Hey Grads,

Welcome to your March Newsletter!

We hope your semester is going well. 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, please don’t hesitate to drop by our office and lounge (MBC 2205). The GSS offices and lounge are open Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm. We hope to see you around!

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Opportunities to Get Involved:

The GSS actively seeks volunteers among our members. Volunteering is a great way to feel more connected to the university at large and to build a sense of community. If you want to join our volunteer list please click here. We will contact you directly when volunteer opportunities come up. Here is what we currently need help with:

Finance Committee needs new members!

As you know, finance is an important  part of every organization. As GSS members, it is essential to know where our hard earned money is being invested and spent, and where it should be allocated. Come volunteer and participate with the GSS as a finance committee member. Have your say and gain a novel experience by assisting in the management of GSS funds. Currently, we need (2) more volunteers. If interested, please email finance@sfugradsociety.ca

SFU President Search!

We are calling for volunteers to participate in a new working group to provide their perspective on what they believe the leadership qualities and goals of the next SFU President should be. This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved with a major decision the University will be making which will impact us all. Plus, it could be a useful experience to have before joining the job market yourself.
If you’re interested, please email student-life@sfugradsociety.ca. The next steps will be to decide the best date/time for the working group to meet, to establish the goals and priorities of the group, and to appoint a chair.

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GSS Events:

Mark your calendars! Our spring social will be held April 9th after council at Steamworks downtown. Free food and drinks for all graduate students. Plus free drink tickets to the first 40 RSVPs! Please RSVP here by April 8th.

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Announcements From the GSS:

Hello Graduate Students! We would like to invite you to join the GSS Executive Team, as the following director elections are now open:

• Director of External Relations
  
• Director of Internal Relations
  
• Director of Student Life
  

All of these part-time positions (about 50 hours per month) include a stipend and present interesting non-academic professional opportunities and challenges. To find out more about the director positions or U-Pass BC program referendum, please visit the official Spring 2019 GSS Elections and Referendum webpage, here: https://sfugradsociety.ca/elections/
To run in the election, please fill out the appropriate nomination form (available here), and return it as soon as possible to MBC 2205 or by email, to ec@sfugradsociety.ca. The deadline to send completed nominations is Thursday, March 21 at 9:00am.

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Contribute to the Peak!

Have an interest in voicing your graduate student opinion and perspective to the wider university community? The GSS is encouraging grads to contribute to the Peak. As graduate students we have a unique and important perspective regarding the affairs of the university and our voices should be heard. For more information check out the Peak. Or you can email news ideas to news@the-peak.ca or opinion pieces to opinions@the-peak.ca. Let’s have our voices be heard!

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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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$Awards Centre$

Competition open for Canadians: Foreign Government Awards Program – Korea, 2019-2020

The Government of the Republic of Korea is offering scholarships at the Master’s and PhD level for study or research in a variety of fields including Korean studies, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering. Scholarships are tenable from September 1, 2019 Number of scholarships: 6Duration: 2 years at the Master’s level and 3 years at the doctoral level Inclusions: Airfare, tuition fees, language training, living allowance, and other eligible expenses Deadline: March 22, 2019

For more program and application details, visit: Foreign Government Awards Program – Korea. Read a testimonial from a former recipient. All inquiries regarding this scholarship program should be directed to: scholarships-bourses@cbie.ca or 613-237-4820.

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Here is a link to the currently available Spring Awardsposted by GPS. If you are aware of an additional award, or if you would like an award featured here, please email Dylan at student-life@sfugradsociety.ca

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Announcements From the University:

Student Experience Initiative Volunteer Needed!

The Student Experience Initiative is looking for volunteers who would be interested in aiding the Project Coordinator facilitate a Flash Consultation.
The following dates and times are available:

March 19th from 11am – 2:30pm, Mezzanine, SFU Surrey
March 21st from 11am – 2:30pm, AQ, Burnaby

The purpose of this consultation is to attain ideas for implementing projects and initiatives within the Destination SFU and Home Away from Home working groups. This event is meant to serve as brainstorming sessions from which the working group can take ideas and expand upon them to develop project proposals. 
Responsibilities of student representatives:
 Set up consultation material (ie. Set up tables with paper, pens, chairs etc.)
 Collect necessary information (email, program of study etc.)
 Responsible to take notes during the consultation of student feedback and ideas.
 Guide students through the consultation
 Answer relevant questions
Benefits of Volunteering
 Help develop ideas into project proposals
 Enhance your communication and leadership skills
 Connect with a network of students, staff and faculty

Benefits of Volunteering:
 
 Help develop ideas into project proposals
 Enhance your communication and leadership skills
 Connect with a network of students, staff and faculty

To apply please send an email to vanproj@sfu.ca. In your initial email please include the following information:

• Full Name
• Student Number
• Preferred Volunteer dates

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Concerned about equity, diversity & inclusion at SFU?

For graduate students interested in having their voices heard around inclusion, belonging, fairness, and mutual respect here at SFU, the It’s Time to Listen, Talk and Reflect Community Conversation initiative is holding weekly open forums designed to hear your views and ideas for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion on campus.

These discussions are an opportunity to tell us what SFU is doing well and where it can improve. As a graduate student, your input will inform a report and recommendations to SFU for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across the university.
Can’t make it to an open forum? There are plenty of ways to participate and make your voice heard at www.sfu.ca/EDI

LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER: It’s time to listen, talk and reflect

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On Campus Events:

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Announcements from the Community:

Green Jobs for Students!

Applications are now open for the Green Spaces Programme!

DEADLINE APRIL 4^th, 2019

Green Spaces is a wage-matching programme that works together with organisations in the sustainable development sector across the country to place talented students in positions that will elevate their knowledge, passion, and experience of working in Canada’s Green Economy.

Participants will undertake work-integrated learning placements across Canada with organisations in a variety of sectors, including private companies, non-profits, governments, Indigenous-based organizations, post-secondary institutions, and other associations.

Quick Facts:Employer partners receive a wage subsidy of approximately 50% to subsidize a portion of the participant’s wage. Placements are 8 to 16 weeks in length and run now through August 31^st, 2019

Student eligibility criteria is as follows:

o   Between the ages of 15 – 30 (at intake)

o   Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or those who have been granted refugee status in Canada

o   Be enrolled as a full-time student in the previous academic year, and intend to return to school after the placement in the upcoming academic year

o   Be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations

Green Spaces is proudly funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. Students and interested employer partners should visit our webpage http://unac.org/green-spaces/ for more information.

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We are excited to announce that registration is open and early bird pricing is $55–135 until March 31. We are also offering on-site childcare and travel bursaries for attendees in BC and Yukon. Please visit our website at wwest.ca/cconnect6 for more information about our program, keynotes, and volunteer opportunities. 

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