The2019-2020teamofGSADirectly-ElectedOfficers(DEOs)developedtheGSABoardStrategicWorkPlan(SWP)fromMaytoJune2019andpresentedthefinalizedPlantoGSACouncilinJuly2019.ThecompleteSWPisavailableontheGSAwebsite.BelowisthefinalupdateconcerningtheDEOs’progressinpursuingsomeofthemajorgoalsoutlinedinthe2019-2020SWP.Asthisdocumentisintendedasacomprehensivenarrativeofthe2019-2020strategiceffortsoftheGSADEOs,itincludessomereiterationoftheupdatesprovidedtoGSACouncilinOctober2019andJanuary2020.COVID-19InresponsetotheCOVID-19globalpandemic,theGSAisworkingtokeepgraduatestudentsinformedaboutUniversitydirectivesaswellaschangingpracticesandproceduresinthefaceofthegrowingneedforsocialdistancingmeasures.ThisincluderegularupdatesviatheGSAnewsletteraswellasanumberofspecialbulletinswhichcarry,amongothers,updatesontheGSAHealthandDentalPlan(withparticularregardtothetravelcoverage),FGSRacademicpolicies,andEdmontonTransitSystemservicechanges.PresidentFahedElianparticipatesindailyconferencecallsonthesituationalongwithprominentmembersofUniversityadministrationandAndrewSharman,Vice-President(FacilitiesandOperations)whoheadsthecrisisresponseteam.InaccordancewiththeUniversity’straveldirectives,theGSAceasedthedisbursementofGSAAcademicTravelGrantsforeventsrequiringtravel,butcontinuedtoofferfundingforeventsofferedonline.Additionally,theGSAhasrespondedtorisinggraduatestudentneedforfinancialsupportinthefaceofsocialdistancingmeasuresorquarantineproceduresbyprovidingadditionalfundsviatheGSAEmergencyBursary,pertheapprovalofVice-PresidentStudentServicesChantalLabonté.Anamountof$8,900hasbeendisbursedthroughthisavenueatthetimeofprint.ThebulkofGSAserviceshavecontinuedtobeofferedremotely,viabothemailandvirtualmeetings,followingtheclosureoftheGSAofficeinTriffoHallon17March2020,whichoccurredinaccordancewithUniversitydirectives.WeeklyRebootYourWritingsessionsofferedinpartnershipwiththeAcademicSuccessCentrealsocontinuedtobeoffered,remotely.TheCampusFoodBank,whichreceivesagrantfromtheGSA(increasedforthe2020-2021fiscalyear),hassimilarlycontinuedtooperatetomeetthegrowingneedsofitsusers,manyofwhomareinternationalgraduatestudents.Furthermore,Dr.BrookeMilne(Vice-ProvostandDeanofFacultyofGraduateStudiesandResearch(FGSR))invitedtheGSAtoparticipateinaspecialvodcasttoanswersomeofthemostpressingconcernsofgraduatestudents.PresidentFahedElianandVice-PresidentAcademicDylanAshleyparticipated,andthevodcastwaslaunchedon31March2020.ItcanbefoundHERE.WithrespecttotheSpring/Summer2020terms,theGSAhasparticipatedinanumberofdiscussionsbasedonthetemporaryeliminationofcertainMandatoryNon-InstructionalFees(MNIFS)associatedwithservicesthatstudentsareunabletoaccess.Atthetimeofprint,theUniversityhasagreedthatstudentswillnotbeassessedtheAthleticsandRecreationfee,thePAWCentrefee,ortheSpring2020U-Passfee.Furtherupdatesareforthcoming.AsresponsestoCOVID-19,andtheassociatedeffectsofthoseresponses,remaineverevolving,discussionsareongoinginthisarea.

ImprovingStudent-SupervisorRelationshipsGSADEOshaveexpendedsignificanteffortinthisarea.WorkoverthepastseveralmonthshasfocusedonmeetingswithDr.Milne,whoseongoinggoalistoimproveoverallFGSRpoliciesandprocedures.Dr.Milnehas,afterextensiveconsultationwiththeGSA,developedmechanismsthatwillhelptoguidegraduatestudent-supervisorrelationshipsandprovidefeedbackonastudent’sacademicprogressthroughouttheirgraduateprogram.ThesemechanismsarenowslatedforfinalapprovalinFall2020andexpectedimplementationinWinter2021,followingapilotprograminseveraldepartments(currently,nodelaysareexpectedinreactiontotheCOVID-19pandemic).Vice-PresidentAcademicDylanAshley,alongsidePresidentFahedElian,advocatedextensivelyforthecreationofthesemechanismsatvariouslevelsofUniversitygovernance.Furthermore,Vice-PresidentStudentServicesChantalLabontéandVice-PresidentAcademicDylanAshleygaveapresentationontheimportanceofexemplarygraduatestudentsupervisionattheStudentAdvisors’Conferenceon5March2020.ContinuedadvocacyhasalsoyieldedtheFGSRdevelopmentofasupervisorycollegeproposal,membershipofwhichisrequiredforfacultywhowishtosupervisegraduatestudents.Membersofthiscollegewouldundergotrainingandbepenalizedforsupervisoryinfractions.FormaldiscussionsofthisproposalbeganinJanuary2020inFGSRCouncil.VariousDEOsalsoparticipateregularlyinotherprojectsaimedatimprovingthequalityofgraduatestudentsupervision–asanexample,Vice-PresidentAcademicDylanAshleyandVice-PresidentStudentServicesChantalLabontéwillbothbefeaturedinanupcomingFGSRpodcastseriesoneffectivesupervision.MichenerParkClosureWorkaddressingtheclosureofthismajorgraduatestudentresidencehasfocusedonadvocacyforsupportforstudents,abulkofwhomareinternationalstudentsand/orstudentswhoparent.ThispastyearhasseenthecreationoftheMichenerParkTransitionAdvisoryCommittee(MPTAC)withthesupportofVice-PresidentExternalMarcWaddingham,whoisco-chairofthiscommittee.ThemandateofMPTAChasfocusedonconnectingMichenerParkresidentswithcommunityandUniversityresources.TuitionandFundingThismajorstrategicpriorityofthe2019-2020yearhasresultedincountlessupdatestoGSACouncilandGSAmembers,inparticularsincethereleaseoftheprovincialbudgetanditsimmediateandsignificantimpactonthebudgetoftheUniversity.Acrosstheprovince,graduatestudentswillseesignificanttuitionfeeincreases,oftenuptothemaximum7%allowedbygovernment.Whilecontinuingdomesticcourse-basedstudentsattheUofAwillseea7%increase,advocacyspearheadedbyPresidentFahedElianhasresultedinanagreementwhereincontinuingdomesticthesis-basedstudentswillhavearebateappliedtothe7%increase,suchthattheactualincreasepaidbythemwillbe2.67%(tuitionratesforcontinuinginternationalcourse-basedandthesis-basedstudentshavingbeensetearlierat4%and2.67%(afterapplicationofthesamerebateprovidedforcontinuingdomesticthesis-basedstudents),respectively).Initialdiscussionsproposeda7%increaseacrosstheboard.TheUniversitywillalsosetasideanadditional15%oftheseincreasesforfinancialsupportforgraduatestudents.Labour,CollectiveAgreement,andHealthandSafetyMattersTheVice-PresidentLabour,ShanawazMohammad,incollaborationwiththeGSALabourRelationsCommittee(GSALRC),continuedthenegotiationforthe2018-2020CollectiveAgreementforAcademically-EmployedGraduateStudents(AEGSs)overthesummerandearlyfallof2019.ThisagreementwasratifiedbyAEGSsinOctober2019andbytheUniversityBoardofGovernorsinDecember2019.

WorkhasnowcommencedforthenegotiationofthenextCollectiveAgreementforAEGSs,withadigitaltownhallhavingtakenplaceon19March2020.FeedbackfromAEGSsconcerningwhattheywanttheGSAtobargainforisalsobeingsolicitedviaotherelectronicmeans.Next,theGSALRCwilldrafttheGSA’sbargainingmandateusingthisinformationandAEGSswillthenvoteonthismandatebeforeitissubmittedtotheUniversityastheGSA’sOpeningPositiontocommencebargaining.After1May2020,thisworkwillbeledbyincomingVice-PresidentLabourUmeshNimmathi.Additionally,thisyeartheGSAhasretainedlegalcounselthatspecializesinlabourlawandunionmattersforassistancewithnegotiations.TheVice-PresidentLabourShanawazMohammadalsocontinueshisadvocacyworkaroundthedevelopmentofmandatoryhealthandsafetytrainingforemploymentsupervisors(includingthosesupervisinggraduatestudents)oncampus.Healsohasworkeddirectlywithgraduatestudentstoaddressreportedissuesofsafetyandsecurityforstudentsmorebroadlyoncampus.Morespecifically,theVice-PresidentLabourandtheVice-PresidentStudentServicesChantalLabontéhaveconsultedwithkeystakeholdersontheimplementationofstandardsrelatingtopsychologicalhealthandsafetylegislation,underwhichtheUniversityisexpectedtooperateasof1July2020.GSAHealthandDentalPlanWiththe2014-2020agreementwithStudentcareexpiringon31August2020,theGSAinitiatedalengthyRequestforProposalsprocessbysolicitingproposalsfromanumberofstudenthealthanddentalplanadministrators.PresidentFahedElianandVice-PresidentStudentServicesChantalLabonté(withfurtherassistancefromVice-PresidentAcademicDylanAshley)reviewedtheseproposalsandconductedinterviewsbeforeultimatelyrecommendingthattheGSABoardcontinuetherelationshipwithStudentcare.TheGSAhasnowcommencednegotiationswithStudentcareforanewagreement,whichisexpectedtoincludeadditionalsponsorshipfundsfromStudentcare.ThisprocessisexpectedtobefinalizedinApril2020.SupportforStudentsImpactedbyPS752TragedyTheunexpectedtragedyofPS752warrantedparticularattentioninJanuary.AlongsideUniversityPresident,DavidTurpin;EdmontonMayor,DonIveson;AlbertaPremier,JasonKenney;andPrimeMinister,JustinTrudeau,PresidentFahedElianattendedtheUniversity’sMemorialServiceon12January2020andexpressedhiscondolences.Alsoinattendancewereclosefriendsandfamiliesofthevictimsandotherprominentmembersofthecommunity.LaterdiscussionswithDeanofStudents,Dr.AndréCostopoulos,amongothers,werefocusedonprovidingongoingsupporttograduatestudentsimpactedbythelosspersonallyaswellasacademically.TheGSAadvocatedtoHeatherMcPherson,MemberofParliament,aswellastoDeputyPrimeMinisterChrystiaFreeland,forspecialconsiderationforinternationalstudentswhosevisaapplicationsandstudypermitswereimpactedbythistragedy.TheGSAfurthercontributedtotheseeffortsviaspecialdisbursementofGSAEmergencyBursariesforthoseimpacted.AplaquememorializingthelivesofthegraduatestudentslostinthetragedyhasalsobeendesignedandwillbedisplayedintheGSAloungeatthemainentranceofTriffoHall.

SupportforIndigenousStudentsTheGSA’sworktosupportIndigenousgraduatestudentstooktwoforms:firstly,withthesupportofAndrewSharman,Vice-President(FacilitiesandOperations),atemporaryspaceinHUBMallhasbeenidentifiedfortheIndigenousGraduateStudents’Association(IGSA),allowingthemtoestablishahomeofficeuntilmorepermanentarrangementscanbemade.ThisphysicalspacewillempowertheIGSAtofulfiltheirmandateandcontinuetheiroperationsonalong-termbasis.Secondly,extensiveconsultationwiththeIGSAaswellasDr.FlorenceGlanfield,Vice-Provost(IndigenousProgrammingandResearch),ledtothepilotphaseoftheSupportingAboriginalGraduateEnhancement(SAGE)program,whichkickedoffinJanuary2020.FGSRhasprovidedofficespacefortheprograminTriffoHallandhashiredagraduatestudentundertheCollectiveAgreementasthegraduatecoordinatorforSAGE.

Lastly,inordertobetterequiptheGSAtocontinuetheworkofsupportingIndigenousstudents,DEOsandmembersoftheGSAstaffunderwentIndigenousculturalcompetencytraining.ThistrainingwasprovidedbytheBenCalfRobeSociety.

OtherKeyProjectsOtherkeyprojectsundertakenbytheDEOsinthe2019-2020year(notincludingregularadvisingandassistanceprovidedtonumerousindividualgraduatestudentsthroughouttheyear)include,butarenotlimitedto:OngoingworkassociatedwiththeSuicidePreventionFrameworkproject,withaparticularfocusondevelopingaToolkittofacilitategrievingandcopingwithoff-andon-campusdeaths;● ExtensiveongoingworktosupportgraduatestudentswhoparentincollaborationwiththeOfficeoftheDean

ofStudents.Amongothers,theseeffortsresultedinthehostingofaHalloweeneventforsmallchildren,andmostsignificantly,thecreationofaninfantandchildcare/feedingspaceinTriffoHall;

● NewpartnershipswiththeAlumniAssociationandtheCommunitySocialWorkTeamtocreatethegraduatestudentspecificCollectiveTeaTime,intendedtogivegraduatestudentstheopportunitytomakesocialconnections.ThisprogramwasbrieflysuspendedinthewakeoftheCOVID-19pandemicbutisresuming,virtually,on17April2020;

● ContinuedinvolvementwiththeAlbertaGraduateProvincialAdvocacyCouncil(ab-GPAC)asitrampsupitsworkasanadvocacy/lobbyingorganizationforgraduatestudentsacrosstheprovince,aswellasparticipationinmeetingsoftheCanadianAllianceofStudentAssociations,allowingtheGSAtoengageinadvocacyatthefederallevel;

● TheCharterofStudentRights,spearheadedbytheStudents’Union(SU)forthebenefitofallundergraduateandgraduatestudents.TheGSAproposedtheadditionofasectiondedicatedtograduatestudentswhich,whilenotingalltheotherrightslistedapplyequallytoundergraduateandgraduatestudents,alsofocusesonthespecificrightsandresponsibilitiesofAEGSs,giventheiruniquepositionasstudents,researchers,andemployeesoftheUniversity.ThefinaldocumentwillbepresentedtotheGeneralFacultiesCouncil(GFC)on20April2020forapproval;

• Furtherdevelopmentofinstitutionalframeworkandmechanismswithinab-GPAC,withaparticularemphasisonupdatedon-boardingproceduresandgovernmentrelationstraining,aswellastheestablishmentofclosertieswithpartnerGSAs.ThisworkwasspearheadedbyVice-PresidentExternalMarcWaddinghamasVice-Chairofab-GPAC,andPresidentFahedElianasaDirectorofab-GPAC;

• Significantprovincialadvocacyworkforthebettermentofthegraduatestudentexperience,facilitatedviatheorganizationofandattendanceatanumberofdemonstrationsandprotests,suchasthe“StudentsNotSilent”march,whichurgedthegovernmenttomakebudgetaryconsiderationsforAlbertapost-secondaryinstitutionsandtheirstudents,andthe“RedforEd”marchonbehalfofteachersandotherpublicsectoremployeeswhoseworkwasimpactedbytheprovincialbudget.Upcomingelementsofthisongoingadvocacyworkinclude:anopenletterpennedbyab-GPAC,CouncilofAlbertaUniversityStudents(CAUS),andAlbertaStudents’ExecutiveCouncil(ASEC),urgingtheprovincialgovernmenttosuspendtheimplementationoftheperformance-basedfundingframeworkforpost-secondaryinstitutionsinthefaceoftheCOVID-19pandemic,andaprovince-wideadvertisementcampaign,detailsofwhichareforthcoming;

• FurtheradvocacyeffortsattheprovincialandfederallevelshasfocusedonthedevelopmentofanimmigrationstreamtailoredtoInternationalstudentswhoseresearchandexpertisebenefitthelocaleconomy.Theseeffortshaveyieldedanumberofpositivediscussionswithgovernmentstakeholdersandwelookforwardtoofferingfutureupdatesinthisvein.