GSA Standing Committees
Constitution and Bylaws
Description: This Committee provides a critical examination and evaluation of the By-Laws and any proposed change(s) to the By-Laws and to ensure the integrity of the By-Laws. It also makes recommendations for change(s) to GSA Governing policy, if any, at the AGM and, where necessary, at the Board of Directors. It is responsible for reviewing any referendum question(s) referred by the Board of Directors.
Number of Seats: 4 General Directors
Finance Committee
Description: This Committee advances the academic goals of graduate students as per the mission statement of the GSA. It works within the GSA budget to allocate bursaries and awards, and annually reviews honoraria compensation.
Number of Seats: 4 General Directors
Grad Lounge Sustainability Committee
Description: To initiate the development of strategic goals that ensure sound management and stable Grad Lounge operations. The G.L. was set up to operate as a financially independent entity, operating 12 months of the year, with the exception of the l2 weeks in August and the last 2 weeks of December.
Number of Seats: 3 General Directors & GSA Activities and Communications Coordinator
GSA Equity Committee
Description: Currently, the GSA does not have a standing committee with a mandate to oversee social justice or equity issues of interest to graduate students. This ad-hoc committee will act to monitor any events occurring on campus and work to highlight ways in which the GSA can act to help provide equity to equity seeking groups. In addition, the committee will also oversee concerns including but not limited to LGBTQ+, Black, and Indigenous students’ rights. Establishing this community allows the Board to move in-depth conversations on these issues from regular boards meetings to a dedicated space.
Number of Seats: 4 General Directors
CSA/GSA Joint Committees
Transit Committee
Description: This Committee manages the Student U-Pass and Late Night Agreements, held with the City of Guelph. The Committee deals with transit-related issues.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Health and Dental Plan Committee
Description : This Committee makes decisions regarding the student health and dental plans at the University of Guelph
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Fee Advisory Committees
Athletics Advisory Committee
Description : This Committee advises the President of the University of Guelph and the Director of Athletics on policy matters regarding the athletics programs, and use of athletics facilities at the University of Guelph including: student fees, athletics budget, new athletic centre, intramurals, etc.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Compulsory Fees Advisory Committee
Description : This Committee is advisory to the Compulsory Fees Committee on matters dealing with programs funded all or in part by the SSF. Specifically, on an annual basis, each SSF Advisory Committee shall provide the following: a qualitative assessment of the programs funded; an analysis of the expenditures against the budgets for each program area; recommendations for changes to be made in programs or budgets for the future.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Wellness Advisory Group
Description :
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
University Committees
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Committee
Description: This Group works to gain a snapshot of the situation on campuses across Canada and on our campus. It also reviews best practices regarding alcohol education, programming, and discipline options. It also reviews educational, training, programming and discipline initiatives presently in place on the Guelph campuses and makes recommendations to the Alcohol Safety Committee and senior Administration for change, if warranted.
ON HOLD
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Animal Care Committee
Description : This Committee oversees the care of animals used for research, testing or teaching occurring with any location that operates under the auspices of the University of Guelph. It ensures that animals will receive care and treatment that meets or exceeds the standards outlined by the provincial guidelines and statutes, and by the Guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. It also reviews protocols for the use of animals in either research or teaching with attention to the three “r”s asking: can animals be replaced in this program? Can the number of animals be reduced? Can the procedures be refined to lessen the pain and distress of the animals?
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Co-Curricular Experiential Learning Committee
Description : Reviews proposals for co-curricular activities under the banner of the Experiential Learning Team.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Code of Ethical Conduct Committee
Description: To provide information and support to the University community and campus organizations with respect to the Code and these Procedures.
ON HOLD
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Mental Health & Well-Being Advisory Committee
Description : ON HOLD – Pending completion of the President’s Task Force on Mental Health
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Food Security Committee
Description : Currently I do not have an official mandate for this committee; however, this committee is concerned with improving food security issues for students on campus. There has lately been an emphasis on addressing international student food security issues and improving the university’s Food Bank. This committee has asked for a graduate student representative who is also international.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director and 1 Executive
Human Rights Advisory Group
Description : The Advisory Group is critical to, among other things, advising the Assistant Vice-President (DHR) on revisions to the human rights policy which arise from the periodic formal review, selecting individuals who will serve the community as human rights resource persons and giving the DHR general advice on human rights within the University of Guelph context. appointment of the Human Rights Resource Persons under 11.3.1 by action through a subcommittee of HRAG.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Hospitality Services Advisory Committee
Description : This Committee provides a structured and open forum whereby unbiased representation from various user groups will evaluate and review various policy and operational aspects of Hospitality Services. It also acts as an open channel of communication for members of the University community to register their concerns and/ or suggestions concerning departmental policy. The committee acts in an advisory and consultative capacity, responsible to the Executive Director of Hospitality Services.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Digital and Technology Advisory Committee
Description : aims to get feedback on different IT projects and operations from different members from academic, administrative, and service delivery functions.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Judicial Committee
Description : This Committee hears and judges alleged infractions of non-academic behaviour as outlined in the document Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
OUTline Committee
Description : This Committee provides peer support and information services on issues relating to sexual orientation and gender diversity to all individuals and families in the University of Guelph and surrounding community, especially those in the early stages of the coming out experiences and those most at risk. It also provides strategic direction to OUTline’s programs and services in the short and longer term, and ensure on-going accountability to students for funding received via the student levy.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Life Award
Description : Discusses and selects nominations for various student life awards
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Wellness EDI
Description :
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
Student Experience Advisory Committee
Description : The Student Experience Advisory Committee is established annually to advise on programs and services within Student Experience, with emphasis on taking a holistic perspective of program and service needs within the department’s budget context. This committee reports annually to the Compulsory Fees Committee on the compulsory non-tuition ancillary fees received by Student Experience.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director
GenEq Advisory Committee
Description: GenEq is dedicated to advancing gender equity on campus, supporting leadership opportunities for women, and fostering an inclusive environment for all. The GenEQ Advisory Group use an inclusive definition of women that encompasses cisgender, transgender, intersex, and genderqueer women and encourage participation from individuals who are Two Spirit and/or gender nonconforming (e.g., non-binary, agender, bigender, and gender fluid). Diversity of perspectives is important in our work to better understand the experiences of all women in our University community.
Include a brief statement on why you are interested in gender equity.
Number of Seats: 1 General Director