Graduate Students Association Elections Call for Applications:  

Executive Elections + Referenda

The GSA is operated by a Board of Directors, which consists of an elected Executive Committee and representatives from each department. The Executive Committee is comprised of a President & CEO, Vice-President Internal, Vice-President Finance, Vice-President Academic and Vice-President Community Engagement. 

Nomination Period: February 3 – March 4, 2025, 11:59 p.m. 
Campaign Period: March 15 – 19, 2025, 11:59 p.m. 
Voting Period: March 20 – 21 (up to 11:59 p.m.), 2025 
Elected Term: February 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025 

Duties of Graduate Students Association Executive Committee:

GSA PRESIDENT

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, the President is charged with the responsibility of carrying out the legislation, policies, by-laws, regulations, and resolutions of the corporation, supervises employees of the GSA, coordinates activities of operational bodies, represents the Corporation at official functions and public occasions, and ensures development of long-term goals, priorities, and policies. The President Chairs the GSA Grad Lounge sustainability Committee. Executive Officers rotate attendance at monthly Student Leaders and Administration meetings.      

GSA VICE-PRESIDENT INTERNAL

Responsible for establishing and maintaining communication with the GSA membership, maintains a listing of committees on which graduate students are represented, ensures graduate student membership and participation on such committees, acts as Chair for the GSA By-Laws and Constitution Committee, assists in coordinating elections/referendum procedures, is one of the representatives on the U.C. Board, participates on university committees dealing with matters of internal focus. Executive Officers rotate attendance at monthly Student Leaders and Administration meetings.    

GSA VICE-PRESIDENT FINANCE

Responsible for ensuring the keeping of permanent and accurate records of financial transactions of the Corporation and departments operating within the limitations of the Corporation, coordinating the preparation and presentation of a semesterly budget, acting as Chair of the GSA Finance and Honoraria Committees, member of the Grad Lounge Sustainability Committee; and responsible for internal communication relating to Student Health and Dental Plans. The V.P. Finance represents the GSA on the bi-weekly Compulsory Fee Committee (Fall term); and the Special Grants/Speakers Fund Committee; Student Health Advisory Committee, Late Appeals Committee, Student Financial Services Compulsory Fee Advisory Committee, and the Emergency Bursary Committee. Executive Officers rotate attendance at monthly Student Leaders and Administration meetings.

GSA VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC

Responsible for representing the GSA on academic-related committees including Student Senate Caucus, Admissions and Progress Committee, Board of Graduate Studies, Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, Library Student Services Committee, and being an ex-officio member on Senate. The V.P. Academic assists in organizing the Memorial Tree Ceremony and facilitates academic dispute resolution meetings. The V.P. Academic also oversees GSA club’s accreditation and advises clubs on bylaws development and supervises GSA events. 

GSA VICE-PRESIDENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Responsible for establishing and maintaining communication with university student associations and organizations within the University of Guelph and external to the university, specifically but not limited to the Canadian Federation of Students, the National Graduate Caucus; and the City of Guelph, communicating external and municipal issues affecting students to the Board of Directors.  The V.P. Community Engagement co-chairs the Transit Committee, whose voting members manage the Universal Bus Pass program. The V.P. Community Engagement supervises GSA communications and is responsible for sending out the monthly GSA newsletter. Executive Officers rotate attendance at monthly Student Leaders and Administration meetings.

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General Director Fall Elections

Nomination Period: September 16 – 25, 2024, 11:59 p.m. 
Campaign Period: September 26 to 27, 2024, 11:59 p.m. 
Voting Period: September 28 – 30 (up to 11:59 p.m.), 2024 
Elected Term: October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 

The Graduate Students Association (GSA) is the sole official representative body of graduate students at the University of Guelph. The GSA acts as a liaison between graduate students and University administration, with GSA representatives sitting on most University committees, presidential task forces, and boards. 

The GSA is operated by a Board of Directors, which consists of an elected Executive Committee, up to two (2) General Directors from each department and up to two (2) International Student Representatives; Indigenous Student Representatives; LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Representatives; and Black Student Representatives. 

Duties of Graduate Students’ Association General Directors

General Directors serve as the primary mode of communication between the GSA and their University departments or the graduate student communities they represent. General Directors are required to: 

1. Attend a monthly meeting of the GSA Board, held on the third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. 

2. Serve as a liaison between the GSA and graduate students in the departmental unit or community that they represent.  

3. Regularly monitor and respond appropriately to any correspondence that may be distributed by the executive. 

4. Represent the GSA on at least one GSA or University-level committee and provide a brief monthly written committee report to the GSA seven (7) days prior to each Board Meeting. 

5. Ensure that the activities of the GSA comply with the GSA mission statement and that they uphold the Human Rights Statement of the GSA and the University Human Rights Policy.  

General Director Nomination Process

• Eligibility: Full-time and part-time graduate students who are GSA members (according to GSA By-laws Section 2.0) intending to be enrolled for the Fall 2024, Winter and Spring/Summer 2024 semesters. The elected term is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. 
• Nomination Period (September 9 to 20 – 11:59 p.m.) Complete the self-nomination application form by the nomination deadline. 
• Campaigning Period (September 23 to 25 – 11:59 p.m.) Candidates can campaign for their position. All campaign materials must be approved by the CRO and must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the campaign period. This includes all use of social media (Facebook, twitter etc.). 
  No campaigning materials are permitted during the voting period. 
• Voting Period (September 26 & 27, 2024 – 11:59 p.m.) In the event of a single nomination for any department/representative community, there shall be a (yes/no) vote to ensure that the candidate is satisfactory to the membership. Please contact the GSA CRO for further information. 

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General Director Winter By-Elections for unfilled seats

Nomination Period: January 13 to 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m. 
Campaign Period: January 27 to 29, 2025, 11:59 p.m. 
Voting Period: January 30 & 31 (up to 11:59 p.m.), 2025 
Elected Term: February 2, 2025 – September 30, 2025 

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Appointment Process

Graduate students who are interested in filling a vacant General Director position from their academic unit or student community who have missed the Fall and/or Winter (by)election may be appointed by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors during a regularly scheduled board meeting. Appointment requests must be submitted to the Board as a Motion and should include a nomination statement that is no more than 150 words. Procedures for this appointment process must follow and be in accordance with Section 4.3.2 of the bylaws.

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Vacant General Director Positions