HealsocontinuedtobeengagedinconversationsregardinglearningoutcomesoncampusandwasinvolvedthroughouttheyearinacademicgovernancereforminitiativesthroughtheGeneralFacultiesCouncilanditsstandingcommittees,whichworkedtoimplementtherecommendationsmadein2017inthefinalreportoftheadhocCommitteeonAcademicGovernanceandDelegatedAuthority.

• Firouzhasalsobeenengagedwithemergingconversationsoncampusrelatedtograduatestudents’academicrequirementsandexperiences,includingongoingdiscussionsaboutlearningoutcomes,discussingpotentialincreasestotheminimumFacultyofGraduateStudiesandResearchrequirementsfortheInternationalEnglishLanguageTestingSystemscores,modifyingthedeadlinesforpart-timestudentsforthecompletionoftheirIndividualDevelopmentPlans,andtheestablishmentofaCotutelleProgramattheUofA.

• ThroughSasha’scontinuedparticipationwiththeStudentHomelessnessProject,thisteamhasestablishedaproject

roadmapandestablishedaseriesofsubcommitteestoexploretopicssuchasfoodsecurity,homelessde-stigmatization,andfinancialsupports.Theteamwillalsoworkondevelopingmedium-termhousingandasocialserviceprogram.ItisanticipatedthatapilotprogramwilllaunchinSeptember2018.Additionally,progresscontinueswiththeCampusParentsProject,whichhasalsofinalizeditsprojectroadmapandispreparingtoresearchshort-termchildcareresources,lactationstations,breastfeedingfriendlyspacesandphysicalspaceanddesigntoaccommodatestudentswhoparent.

• MasoudandtheVice-PresidentStudentServices,Royle,continuetoconsultwithNursingstudentscompletingtheir

practicumsatMichenerParkontheirworktodevelopasurveytolearnaboutthetransitusageofgraduatestudentslivinginMichenerParkandmetwiththeseNursingstudentsonMarch27todiscusstheirfindings.Asanextstep,thedatacollectedthroughthissurveywillbesharedwiththeUniversity,thoughtherewasalowparticipationrateforthesurvey.

• SashainitiatedandworkedincollaborationwithvariousstakeholderstoprovidethefirstGraduateStudentSafetySession

onMarch13.ThissessionincludedpresentationsandsafetytipsfromUniversityofAlbertaProtectiveServices(UAPS),

Page 3: Letter to GSA Council for SWP Update - 16Apr2018 · Dear GSA Council Colleagues, April 6, 2018 As many of you may remember, my team and I began the development of the 2017-2018 GSA

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HelpingIndividualsatRisk(HIAR),andEnvironment,Health,andSafety(EHS).Onthetopicofcampussafety,theGSAhasalsobeeninvitedtoparticipateinanewCampusesandFacilitiesSafetyandSecurityWorkingGroup,whichhasbeenestablishedinresponsetoanincreasingnumberofreportsandincidentsassociatedwithsafetyandsecurityoncampusesandwithincertainUniversitybuildings.

• FollowingpressurefromtheSUandtheGSA,studentrepresentativesarenowincludedinconversationsregardingthe

developmentofUniversitypoliciesinresponsetotheupcominglegalisationofcannabis.RoylehasbeenparticipatingintheCannabisCommunityConsultationWorkingGroup,andweanticipatethatthisprojectwillgenerateafairmeasureofworkintheupcomingmonthsaslegalisationonJuly1fastapproaches.

• RoylehasalsobeeninvolvedinconversationsregardingthefutureintroductionofSmartFaretotheCityofEdmontonTransitSystem(ETS),andtheGSA,alongwithotherstakeholders,willbeadvocatingtoETSrepresentativesthatthenewsystemshouldincorporatetheU-Passinawaythatisbeneficialandstreamlinedforstudentusers.

• SashaadvocatedforaUniversitysystemofdealingwithanonymousmultiplecomplaintsbasedonanactualcaseofbringingtotheattentionoftheUniversityconcernsraisedbyagroupofstudentswithoutdisclosingtheiridentities.

• Finally,theGSAwaspleasedtohostaseriesofeventssinceourlastSWPupdatetoGSACouncilinJanuary,including

monthlyGSACoffeeBreaks,ourwintersocialeventinFebruarywhichwasverywellattended,theannualGSAAwardsNightonMarch23,andanewVolunteerAppreciationEventinMarchtothankgraduatestudentvolunteerswhoserveonourcommitteesfortheirdedication.Thankyoutoallwhoattendedtheseevents.

IwouldalsoliketoexpressmygratitudeandthankmyteamandtheGSAofficestaffforalloftheirhardworkandsupportthisyear.Asalways,Iwillbehappytoansweryourquestionsorconcerns.Sincerely,

BabakSoltannia,2017-2018GSAPresident


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