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Maggie Benston Centre, #2203, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6

February 2020 GSS Newsletter

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Hey Grads,

Welcome to your February newsletter.

We hope you will be having a restful reading break. Here are the events and activities of the month happening on SFU campuses and in the community. As always, if you’d like to share your ideas, questions, and concerns with the GSS, or if you’d just like to stop by and have a cup of coffee/tea, we would love to see you around our GSS lounge.

Here are this month’s announcements from the GSS and the SFU community. To hear about events as they happen, please follow us on Facebook.

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Announcements from the GSS

Director Elections & Referendum: Nominations are now open!

Are you interested in joining the GSS Executive Team? The Spring 2020 Director Election and Referendum period has now begun and we hope you will consider running for one of the available positions. 
 
We have two referendum questions on the ballot this semester regarding increases in the World University Services of Canada at SFU fee and the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group fee.
 
The nominations are now open and close on March 4th at 11:59 pm for both the Director Elections and to register as an Official Side for the referendum questions.  
 
THE POSITIONS AVAILABLE ARE:
 – Director of External Relations   
 – Director of Graduate Services   
 – Director of Internal Relations   
 
More information is available here: www.sfugradsociety.ca/elections
 
If you have any questions please email: ec@sfugradsociety.ca

Bring Your Partner and Family: Scavenger Hunt

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Graduate Student Society (GSS) are hosting Bring Your Partner and Family: Scavenger Hunt for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. This welcome event on February 28 will give you a space to connect with other graduate students, and their partners and families.

Join the Campus-wide scavenger hunt and learn more about SFU Burnaby campus with your partner and kids while tracking down clues. Win prizes! Registration is free and Pizza will be served. You can contact student-life@sfugradsociety.ca for more information. Please RSVP now:  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bring-your-partner-family-scavenger-hunt-tickets-94265754409

Care Packages at Dog Therapy

Best combination ever to de-stress!

The GSS has partnered with SFSS to deliver care packages at dog therapy!

Come by February 25th and 26th from 12-2 pm and say hello to some adorable dogs and receive a care package.

Graduate Caucus Funding

Did you know that every graduate caucus gets money to spend on almost anything that benefits the grad students in your department? (See the Caucus Funding Spreadsheet for funds available to you for the rest of this fiscal year.)

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Announcements from the University

Research Assistant Needed for a Project

Are you interested in an RA position starting soon with the payment rate of $25-35/hr, 8-10 hour/week? Would you like to contribute to a project very beneficial to SFU students?

Office of the Ombudsperson invites applications for a Research Assistant appointment to begin as soon as possible. The position will extend for the duration of the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 terms with the possibility of extension.

The Research Assistant will complete an environmental scan of North American post-secondary ombuds and Indigenous ombuds offices and the resources and supports provided, identify gaps in the SFU Ombuds Office’s offerings and develop SFU-relevant resources (grade appeal guides, fairness in the classroom guides for instructors, etc.).

More information can be found at pdf link

SFU has created a travel registry website

Given recent unrest and public health warnings around the world, SFU has created a travel registry website for students and faculty to check in to when they are heading overseas. When you register on the site, they will use the information provided to locate and assist you in case there is an emergency.

We highly recommend that you make use of this registry if you plan to travel outside of Canada! The link is here: https://www.sfu.ca/srs/risk-emergency-planning/travel-safety/travel-registry.html.”

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On Campus Events

Announcement from the TSSU

Are you a Research Assistant at SFU? Do you want your opinions to be included, and your voice to be heard?

Sign up to researchiswork.com/signup to receive surveys and invitations to the info sessions and focus groups in which important decisions about SFU RAs’ FIRST Collective Agreement ever are taken.

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Access BC: Career Services and Employment event for International Grad Students 

 

 

Held by
 – Career & Volunteer Services 
 – Urban Studies Program 
 – Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Attend a services fair, here from employment experts, and network.
 
Benefits:
– Connect with services and resources that cater to your specific needs and concerns as international social sciences graduate students
– Gain valuable insight about MetroVancouver’s job market from employment experts 
– Get a chance to share and discuss your current situation and future at the roundtable, and network
 
Along with a services fair featuring the SFU offices that can help you prepare for a career in Canada, a forum of local experts and employers will provide their perspectives on the Vancouver labour market and finding work in our region.
 
When? March 6th, 2020: 1-5pm
Where? SFU Harbour Centre Room 1400
Please RSVP now

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Events to shed some light on the Student Refugee Program (SRP) at SFU

The Refugee and Newcomers Program at the International Services for Students ISS and the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) SFU local committee are launching a series of activities and events, within the context of refugee and forced migration support. These events intend to shed some light on the Student Refugee Program (SRP) at SFU and to invite you to pause and think about the refugee crisis and to explore with you what we can do to support our fellow refugee students in asylum countries.

Please support by participating in some of these events and by sharing this invitation with your SFU community- It would be highly appreciated if you share them through your department websites and social media outlets:

1) Documentary about forced migration and a discussion: Burnaby Campus, Feb 12th, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/movie-night-born-in-syria-refugee-student-program-at-sfu-tickets-93176430211

2)      Movie night about refugee experience and an orientation/ discussion about the Student Refugee Program at SFU: Surrey campus, Feb 27th,  3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

3)      Workshop- Forced migration among youth and education opportunities: Burnaby Campus, March 5th, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/workshop-forced-migration-among-youth-and-eductation-opportunities-tickets-93389792383

4)      Movie night about refugee experience and an orientation/ discussion about the Student Refugee Program at SFU: Vancouver campus, March 11th, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This event is in collaboration with SFU Vancouver campus:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/movie-night-the-good-lie-tickets-93385547687

5)      Movie night about refugee experience and an orientation/ discussion about the Student Refugee Program at SFU: Burnaby Campus, March 12th, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/movie-night-the-good-lie-refugee-student-program-at-sfu-tickets-93381276913

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Announcement from the Community

Registration Open | 18th Annual Indigenous Graduate Student Symposium (IGSS)

18th Annual Indigenous Graduate Student Symposium (IGSS)
COLLECTIVE INTERVENTION: INTERSECTIONALITIES OF BEING

Registration is open to attend the 18th Annual (IGSS) on March 14th, 2020 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The conference will be followed by an Indigenous and SAGE Alumni Networking Event from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm.

The IGSS organizers are excited to welcome Dr. Shawn Wilson as this year’s keynote speaker. Dr. Shawn Wilson is Opaskwayak Cree from Northern Manitoba and is a distinguished scholar in Indigenous research methodologies. He is well known for his book, Research is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methodologies. He is currently living in Bundjalung land in eastern Australia and is the Director of Research at Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples at Southern Cross University.
 

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If you have events or announcements that you would like to see included in next months’ GSS newsletters, you can share them with us by emailing student-life@sfugradsociety.ca

Follow the GSS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sfugradsociety/