Bylaw
The overarching document of the association is the Bylaw, which provides high-level guidance for the organization in support of its mission, vision and values. This document is enacted by the GSA membership through either a campus-wide referendum or a General Members meeting, both mechanisms allow every graduate student the opportunity to vote on recommended changes.
2021-2026 Strategic Plan
Committed to Students, Connected to Community is our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan. Also known as Document 007A, the Strategic Plan is the first in the GSA’s history and represents our commitment to members on several issues that we want to address over the next five years. This plan is the product of conversations, consultations, and deliberations over the course of eighteen months during 2019-2021.
Approved by the Board of Directors and the broader membership at the GSA’s Annual General Meeting in April 2021, the plan commits the GSA and its staff and volunteers to a new mission, vision, and values along with specific strategic priorities. These priorities and goals will inform an ongoing Strategic Action / Annual Plan, guiding organizational direction and individual goals of GSA leadership.
Ancillary Fee Schedules
The GSA Membership also has the opportunity to approve additional ancillary fees, as well as amend existing fees. These changes can be enacted through either a general election (known as a referendum) or through a general meeting of the membership. Such a vote by the membership binds the association to operating within the parameters of the related documentation, in this case, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for each fee respectively.
Policies
In addition to the Bylaw and memorandum of understandings (MOU), the foundational documents of the organization, we also have legislation that expand and support what is specified by members through the Bylaw. These documents are known as Policies and outline various aspects of our governance and operational structures.
Legislation, Organization, Board of Directors and Governance
010 – Legislative Framework Policy
This policy outlines the types of legislation that govern the GSA, including external legislation (Federal, Provincial, Regional, Municipal laws) and internal legislation (GSA policies, schedules, procedures).
Click here to view Document 010C – Legislative Framework Policy
011 – Full Membership Policy
This policy further outlines any additional privileges that come with being a full member of the GSA, beyond what is already stated in Article 4, Section 1 of our Bylaw (Document 001). This policy also includes an outline of the structure of transitory membership and provisional statuses applied to members who do not fit into the traditional membership corridor.
Click here to view Document 011B – Full Membership Policy
012 – Associate Membership Policy
This policy further outlines any additional privileges that come with various membership groups of the GSA, beyond what is already stated in Article 4, Section 2 of our Bylaw (Document 001).
Click here to view Document 012D- Associate Membership Policy
013 – Honorary Membership Policy
This policy further outlines any additional privileges that come with various membership groups of the GSA, beyond what is already stated in Article 4, Section 2 of our Bylaw (Document 001).
Click here to view Document 013C – Honorary Membership Policy
014 – Ambassador Policy
This policy establishes the GSA Ambassador Program; a program which highlights individuals who wish to sustain relationships with the GSA after they are no longer directly associated with the GSA. The structure of this program shall act as a framework to explore the creation of a dedicated class of membership, formalizing the relationship of all ambassadors with the GSA.
Click here to view Document 014B – Ambassador Policy
015 – Board of Directors Policy
This policy outlines the structure, role and responsibilities of the GSA Board of Directors.
Click here to view Document 015C – Board of Directors Policy
016 – Board Member Policy
This policy outlines the scope of a Board Member, as well as their purpose, term length, role, responsibilities and legislation all Board Members must comply with during their term.
Click here to view Document 016A – Board Member Policy
017 – Board Leadership Policy
The policy serves a purpose of outlining the structure and election process for an independent Chair and Vice-Chair of the GSA Board of Directors.
Click here to view Document 017B – Board Leadership Policy
018 – Program Assembly Policy
This policy outlines the structure of the GSA Program Assembly. The Program Assembly is intended to provide graduate students the opportunity to raise concerns from their individual programs to the attention of the GSA, as well as acting as a means of communication between various programs.
Click here to view Document 018A – Program Assembly Policy
019 – Program Delegate Policy
This policy outlines the scope of a Program Delegate, as well as their purpose, term length, role, responsibilities and legislation all Program Delegates must comply with during their term.
Click here to view Document 019A – Program Delegate Policy
President, Vice-Presidents and Associate Vice-Presidents
020 – President Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA President . This policy details the roles qualifications, term length, responsibilities, etc.
Click here to view Document 020C – President Policy
021 – Deputy President Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Deputy President. This policy details the roles qualifications, term length, responsibilities, etc.
Click here to view Document 021C – Deputy President Policy
022 – Past President Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Past President. This policy details include qualifications, term length, responsibilities, and appointment.
023 – Vice-President Student Engagement Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Vice-President Student Engagement. This policy details include qualifications, term length, responsibilities, and performance appraisal and remuneration.
Click here to view Document 023B – Vice-President Student Engagement Policy
024 – Vice-President External and University Affairs Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Vice-President External and University Affairs. This policy details the roles qualifications, term length, responsibilities, etc.
Click here to view Document 024B – Vice-President External and University Affairs Policy
025 – Vice-President Communications and Advancement Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Vice-President Communications and Advancement. This policy details include qualifications, term length, responsibilities, and performance appraisal and remuneration.
Click here to view Document 025C – Vice-President Communications and Advancement Policy
026 – Vice-President Student Life and Equity Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Vice-President Student Life and Equity. This policy details the roles qualifications, term length, responsibilities, etc.
Click here to view Document 026B – Vice-President Student Life and Equity Policy
027 – Associate Vice-Presidents Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Association Vice-Presidents (AVP). This policy details include position creation, term length and responsibilities.
Click here to view Document 027A – Associate Vice-Presidents Policy
028 – Senate Representatives Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that provides structure and guidance on the role and responsibilities of the GSA Senate Representatives. This policy details include position creation, term length and responsibilities.
Click here to view Document 028A – Senate Representatives Policy
029 – Executive and AVP Performance Appraisal Policy
This policy outlines the structure of evaluating the performance of GSA Officers (President, Vice-Presidents, AVPs) and provides further guidance for team members in setting expectations for those under review, as well as those conducting the review.
Click here to view Document 029C – Executive AVP Performance and Appraisal Policy
Staff and Employee Operations
030 – Executive Director Policy
This policy outlines the broad scope and responsibilities of the GSA Executive Director, the organizations more senior staff member. This policy is not a job description.
Click here to view Document 030A – Executive Director Policy
034 – Organizational Chart Policy
This policy provides Members of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Association Staff as well as the GSA broader membership with a clear understanding of the structure of the Graduate Students’ Association.
Click here to view Document 034B – Organizational Chart Policy
Elections, Referenda, Recruitment, Appointments and
General Meetings
040 – Elections and Referenda Policy
This policy outlines the structure of GSA elections and referenda; it is the responsibility of the Chief Returning Offer (CRO) to interpret this policy at the time of elections. This policy overviews content like definitions, principles, administration, nomination process and referenda questions.
Click here to view Document 040C – Elections and Referenda Policy
041 – General Meetings Policy
This policy outlines a clear framework for the management of General Meetings (Annual General Meeting – AGM, Special General Meeting – SGM), supporting the Chair in ensuring that content is addressed effectively in the allotted time. This policy also helps while also setting expectations for member engagement and clarifying the authority of various groups participating.
042 – Returning Officer Policy
This policy is a position-based policy that outlines the role and responsibilities of the GSA Returning Officer (RO), as well as the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO). This policy may be further supplemented by specific procedures approved by the GSA Executive.
043 – President & CEO Recruitment and Appointment Policy
This policy outlines and provides assurance to the GSA and the Board of Directors, as well as the membership at large, that any vacancies within the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) are addressed in a transparent, accountable, fair, effective and equitable way.
Click here to view Document 043A – President & CEO Recruitment and Appointment Policy
044 – Vice-President Recruitment and Appointment Policy
This policy outlines and provides assurance to the GSA and the Board of Directors, as well as the membership at large, that any vacancies within a Vice-Presidential portfolio are addressed in a transparent, accountable, fair, effective and equitable way.
Click here to view Document 044A – Vice-Presidential Recruitment and Appointment Policy
045 – Associate Vice-President Recruitment and Appointment Policy
This policy outlines and provides assurance to the GSA and the Board of Directors, as well as the membership at large, that any vacancies within an Associate Vice-Presidential position are addressed in a transparent, accountable, fair, effective and equitable way.
Click here to view Document 045A – Associate Vice-President Recruitment and Appointment Policy
046 – Executive Eligibility Policy
The purpose of this policy is to provide clarity on and enhance the Executive
eligibility requirements outlined within Article Seven, Section I of Document 001,
as well as within Document 040.
Click here to view Document 046C – Executive Eligibility Policy
047 – Mandated Organizational Leave Policy
This policy provides a clear outline for when Executive, Board and Committee members of the GSA must take a leave from their role. Specifically, when mandated leave must be applied during an election period of the GSA, in order to assist in minimizing the advantages inherent to incumbents.
Click here to view Document 047A – Mandated Organizational Leave Policy
Committees
050 – Committees Policy
This policy outlines the standing committees of the Board of Directors: Executive Committee; Governance, Elections and Nominating Committee; Student Engagement Committee; Communications & Advancement Committee; External Affairs Committee, and Equity & Inclusion Committee. This policy also outlines the existence of ad-hoc committees.
051 – Executive Committee Policy
This policy outlines the role and responsibility of the Executive Committee. As a standing committee of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in relation to the overall management and direction of the GSA, as well as providing goal-setting, guidance and general support.
Click here to view Document 051A – Executive Committee Policy
052 – Governance, Elections and Nominating Committee Policy
This policy outlines the role and responsibility of the Governance, Elections and Nominating Committee. This committee assists the Board in in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in relation to the overall management and direction of the GSA, as well as providing goal-setting, guidance and general support.
Click here to view Document 052A – Governance, Elections and Nominating Committee Policy
053 – Student Engagement Committee Policy
This policy outlines the role and responsibility of the Student Engagement Committee. This committee assists the Board in in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in relation to the overall management and direction of the GSA, as well as providing goal-setting, guidance and general support.
Click here to view Document 053A – Student Engagement Committee Policy
054 – External Affairs Committee Policy
This policy outlines the role and responsibility of the External Affairs Committee. This committee assists the Board in in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in relation to the overall management and direction of the GSA, as well as providing goal-setting, guidance and general support.
Click here to view Document 054A – External Affairs Committee Policy
055 – Communications & Advancement Committee Policy
This policy outlines the role and responsibility of the Communications & Advancement Committee. This committee assists the Board in in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in relation to the overall management and direction of the GSA, as well as providing goal-setting, guidance and general support.
Click here to view Document 055A – Communications & Advancement Committee Policy
056 – Equity and Inclusion Committee Policy
This policy outlines the role and responsibility of the Equity and Inclusion Committee. This committee assists the Board in in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in relation to the overall management and direction of the GSA, as well as providing goal-setting, guidance and general support.
Click here to view Document 056A- Equity and Inclusion Committee Policy
Under our Bylaw and Legislation Policy (Document 010), policies are divided into two groups. The first are Policies; these are documents that expand on stipulations outlined in the Bylaw, and approved by the Board of Directors after two affirmative readings. Additionally, while they are reviewed on a rolling four-year basis, they remain active until the Board authorizes their amendment or removal.
Position Policies
Unlike policies, Position Policies are stances taken by the GSA in response to issues that may arise on an ongoing basis. They are approved by the Executive and expire automatically. They inform lobbying priorities and support the GSA’s advocacy efforts.