Director Elections and Referenda

Director Elections & Referendum – SPRING 2025

Hello Graduate Students,

The nominations period for the GSS Elections and Referendum have closed. Below is a list of the candidate for the election as well as the links to the official sides of the referendum. The referendum question and background as well as more information about the elections, positions and the timeline are all included below.

There will be a Referendum Information event on March 12th @ 3pm followed by a Meet the Candidates event on March 12th @ 4pm in the GSS Lounge on Burnaby Campus (2212 Maggie Benston Centre). Refreshments, snacks and pizza will be available at these events. A full list of referendum information sessions is below:

March 12th @ 3pm | March 18th @ 3 pm | March 27th @ 3 pm

GSS Lounge, 2212 Maggie Benston Centre, Burnaby Campus

OFFICIAL SIDE FOR REFERENDUM

The GSS Executive Committee has been confirmed as the official “Yes” side for the Health & Dental Plan Fee Cap referendum. You can see the referendum question below and you can read the Yes Campaign information here.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL RELATIONS

Aryana Mohammed >>> Candidate Profile

Maryam Farrahi Farimani >>> Candidate Profile

Dannah DeSouza >>> Candidate Profile

DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE SERVICES

Simran Mehta >>> Candidate Profile

DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Remi Makinde >>> Candidate Profile

DIRECTOR POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The following GSS Director positions are being elected this term. All director positions require the directors to be in regular contact and dialogue with their colleagues, GSS Councillors, staff and graduate students more generally. These positions are not simply representative positions, all directors have specific responsibilities and tasks.

Director of Internal Relations >> Terms of Reference – Assists with the planning and coordination of council meetings while maintaining regular communications with caucuses. Also serves as the chair of the governance committee to oversee policy changes and recommendations.

Director of Graduate Services >> Terms of Reference – Acts as the steward for all of the membership services provided by the GSS including the UPass, Health and Dental Plan, and Financial Aid programs while also advocating for services provided by the University.

Director of External Relations >> Terms of Reference – Serves as the primary contact for external organizations which include government bodies, the University President’s office, community organizations and other student societies both at and outside of SFU. Advocates on issues of housing, tuition, national research funding and immigration.

FEATURES OF THESE POSITIONS:

Open to all current SFU graduate students, including international students
Stipend is approximately $6000/semester
Work an average of 50 hours per month
Sit on the Executive Committee and Council
Be an advocate for rights and interests of grad students
Help steward the services and projects of the GSS
Plan events, socials and build community for students
1 Year Term: May 1st, 2025 until April 30th, 2026

Referendum: GSS Health & Dental Plan Fee Cap

The following referendum question has been approved by the GSS Council and the background information has been prepared by executive committee:

WHEREAS the most recent survey of GSS members indicates that approximately 90% want the GSS to provide graduate students with a Health & Dental Plan,

WHEREAS the 2024-25 plan, while being subsidized, had a significant reduction in benefits from the previous years’ plan,

WHEREAS the unpredictable increases to the cost of the plan due to inflation and plan usage can require cuts in benefits or more frequent referendums to increase the fee cap inorder to maintain benefits,

WHEREAS the $98.37 per member subsidy in 2023-24 and the $34.08 per member subsidy in 2024-25, provided by the GSS benefit plan contingency fund, cannot be sustained long-term,

WHEREAS the GSS Health & Dental Plan fee cap represents the maximum fee that could be charged for the benefit plan,

WHEREAS the GSS Council will continue to set the annual Health and Dental plan fees within the fee cap,

WHEREAS the GSS Health & Dental Plan fee cap is increased annually at the inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index and reported by Statistics Canada,

WHEREAS the plan fee charged to members aims to be affordable and must remain below the fee cap,

WHEREAS the GSS Council has approved a two-tier model beginning 2025-26 for the GSS Health & Dental plan, which will offer a comprehensive plan, and a standard plan,

WHEREAS the 2025-26 two-tier model offers a standard plan (similar to the 2024-25 plan) at a fee estimated to be approximately $75 lower than that of a comprehensive plan (similar to the 2023-24 plan),

WHEREAS the fee for the comprehensive plan, based on the latest quotes from insurance providers, averages $628,

WHEREAS the fee for the standard plan, based on the latest quotes from insurance providers, averages $555,

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the current $607 GSS Health & Dental Plan fee cap be increased to $675 for the 2025-2026 academic year.

** Please note that the ballot will require you to vote “Yes” or “No” to the referendum question.

IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES

Notice of Elections & Referendum: January 27th @ 3 pm
Nominations Open: January 27th @ 3 pm
- Nomination Information Session: February 5th @ 11 am
- Nomination Information Session: February 26th @ 11 am
Referendum Nominations Close: February 11th @ 12 noon
- Approval of Official Sides by GSS Council: February 11th @ 4 pm
Elections Nominations Close: March 3rd @ 11:59 pm
Mandatory Candidate Q&A Session: TBD
Candidate Profile Submission Deadline: TBD
Referendum Campaigning Open: Feb 14th @ 12 noon
Elections Open Campaigning: March 6th @ 12 noon
- Presenting at GSS Council: March 11th @ 4 pm
- Meet the Candidates (Public Event): March 12th @ 4 pm
Close Campaigning: March 31st @ 11:59 pm
Open Online Polling: April 2nd @ 3 pm
Close Online Polling: April 7th @ 11:59 pm
Announcement of Results: April 11th @ 12:00 noon

BY-LAWS AND REGULATION

Elections and referenda, collectively known as electoral undertakings, are governed by the documents below.

Constitution and By-Laws (page 20)

R1010 Electoral Undertaking Regulation

QUESTIONS?

Email the Electoral Committee at ec@sfugradsociety.ca or the Chief Electoral Officer at electoralchief@sfugradsociety.ca

To consult past election reports, please click here.