We hope you had an amazing summer! Last month, the GSS celebrated its 12th birthday with a Graduate Student Social at Steamworks Vancouver. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate!
This summer, we also piloted a Grad Sports Drop-In program, which proved to be very popular with grads, so we will be exploring opportunities to offer more Grad Sports in the future and making them even more fun and accessible. If you have thoughts or ideas about Grad Sports, please drop us a line at student-life@sfugradsociety.ca We’d love to hear from you!
With September just around the corner, we hope you’re getting ready for a fun and productive Fall term. In the meantime, here are some announcements and events happening in the coming weeks.
As always, we hope to see you at our office and lounge (MBC 2205). In the summer, the GSS Lounge and Offices are open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Opportunities to Get Involved
Last Call – Graduate Orientation Volunteers
Are you available on Friday, August 30? There’s still time to sign up as a Graduate Orientation Volunteer!
We’re especially looking for students willing to do Campus Tours for new grads. Tours are fun and straightforward, and we will provide you with all the training.
Ready to volunteer? Email Marina at student-life@sfugradsociety.ca by Thursday, August 23.
Volunteers get special volunteer t-shirts and lunch. This is a great chance to connect with new grad students while helping introduce them to SFU!
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Announcements from the GSS
Electoral Committee
The GSS is looking for alternates for the Electoral Committee. The committee is responsible for conducting the GSS Director Elections every fall and spring semester as well as any by elections and referendums. There are three positions on the committee that receive a stipend. Alternates for the committee are there to step forward in the event that current committee members are unable to fulfill their roles.
If you are interested in being an alternative for the Electoral Committee please email: advocacy@sfugradsociety.ca
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Contribute to The Peak
The campus newspaper, the Peak is always looking for new graduate student contributors to cover issues such areas as family housing, tuition & finances, child care, student-supervisor relationships, and GSS advocacy campaigns and any other issues of interest to graduate students.
Graduate student voices are often not heard loudly enough when it comes to campus issues. Along with The Peak, we would like to see that changed. If you’re new to journalism or writing, The Peak offers freelancing positions that pay per article written. Email the Promotions Coordinator at promotions@the-peak.caand they will get you on the mailing list for the newspaper section you want to write for. We hope to see some of you take up this opportunity!
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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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Playland Tickets
Discounted Playland tickets are available using the GSS discount code. General admission and season pass discounts for general and junior admission. This code is posted in the GSS Lounge and available by email: info@sfugradsociety.ca.
Please note: The GSS info email is only checked during office hours.
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Awards Centre
Here is a link to the currently available Summer Awards posted by GPS. If you are aware of an additional award, or if you would like an award featured here, please email Marina at student-life@sfugradsociety.ca
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Announcements From the University
Centre for Accessible Learning
SFU is committed to the full participation of students with disabilities in all aspects of academic life. The Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) supports such equal participation by coordinating the provision of services and reasonable accommodations (adjustments to programs or policy) for students with mental and/or physical disabilities. Graduate students are encouraged to contact CAL as early as possible to confidentially explore any disability-related issues or needs. Please visit the Centre’s website for further details: https://www.sfu.ca/students/accessible-learning.html
Graduate Global Community Mentorship Program
Are looking to get more involved in the SFU community, while gaining priceless intercultural skills? Want to help fellow graduate students starting at SFU? Looking to make friends from different programs and faculties? Come and Join the Graduate Global Community Mentorship Program! We are now accepting mentor applications!
As a mentor, you’ll meet new people, learn about other cultures, collaborate with fellow graduate students on events YOU are interested in and broaden your network.
Apply on Myinvolvement: Graduate Mentor Job ID: 4972
Applications are accepted through the end of August. Feel free to email Reem, the program coordinator for any questions or concerns! Email: gcmp@sfu.ca
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Exciting Fall 2019 Workstudy Positions at SFPIRG!
Have you been approved for Fall 2019 Workstudy? Be sure to check out the exciting new workstudy positions at SFPIRG! Several new projects have been created that will engage students in creative and academic work, such as the “Equity-Based Review of Academic Departments and Education Guides” project! Some of these projects are well-suited for students well-experienced with research and analysis – grad students and upper-level undergrad students are encouraged to apply! Positions are limited, so be sure to apply early! Full position details are available through SFU’s Workstudy portal as of August 12th, 2019.
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On Campus Events
TSSU Events
TA/TM Day + Social!
Friday, September 6th will be the 34th Annual Fall TA/TM Day at the SFU Burnaby campus. Presented in collaboration with Centre for Educational Excellence, TA/TM Day is a perfect opportunity to learn more about your TA or TM responsibilities, develop your teaching skills, grab a free lunch, and get a handle on the particularities of teaching at SFU!
We will cap off the day with TSSU’s one and only TA/TM DAY SOCIAL!!! It starts right after at 5pm at The Study Pub. Dinner and drink (choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic) will be provided. There will also be draw prizes, games and some human connection to combat that grad school loneliness!
Come join us!!! Get a free meal, and meet your fellow TAs and TMs. All TSSU & GSS members are invited, regardless of whether you attend TA/TM Day.
For more details and accessibility information: http://www.tssu.ca/2019/08/07/fall-2019-ta-tm-day-social/
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/694243667715249
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Announcements from the Community
Events and Announcements for Indigenous Graduate Students
Here are some upcoming events and announcements for Indigenous graduate students.
Summit 2019: Educational impacts in the North; building towards inclusivity, ways of knowing and internationalization in education – Aug 28 – 29, 2019 | Prince George, BC – https://blogs.unbc.ca/summit2019/
Indigenous Women’s Leadership Summit – Oct 10-12, 2019 | Vancouver, BC – https://www.iwls.ca/
National Gathering for Indigenous Education – Nov 21-22, 2019 | Toronto, ON – More details
International Indigenous Mentorship Workshop in New Zealand
International Indigenous Mentorship Workshop hosted by CIHR IIPH in collaboration with the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. The IIM Workshop will be held in early December 2019 in New Zealand.
For more info: https://nwtspor.ca/news/international-indigenous-mentorship-workshop
Applications are open from undergraduate level to early career investigators. Apply online: https://na1se.voxco.com/SE/?st=jRgLrL%2FQQAQI5%2F9HAnfzR0bBfqANrUZ%2FTURW47bfggg%3D&tui=1559844568433&nocookie Deadline to submit is Oct 1, 2019.
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#MadeBySFU is accepting applications
Product ventures, small product businesses, and craft-makers! You are invited to compete in #MadebySFU for a chance to sell your items at SFU Spirit Shop’s online store and three brick-and-mortar stores. You will be judged for several prizes while selling and showcasing your products at the #MadeBySFU marketplace.
For more information, please click here.
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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 GSS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sfugradsociety/
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