university of manitoba graduate students' association - 2012 annual general meeting package

8/3/2019 University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association - 2012 Annual General Meeting Package

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www.umgsa.ca

GSAAnnualGeneralMeetingAgenda

5:00pm,February2,2012

GSALounge(217UniversityCenter)1.Calltoorder

a. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipratifythePresidentoftheAssociationtochairtheGSAAnnualGeneralMeeting

2.Approvalofagenda3.IntroductionofGSAExecutivemembers4.ApprovalofminutesfromJan27th2011GSAAGM5.ApprovaloftheminutesfromtheOctober12,2011SpecialGeneralMeeting6.Executivecommitteeannualreport

a. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapproveandcontinuetheemploymentofaresearchassistant,(ElizabethGonsalves,MSc.),tocontinueinvestigatingtherelationshipbetweentheCanadianFederationof

StudentsandtheUniversityofManitobaGraduateStudentsAssociation

untilsuchtimethatthemembershipstatusoftheUniversityofManitoba

GraduateStudentsAssociationasamemberoftheCanadianFederation

ofStudentsisvalidatedbythelegalcounseloftheAssociation,the

UniversityofManitoba,andtheCanadianFederationofStudents

b. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipholdintrusttheCFSfeescollecteduntilthemembershipstatusoftheUniversityofManitobaGraduate

StudentsAssociationasamemberoftheCanadianFederationof

StudentsisvalidatedbythelegalcounseloftheAssociation,the

UniversityofManitoba,andtheCanadianFederationofStudentsc. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovearequesttotheBoardof

GovernorstoceasethecollectionofCFSfeesuntilthemembershipstatus

oftheUniversityofManitobaGraduateStudentsAssociationasa

memberoftheCanadianFederationofStudentsisvalidatedbythelegal

counseloftheAssociation,theUniversityofManitoba,andtheCanadian

FederationofStudents

7.ReviewoftheGSA'sBudgeta. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipformallyapprovetherenamingofthe

OfficeEquipmentFundtotheCapitalFund

b. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipformallyapprovetheamaximumof$150,000tobeallocatedfromtheCapitalFundtowardsthecapitalprojectsforrooms221(GSAOffice)and217(GSALounge)University

Centre

c. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipformallyapprovetheamaximumof$15,000tobeallocatedfromtheCapitalFundtowardsthecomputer

networkprojectfortheGSAoffice

8.PresentationoftheGSA's2010Audit


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a. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheGSAauditaspresentedfortheperiodendingMarch31,2011

b. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapproveBDOCanadaLLPastheGSA'sauditorsforthe2011-2012term

9.Otherbusiness10.Announcements

a. GSAgeneralelectionprocesswillbeginFeb2nd,201211.Adjournment


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a. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheGSAauditaspresented

fortheperiodendingMarch31,2011

b. Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapproveBDOCanadaLLPastheGSA'sauditorsforthe2011-2012term

9.Otherbusiness10.Announcements

a. GSAgeneralelectionprocesswillbeginFeb2nd,201211.Adjournment


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GraduateStudentsAssociation

AnnualGeneralMeetingMinutes

Wednesday,April27,2011,4:00pm

GSALounge,217UniversityCentre

Present:54UniversityofManitobagraduatestudents,seeattachedlist.

1.Calltoorder

Themeetingwascalledtoorderat4:04pmandchairedbyAlanMcGreevy.

2.Approvalofagenda

Motion:BIRTtheagendabeapproved.Freeman/Scofield-Singh

AllinfavourCarried

3.ApprovalofminutesfromJanuary27th,2011GSAAGM

Motion:BIRTthattheminutesbeapprovedaspresented

Sliwinski/Freeman

Motion:BIFRTthattheminutesbeapprovedasamendedwiththefollowing

ammendments:a)#10gshouldreadIpodtouch,notIpad.

Nawrot/Salter

Allinfavour

Carried

4.BusinessarisingfromtheminutesNone.

5.GSAExecutiveupdatePresentation

LabineRatherthancreatinganexecutivesummaryreport,sincenoonereads

them,Ihavecreatedalistofwhattheexecutivehavedoneoverthepastyear,and

hopetohaveanopendialogueasIpresentthis.

Accomplishmentsare:

- AutonomyagreementWeareinthelastfewdaysofgettingthissigned.ThiswillgivetheGSAcompleteautonomy.- GSAby-lawsArenowbeforeyoutogetapproved.

- PolicymanualsWewrotethemandwillpresentthemattheupcomingcouncilmeetingtobeapproved.

- Allgoverningdocuments-Completelyoverhauledthisyear.- OfficenetworkinstallationWasinstalledyesterday.Wehaveanew

networkandcomputerstoallowforgreaterfilesharing,whichwillhelpthe

GSAworkmoreefficiently.Therewillbemorecomputersavailablefor


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studentstouse.

- Office&LoungerenovationprojectThereisalackofgraduatestudentspaceoncampus.WhatwearelookingatdoingisrenovatingboththeGSA

office&loungetogivestudentsbetterspacestouse.Ithasyettobe

approvedbycouncil.

- HandbookimprovementsWeoverhauledthehandbooktomakeitmoreconcise.WewillhavehardcopiesinSeptember,anditwillbeavailable

online.

- GSAwebsiteWiththeofficenetworkinstallationwearelookingathostingourownwebsite.Wewouldliketocreateapplicationsforthewebsiteso

gradstudentscanbetteraccessinformation.

- DigitizationofdocumentlibraryWehavestartedtodigitizeeverythingsothereisaneasilyaccessiblehistory.

- OfficeinventoryprojectWehaveaninventorygoingofallitemsintheGSAofficetoavoidtheft.

- HiredanewstaffpersonCaraNichols,agradstudent.Wehiredhertohelpgetmanyoftheprojectsdone.Shesbeengreatintheroleandshesdoneat

theendofJune.

- Travelgrantvalues&financialpolicyWewillbeupdatingourfinancialpolicymanualwithintheupcomingcouncilmeeting.Withinthatweare

lookingatincreasingtheamountfortravelgrants.

- Were-evaluatedthegradstudenthealthplan.- Someexecutivecompletedriskassessmenttrainingtobetteridentify

individualsatriskandhelpmediateanyadversesituationsthatcomeup.

- StudentrepresentationThisyearwehavehadgreatattendance,up90%.ThisisimportantbecausetheGSAistheofficialvoiceforthegraduate

students.- InteractionswithFGSThisyearwemadeitapointtoengageFGS&be

moreinvolvedwithpoliciestheyarecreating,particularlythetimeto

completionreportandfundingissues.

- WeamendedourrelationshipwithUMSU.

GSAActivities:

- FallorientationWeplanonbuildingonthisincollaborationwithFGS.- Workshopsweprovidedafew.- GSAopenhousesWeopeneduptheGSAofficetogradstudents(coffee&

snacks)inordertoengagethestudentbody.Wehadupwardsof100peoplecomethroughtheofficeeachtime.

- SocialsWehad3thisyear.- SpeakerSeries-Dr.RichardHeinzlfromDoctorsWithoutBordersCanada

cameinMarchtotheBannatynecampus.

- GSAawardsluncheonWasdonetoacknowledgegraduatestudentswhowonawardsintheawardscompetition.


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ExternalActivities:

- FallorientationWeplanonbuildingonthisincollaborationwithFGS.- Jointfundproposal-TheGSAapproachedtheUniversityandtheProvince

aboutanewstrategytoincreasetheamountoffundingcomingtograduate

students.Wearelookingatamassing$50,000overaperiodof5yearsandendowingthatmoney.

- GraduatefundreferendumItfailedbutwestillgoaheadwiththejointfundproposal.

- GradzetteThisyearwedidanoverhaul.Werevisedthebudget;lookedatwhatgradstudentsreallywant;content;management;andwaystomakeit

moreenvironmentallyfriendly.Wewillbesigningacontractwiththe

ManitobaninthenextcoupleofdaystomanagetheGradzetteforus.They

willbeproducingaonceamonthonlineissue.

- CFSNationalandProvincialparticipationWehavehadaninterestingrelationshipwithCFS.Thisyearwehaveincreasedourparticipationat

meetingsby50%-60%.Wehaveapresentationbytheoutgoingchairinour

upcomingcouncilmeeting.

- TimetocompletionreportreviewWrotethisafterthereportcameoutinSeptember.Itaddressesallconcernsfromgraduatestudentsregardingthe

timetocompletionreport.

- Holidayfoodhampers- ImprovedProvincialgovernmentrelationsWetriedtoengagetheminister

ofadvancededucationtoputgraduatestudentsontheradar.

- UMSUtaxserviceWehavepartneredwithUMSUsograduatestudentscangetthesupporttheyneedwhenfilingtheirtaxes.

- FoodbankThisisthefirstyearwehavecontributed.- GSAcouncilimprovementsWehaveincreasedcouncilparticipation.We

haveatotalof134differentgraduatedepartmentsoncampusandweareup

to50(15departmentsmorethanlastyear).Councilprocedurestightenedup

forgreateraccountability.

- GreatercontinuitybetweenGSA&HSGSA-Weveincludedtheminourby-lawsandactivities.

OjopresentsonGSACampaigns:

- Wehave2maincampaignsthisyear,andmanysmallerqualitativeones.-

Forexampleonecampaignwastoencouragegradstudentstoaskpoliticianstocontributemoremoneytowardseducation.

- Wehavebeenabletogetareductionininternationalstudentshealthinsurancefees,andhopefullyitwilltakeeffectbySeptember,2011.

- Wealsohaveissueswithstudentslivingonresidence.Wearelookingatgettingamodificationtothestudentresidencyact.Wehadameetingwith

theMinisterofAdvancedEducation.Wehaveacommitteethatwillbe

workingonthisoverthesummer.


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- Wehavealsocreatedacommitteetolookintothelackofhousingforgradstudents.

LabineThatistheendofthepresentation.Ijustwantedtosaythankyou

toallgradstudents;councilors;andexecutivewhohavehelpedenhance

representationthisyear.

McGreevyAnyquestionsregardingthepresentation?

StudentHowcanIaccessdocumentsfromthe1970s?

NawrotThe1970sinformationisavailablethroughUMSUsinceatthat

timetheGSAwasapartofUMSU.

6.GSAtravelendowmentfund

LabineThisarosein2007.Essentiallythemotionistofreeupmoremoneyfor

travelgrants;andintheGSAbudgetforprogramming,planningandadministration.

NawrotAttheAGMin2007wesignedthefirstautonomyagreementwithUMSU.

Graduatestudentswerepaying$30intoanendowmentfundfortravelgrants.We

havebeencollectingthismoneyanditsnowreachedapprox.$900,000.Wehave

notusedthismoneyfortravelgrants,ithasjustbeensittingandcollectingsome

interest.Rightnowweareusingouroperatingbudgettopayouttravelgrants.With

thismotionwewanttousethetravelgrantmoneycollectedinthetravelgrant

budgetline.

McGreevyIrecommendyoure-wordthebeginningofthemotiontosay:BIRTtheGSAterminatethecollectionofthe$30GSAendowmentfund,andBIFRTtheGSA

institute$30/yearstudentfeefortravelgrants.

NawrotBasedonmyconversationswiththeUniversityendowmentpeople,weare

abletocallitanendowmentfund.

Scofield-SinghDoesthemoneyfrominterestpayfortravel?Doesthe$30stayin

theaccount?

LabineThesumofthemoneywillnotbetouched.Theinterestfromthefundandthe$30(principle)willbegoingdirectlyintothetravelgrantbudgetline.

Motion:

Whereasgraduatestudentsvotedinthe2007AGMtocontribute$30ayearof

theirstudentorganizationfeestoatravelgrantendowmentfund.


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Whereassinceitsinceptionin2007,theprincipletravelgrantendowmentfundhas

grownto$867,000,buthasnotbeeninvestedtoearninterestandhastherefore

notbeendrawnupon.

WhereastheGSAtravelgrantbudgetiscurrentlyfundedfromtheGSAoperating

budget,andnottheGSAtravelgrantendowmentfund.

BIRTthemoneyoriginallyassessedasanendowmentforstudentsat$30eachyear

beusedintheGSAoperatingbudgetinthetravelgrantbudgetlinegoingforward

infutureUMGSAbudgetswithoutspendingtheprinciplefundvalue.

BIFRTtheinterestearnedonthetravelgrantendowmentfundbeaddedtothe

travelgrantbudgetlineeveryyear.

BIFRTanyunspentmoneyfromthetravelgrantbudgetlinebedepositedintothe

travelgrantendowmentfundattheendofeachfiscalyear.

St.Aubin/Gonsalves

Allinfavour-34

Allopposednone

Allabstentions1

Carried

7. PresentationoftheGSAsrevisedBy-laws.LabineWehave2presentations:1onHSGSAdisbursement,and1on

honorariumallocations.Asyouwillnoticethereisamotiontoincreaseexecutive

honorariumsfornextyearandthereisachangetotheHSGSAdisbursementamount.

McGreevyWhatIasknowisthatpeopleputtheirhandupiftheywouldliketo

discussanyparticularsection.

Motion:BIRTforthedurationofthismeeting,friendlyamendments

thatdonotsignificantlychangethespiritofamotioncan,withthe

permissionoftheoriginalmover,beadoptedwithoutamotionto

amend.

Labine/Scofield-SinghAllinfavour

Carried

SalterTheHSGSAaskedmetofurtherdiscussitems:7.1,7.2&7.7(HSGSA

Honorarium).

FreemanArticle6shouldbeaspacebetweenGSAandare&between


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HSGSA&are.Therearealsoformattingissueswithstandingcommitteesand

elections.Underfinances(#7.1)itshouldsayhonorariumamount,notsalary

amount.Article9itcurrentlysays:bc,takeawaytheb.

SalterInArticle9d-itshouldntsaynotmotion,itshouldsaynomotion.

McGreevyUnder#7.2eV.P.Academicshouldnotbemaking$3peryear,but

rather$3600peryear.StudentArticle5Inthetitle,ExecutivehasanextraE.

Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheUMGSArevisedBylawsaspresented.

Gonsalves/FreemanNeilIwouldliketoputforwardthefollowingmotion:BIFRTthattheappendicies

containingtheHSGSAdisbursementcalculationsbeattachedtotheby-laws.McGreevyTobringeveryonetowhereweare.Innumber7.7wearetalkingabout

theannualbudgetchangeequalto16%forallstudentassociationfees.Thereisa

motioncomingforwardfromtheHSGSAtohavetheformulaonhowthe16%was

arrivedatattachedtotheby-lawintheappendicies.Isthistherightspotforit?

NawrotItisimportantforthisinformationtobeintheappendiciessothatin

futureyearspeoplewonthavetoaskthequestionhowdidtheyarriveat16%?.

MotionBIFRTthattheappendiciescontainingtheHSGSAdisbursementcalculationsbeattachedtotheby-laws.

Salter/Buse

Allinfavour(2/3)

CarriedMcGreevyFurtherdiscussiononArticle#7oftheby-laws.

Scofield-SinghWhyisthereadifferenceinhonorariumsbetweentheVice

PresidentsfromtheGSA&HSGSA?

LabineTheV.PsforHSGSAdolessandattendfewermeetingsthantheGSAV.Ps

becauseoftheirsmallergraduatestudentpopulation(approx.500).TheHSGSA

V.PsdoalittlemorethantheSenatorsandalittlelessthantheV.PsfortheGSA,so

itsdifficulttoquantifytheirsalary.

McGreevyIsthereanythingelseinsection#7anyonewouldliketodiscuss?


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StudentIhaveaquestionabouttheincreaseofthehonorariumingeneral.Isthere

asysteminplacetocontrolaccountability?

LabineTheIDRcommitteeisgoingtobemorethoroughoftheirexaminationof

theexecutive.TheywillstartinMayandfollowtheexecutivethroughouttheyear,

providingmonthlyupdatesoneachexecutive.BuseWhathappensifsomeonedoesntliveuptotheexpectation?

LabineItwillgototheIDRcommitteeforreview.Thehonorariumcanbewithheld

basedonIDRreports.Alternatively,avoteofnoconfidencecanoccursothatperson

isnolongeremployedinthatposition.

BuseWhatisbeingchangedwiththeexecutiveatlargepositionsothatthesalary

istripling?

LabineWhattheexecutiveatlargeissupposedtodois:sitonallinternal

committees;chairexecutivecommittees;chaircouncilmeetings;anddowhatthe

executiverequiresofthemtodo.Therearealotofmeetingstoattendandalotof

worktodo.Youcantpaysomeonelessthantheotherexecutivemembersandask

themtodoasmuchwork.

BuseIwouldliketoseethebreakdownofwherethe16%comesfrom.NawrotItooklastyearsbudget($455,000)andlookedateverythingHSGSAshares

withus.Forexample:travelgrants;conferences;insuranceandbrokeitdownbased

onhonorariums.Outofthe$455,000,theyshare$402,000withus.Afterallthebillsarepaidweonlyhaveabout$53,000tospendonanyeventsputonforstudents.

Therefore,11.7%ofourbudgetisallocatedforsocialevents.Sotechnicallyspeaking

HSGSAssharewouldbe12%(roundedup).Wedecidedtoraisethatupbyanother

4%becausetheyareoperatingonanothercampus,andtheyhavetheirown

independentcosts,plustheyalsohaveanewVicePresidentofSaintBoniface.The

additional4%bringsthetotaltheyreceiveto$13,428.Basedon500students,that

worksoutto$83.93/student(thiswillgoupeveryyearbyapenny).The16%works

outto$6700persemester&$13,428fortheyear(forHSGSAtooperate).IfHSGSA

runsshortonmoneytheycanaskformoreatcouncil.Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheUMGSArevisedBylawsaspresentedandamended.

Gonsalves/Freeman

Allinfavour

Carried


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Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheretroactiveincreasetotheGSA

PresidentshonorariumasoutlinedintherevisedBy-lawsforthe2010-2011term.

McGreevyruleditoutoforderbasedonBylawsArticleVII6,asitwouldincrease

honorariapriortoMay1,andBylawsArticleVIII5,astheitemwasaddedtothe

agendaonApril20,2011.

ThemotionwasmovedfromthefloorbyGonsalves/Freeman

ToavoidconflictwithBylawsArticleVII6,afriendlyamendmentwasmadeto

removeanyreferencetohonorarium.

Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapproveaone-timebonusof$3600tothe

2010-2011GSAPresidentMeaghanLabineinrecognitionforheroutstanding

accomplishmentoverherterm.

GonsalvessuggestedthatCouncilcouldvotetosuspendBylawArticleVIII

(#5).McGreevyruledthatthiswasnotpermitted.

GonsalveschallengedMcGreevyontheruling.

Motion:OverturntheChair'srulingthatBylawArticleVIII5cannotbesuspended

byamotionfromthefloor.

Allinfavour28

Allopposed8

Allabstaining3

Carried

Motion:suspendBylawArticleVIII5forthedurationofthemainmotion.

Gonsalves/Agbor

Allinfavour23

Allopposed2

Allabstaining12

Carried

Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapproveaone-timebonusof$3600tothe2010-

2011GSAPresidentMeaghanLabineinrecognitionforheroutstandingaccomplishmentoverherterm.

Allinfavour29

Allopposed0

Allabstaining6

8. UMGSAannualaudit


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Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheOfficeoftheAuditorGeneralofManitobaastheGSAsauditorsforthe2010-2011term,pendingapprovalofthe

2011GSA/UMSUAutonomyagreementbytheUniversityofManitobasBoardof

Governors.

Nawrot/Hink

Carried

9. OtherbusinessNone.

10.Announcementsa) GSAApril28thGSAsocial

LabineWearehavingourlastsocialtomorrownight.Therewillbefree

drinksandlotsoffood.EntertainmentbyDJMamaCutsworth;acaricaturist;

andaballoonartist.SincethisismylastAGMasPresident,Ijustwantedto

makementionthatitwasapleasureworkingwithyouguys.

StudentIstheGSAgoingtoorganizeatournamentthisyear?

NawrotWedoubledthebudgetinordertohost2tournamentsthisyear.

11.AdjournmentMotion:BIRTthemeetingbeadjournedat5:38pm.Gonsalves/St.AubinCarried.


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Name Department Student Number SignatureRuth Prokesch GSA

1 Liz Gonsalves Medical microbiology Provided2 Neil Salter Physiology Provided3 Olivier Gagne Geological sciences Provided4 Jennifer (Yijie) Chen Kniesiology & Rec. Management Provided

5 Peter Nawrot Social Work Provided6 Matt Hink Agribusiness & Ag. Economics Provided7 Cordula Buse Biochemistry & Med. Gen. Provided8 Angela Freeman Biological Sciences Provided9 Cathy Scofield-Singh Nursing Provided

10 Erin Acland History Provided11 Meaghan Labine GSA President Provided12 Farhoud Delijani Biosystems Provided13 Alan McGreevy Medical microbiology Provided14 Dan Lockery Electrical Engineering Provided15 Maggi Sliwinski Natural Resource Institute Provided16 Emannuel R. Ojo VPE Provided

17 Hamed Aghakhan Management Provided18 Jeremy Funk Management Provided19 Stephanie Armstrong Anthropology Provided20 Michelle Keller French, Spanish, Italian Provided

GSA AGM Attendance RecordPlease PRINT clearly

Wednesday, April 27, 2011


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Name Department Student Number Signature

1 Brenna Haimes-Kusumoto Linguistics Provided2 Kay Hamidzadeh Linguistics Provided

3 Zoe St.Aubin Sociology Provided4 Ryan Sharpe Geological Sciences Provided5 Peter Karari Peace & Conflict studies Provided6 David Boutilier Anthropology Provided7 Junzhao Economics Provided8 Greg Boese Psychology Provided9 Jonathan Veilleux Entomology Provided

10 Laura Rempel City Planning Provided11 Daniel Balcha Mechanical Engineering Provided12 Valery B. Agbor Biosystems Provided13 Cara Nichols City Planning Provided

14 David Opeyem Education Provided15 Monica Martinez Fine Arts Provided16 Tonia Bates Kinesiology & Recreation Provided17 Md. Eftekhar Hossain Biosystems Engineering Provided18 Michael Cardillo Soil Science Provided19 Mohsen Akbarzadeh Mechanical Engineering Provided20 Enoch A-lyeh Electrical Engineering Provided

GSA AGM Attendance Record Wednesday, April 27, 2011Please PRINT clearly


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Name Department Student Number Signature

1 Mehrdad Espah Electrical Engineering Provided2 Mehdi Daryabak Electrical Engineering Provided

3 Damon Bazargan Electrical Engineering Provided4 Lawrence O. Mechanical Engineering Provided5 Roohollah Abbasi Biological Science Provided6 Hamidreza Khazanehei Animal Sciences Provided7 Ali Reza Armiyoon Mechanical Engineering Provided8 Kamaloddin Darchinimaragheh ECE Provided9 Jeff Brogges Sampa Provided

10 Jonathan Tsikata Mechanical Engineering Provided11 Barney Gelors Microbiology Provided12 Luis Maya Food Science Provided13 Senthilkumar Thiruppathi Biosystems Engineering Provided

14 Pavithra Rajan Kinesiology Provided151617181920

GSA AGM Attendance Record Wednesday, April 27, 2011Please PRINT clearly


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GraduateStudentsAssociationSpecialGeneralMeeting

MinutesTuesday,October18,2011

GSALounge,217UniversityCentre

Present:42graduatestudents,seeattachedlist.Themeetingwascalledtoorderat5:20pm1.CalltoOrder

2.ApprovalofAgendaNawrotnotedthatRyanLussierfromRBCWealthManagementwillbeprovidingapresentation,andshouldbeaddedtotheagenda.

Motion:BIRTtheagendabeamendedtoincludeapresentationbyRyanLussierofRBCasthefirstorderofbusiness.Scofield-Singh(Nursing)/Cowie(PoliticalStudies)

Carried

Lussierpresentedashortfilmontheglobalfinancialsituation.HepresentedanoverviewontheGSAsfinancialsituation,andnotedthattheGSAsfinancialpositionisstable,andinexcellentcondition.HenotedthattheGSAsinvestmentaccountsareyieldingpositiveinterest.NawrotnotedthatinterestaccruedisgoingtowardsanincreaseinConferenceGrants.

Motion:BIRTtheagendabeapprovedasamended.

Haglund(CityPlanning)/Gislason(Microbiology)

Carried

3.IntroductionofGSAExecutiveMembersTheExecutiveintroducedthemselves,andexplainedtherolesoftheirpositions.

4.ApprovalofminutesfromApril27th,2011SGMMotion:BIRTtheMinutesoftheAprilbeapprovedasamended.

Armstrong(Anthropology)/Scofied-Singh(Nursing)

Carried

5.PresentationofGSAfinancesNawrotexplainedthattheGSAreceivedautonomythispastsummer,andtheBoardofGovernorsagreedtokeeptheGSAstudentfeesstableat$68.88persemesterand$8.37forotherstudentfees,includingGradzette,UMREG,UMFM.HenotedthatbecausetheGSAwasnotautonomousfromUMSU,someofthefeesinthepastweredirectedthroughUMSU.HesaidthatBDOremainsastheGSAs


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auditors.Henotedthatbecauseofautonomy,theGSAalsohastotakeoutinsurance.TheGSAsoughtquotesfrominsurancecompanies,andultimatelypurchasedinsurancefromWesternFinancialInsurancefortheamountof$4,140/year,including$150,000incontentinsurance.Hesaidthereisalsoa$5,000,000boardandtrusteeliabilityinsurance.

HesaidthatUMSUisdevelopingtheHubPub.HesaidthattheGSAisinvestigatingasponsorshipforthepub,thatwouldallowtheGSAtohavefreepartiesinthebarforgradstudents.Itwouldincludetwofreedrinksandfood,butisstillbeingnegotiated.HesaidmoneyhasbeeninvestedfromtheGSAEndowmentfundsinRBC,andtheGSAisreceivingmonthlychequesof$3,593,whichisgoingtowardsthetravelgrants.Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheinvestmentoftheendowmentandcapitalfundswithRBC.Gamble(Anthropology)/HamidZadeh(Linguistics)NawrotpresentedaPowerPoint,explainingtheexistingfeestructure.HenotedthatthispresentationisavailableintheGSAofficeformembersnotpresent.Heprovidedanoverviewofthefeestructure,andprovideddefinitionsofeachfee.Heexplainedthereferendumprocessinplaceforadding,orremovingparticularfees.Scofield-Singh-calledquorum.Nawrotnotedthatwith31people,andaquorumof34,quorumhasbeenlost,andthebusinesscomponentofthemeetingwillhavetoend.Hesaidhewillcontinueprovidinganupdate,asinformation.

FreemanprovidedanoverviewoftheGSAsfeestructureincomparisontoothersimilarorganizations,availableformembersnotpresentattheGSAoffice.ShenotedproposedchangestotheGSAs2012feestructure.Nawrotannouncedthatquorumisnowachieved,andtheformalbusinessofthemeetingcancontinue.HenotedthattheoverallgoalofthefeerestructuringistoprovideforadoublingoftheDepartmentalGrantsandtodoubletheamountallocatedtotheSpecialProjectsGrant.Hesaidthatasanot-for-profit,theGSAisrequiredtospendthemoneyitreceivesonprogramsandservicesforitsmembers,ratherthanto

accumulatelargeamountsofunusedmoneyinendowmentfunds.

Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovethefinancialfeestructureofmembershipduesaspresentedattheOctober18th,2011SGM.Cowie(PoliticalStudies)/Armstrong(Anthropology)

Carried


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Motion:BIRTtheGSAmembershipapprovetheEndowmentFundintendedsolelyfortravelgrantstoberenamedastheGSAStudentInitiativeEndowmentFundwherebytheincomeandmarketgainsoftheGSAStudent

InitiativeEndowmentFundwouldbeusedtomeettheneedsofthe

AssociationanditsmembersasdeterminedbytheGSACouncilwithinits

approvalprocessoftheannualGSABudget.Haglund(CityPlanning)/Sharpe(GeologicalScience)Carried

6.OtherbusinessTherewasnootherbusinessnoted.

7.AnnouncementsNawrot-notedthattherewillbeaGSACouncilMeetingonOctober28th

immediatelyfollowedbytheannualHauntedThesisHalloweenparty,bothtakingplaceintheGSALounge.

FreemanremindedcouncilorsthatDepartmentalGrantsaredueNovember1st.

8.AdjournmentMotiontoadjournat6:22pm.

Scofield-Singh(Nursing)/Gislason(Microbiology)

Carried


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Graduate Students' Association

Executive Committee Report

AnnualGeneralMeeting

February 2nd, 2012


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GSAInternalActivities

GSAOrientation

InSept2011,theGSAheldourannualgraduatestudentorientation.Thiswasmadepossible

withcollaborationwith theFacultyofGraduateStudiesandtheOfficeof theViceProvostfor

Students.TheeventlastedaweekfromSeptember12September16,featuringavarietyof

informationsessions,lotsoffood,aBBQandasocialonSeptember23.

ToencouragegreaterparticipationitwassuggestedthatthePassportprogramimplementedat

the2010orientationshouldbeimplementedinupcomingorientations,asitwasverysuccessful.

ItwasalsosuggestedthatfoodcouldbeorderedfromDegreesratherthanAramarkandthat

thelayoutofthefoodbemoreefficienttopreventlineupsinthehallway.

GSAOfficeRenovationProject

TheGSAOfficerenovationisexpectedtobeginFebruary16th

(forasbestosabatement)andbe

completed by February29th, 2012. If construction is delayed, operations of the GSA will bemovedintothespacepreviouslyleasedtoCUPE3909byMarch2,2012.Thecostoftheproject

isestimatedtobe$70,000.00.

GSALoungeRenovationProject

The GSA lounge is a room that is constantly booked for a variety of events ranging from

seminars, exercise classes, meetings and socials. Renovation of the lounge commenced in

Novemberof2011andwillbecompletedinJanuary2012.Thescopeoftheprojectincludes

soundproofing,newcarpetingandinstallationofaudioandvisualequipment.Thecostof this

projectissetat$76,000.00.

TheGSANetwork

The GSA purchased a network and computers using the MAC platform to operate as an

organization.Unfortunatelythenetworkhasnotmetourneedsandhasledtoinefficientuseof

time for staff and executive. Support for the MAC network has been expensive and not

expedient.NetworkingrequestsfromasfarbackasNovember2011toourtechnicalsupport

firmhavebeenunanswered.Theexecutiveteamwillbeswitchingtoapcnetworkwiththecost

oftechnicalsolutionsbeing37%cheaperthanthecurrentratetheAssociationispaying.Useof

thepreviouspcsystemswillbeincorporatedwiththeadditionofanewcomputersystemfor

theofficemanager.Fouroutofthefivecurrentmacsystemswillbesoldforafairmarketprice

tohelpsubsidizethecostofmovingtoapcnetworksolutionwithpropersupportandnetwork

assistancetoimprovetheproductivityandefficiencyoftheorganization.

Staffing

Over the past year, the Association has hired staff to assist with the operations of the

organization. It is recommended that theorganization look intohiring a fulltime permanent

position that will benefit the organization with institutional memory and comply with the

auditorssuggestiontohavetheorganizationsfinancialactivitiesmorebalanced.


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LeasingofOfficeSpacetoCUPE3909

OnDecember 1st,2010, theGSA Executivedecidedto leaseourold Gradzetteoffice space to

CUPE 3909asanofficeoncampus.Therelationshiphadworkoutwell.InNovemberof2011,

wewereadvisedthatthe leasingof the spaceto CUPE3909was contrary totheUniversity

CentreAgreement,whichprohibitstheleasingofspacetoanygroupthatisnotastudentgroup.

OnNovember29,2011aletterfromtheUniversityofManitobaGraduateStudentsAssociation

presidentwassenttoCUPE3909givingthemnoticeoftheterminationoftheleaseagreement.

CUPE3909willbevacatingthespacebyMarch1,2012.

TheHUB

TheUniversityofManitobaStudentsUnionisintheprocessofhavingacampuscommunitypub

openafterconstruction inFebruary2012.TheGSAwillbeentering intocontractnegotiations

oncetheHUBisopentoensurethatgraduatestudentshaveprogrammingandeventsatthis

newvenue.AdraftproposalwassenttoUMSUinthesecondquarterof2011,buttheGSAhas

notreceivedaresponsefromUMSU.

Audit

TheannualauditisperformedbyBDOCanadaLLPandapprovedbytheGSAAGM.The

UniversityofManitobaisauditedbytheAuditorGeneralofManitoba.Concernwasexpressed

thatBDOmaynotbeabletocompletetheauditfortheGSAbecausewithGSAautonomy,the

AuditorGeneralofManitobawouldconducttheauditforGSA.TheAuditorGeneralofManitoba

contractstheirworktofirmslikeBDOCanadaLLP.Consequently,theGSAmaycontinueto

rendertheservicesofBDOCanadaLLPtocompletetheGSAannualaudit.

The annual auditwasperformed byBDOCanada LLPand completed inthefallof 2011. ThePresident and VPI reviewed the recommendations of the auditor, and have worked to

implementthoserecommendations.Theprimaryconcernsraisedwerethosepertainingtothe

useofmultipleaccountsthatwerebeingusedforthesamefunction.Anotherconcerndealt

withbankreconciliationsregardingstaledatedchequesandthelackofsegregationofduties.

Theoverallopinionoftheauditoristhat thefinancialstatementspresentfairly,inallmaterial

respects,thefinancialpositionoftheGraduateStudentsAssociation asatMarch31,2011and

itsfinancialperformanceanditscashflowsfortheyearthenendedinaccordancewithCanadian

generallyacceptedaccountingprinciples.

SincetakingofficeinMay,theVPIworkedtoaddresscertainissuesthataroseinpreviousyears

concerningthefinancesoftheorganization.Inordertoaddresstheseissuesthefollowingsteps

weretaken:

1. Withrecommendationsfromtheauditor,monthlystatementswerereviewedbytheVPI

tocheckforinconsistenciesinanybankingactivitiesbytheorganization.

2. FinanceCommitteemeetingsweresetforafixeddateandtimetomaintainquorumat

meetingsandtoensureparticipationandbusinesscompletion.

3. Changestothefinancialpolicymanualincluded:maximumlengthsbetweenconference

attendanceandsubmittalofconferencegrants,arequirementtoreportonspecial


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projectgrantcompletion,changestoeligibilityforconferencegrantapplications,and

doublingofthedepartmentalgrantamounts.

4. Endowmentfundswereinvestedinordertogainhigherinterestthanthechequing

accountforstudentbenefit.

Allthesestepsweretakentoensureaccountabilityoftheorganizationsfinances,andto

improvetimeofservicetograduatestudents.

Insurance

Since being granted autonomy from UMSU, the GSA requires its own insurance. The

approximate cost for insurance is $4,140.00 a year, which includes $150,000.00 in content

insuranceand$5,000,0000.00BoardandTrusteeinsurance.TheGSAhassecuredthisfinancial

policywithWesternFinancialInsuranceCompany.

GSAEndowmentFunds

TheGSAhascurrentlytwoendowmentfunds.ThefirstfundisnamedtheEndowmentFundandisvaluedat$858.818.00(June30

th,2011).ThisfundhasbeeninvestedwithRBCFinancialand

generatesa4%incomegainwithadditionalmarketgainsbeingre-investedontotheprinciple.

The4%return$3,590.00a monthhasbeallocatedto supportstudentconferencegrants.The

secondfundisnamedtheCapitalFundandisvaluedat$431,451.73(June30th

,2011).Thisplace

has been invested with RBC Financial and all income and market gains are applied to the

principleamount.Itisestimatedthatwithinthepast2yearsbothfundshavelost$340,000.00

in market and income gains within a conservative portfolio due to not being invested and

remaininginabankaccount.

Ourinvestedfundshaveyielded$21,540ininterestsinceinvestinginMay2011.

DepartmentalGrants

Overthepastyear,wewereabletodoubletheamountofmoneythatdepartmentsreceivefor

their department grants. In past, departments with representation on GSA Council and

Committeescouldreceive$10.00peracademicyearforeverygraduatestudentpayingfull-time

studentorganizationduestotheGSAandbelongingtothedepartmentalassociationand$5.00

peracademicyearforeverygraduatestudentpayingpart-timestudentorganizationduestothe

GSA and belonging to the departmental association. Within the new funding structure

departmentswillabletoprovide$20.00peracademicyearforeverygraduatestudentpaying

full-timestudentorganizationduestotheGSAandbelongingtothedepartmentalassociation

and$10.00peracademicyearforeverygraduatestudentpayingpart-timestudentorganization

duestotheGSAandbelongingtothedepartmentalassociation.Thisinitiativecomplimentsthe

StrategicPlanningFrameworkoftheUniversityofManitobabyallowingdepartmentalcouncils

toenhancethestudentexperienceoftheirmembers.

TravelGrants

Conference Travel grants are being subsidized by the income and market gains of the

EndowmentFund(4%).Travelsgrantsarewellfundedwithanannual$100,000.00budgetline.


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Thefinancecommitteereceived142applicationsforconferencegrants,andawarded

$44,379.97.Sincechangingpolicytoallowforamaximumof$500forinternationalconferences

(outsideNorthAmerica),15studentshaveappliedforthesefunds.Additionally,manystudents

havetakenadvantageofthenewmaximumof$500perfiscalyearandhaveattendedtwo

conferencesinNorthAmericatousethesefundseffectively.

SpecialProjectGrants

OvertheyearstheGSAhasnotalwaysbeenabletoafford,withinitsfundingstructure,allthe

requests it receives fromgraduate students requesting financial support for special projects

related to the university community. Council voted to doubling the amount available from

$3,000.00to$6,000.00ayearsforthespecialprojectgrants.

Thefinancecommitteereceived16applicationsforspecialprojectgrants,andawarded$4,100.

Donations

OvertheyearstheGSAhasnotbeenabletoafford,withinitsfundingstructurealltherequests

itreceivesfromgraduatestudentsrequestingfinancialsupportfordonationstowardseventsor

initiativesthatimpacts theuniversityandbroadercommunity. Councilvotedtodoublingthe

amountavailablefrom$3,000.00to$6,000.00ayearfordonations.

GraduateStudentFeeStructure2011/2012

Persemester,eachgraduatestudentcontributesthefollowing:

UMFMRadiostation-$2.50

AllstudentspaytooperatetheFMRadiostationwhichopenedintheFallof1998.

UMREG$1.25

Allstudentspaythisfeetoassistintheoperationofthebeveragecontainerrecyclingprogram

attheUofMandwithpromotionandeducationrelatedtoenvironmentalawareness.

WUSC-$1.25

AllstudentspaytosupporttheeffortsWUSCtobringrefugeestudentstotheUofM.

WorldWise$0.25

Allstudentspaythisfeetosupportstudentexchange/studyprograms.

EngineerswithoutBorders-$0.125

Gradzette-$3.00

All graduate students pay this fee to assist in the operation of the autonomous Gradzette

studentpublication.

GSAOperatingBudget$68.88

GoestowardsthegeneralexpensesofoperatingGSA.


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CFSManitoba -$2.72adjustedtotherateofinflationeachyear

CFSNational$4.08adjustedtotherateofinflationeachyear

UMGSABudget

2011

Budget May 1, -Jan 10

Updated

Budget

Income

4000 Revenue

4005 - Student Organization Fees

321,000.00

4010 Membership Fees 300,000.00 425,517.00

4020 Rent from CUPE3909 7,200.00 7,245.00 7,200.00

4030 - GSA Cash Box - - -

4031 GSA Cash Box Revenue 1,200.00 155.39 1,200.00

4032 - Cash Box Float - - -

4050 - Ad sales Gradzette - - -

4070 Endowment Fund 110,000.00 -

4075 Endowment Fund Transfer 125,000.00 - -

4080 Capital Fund 59,000.00 - 175,000.00

4090 To CFS - National 26,000.00 - 26,000.00

4100 To CFS - Provincial 17,500.00 - 17,500.00

4110 Gradzette Fees (Manitoban) 19,500.00 - 19,500.00

4111 - UMFM Radio Fund - - 17,025.00

4112 - UMREG Fee - - 8,512.50

4113 - WUSC Fee - - 8,512.50

4114 - World Wise Fee - - 1,702.50

4115 - Engineers without Borders - 851.25

4120 Interest on Bank Accts 45,000.00 3,952.56 45,000.00

4125 Interest - GIC's - -

4130 - Revenue - Other (Endowment Fund Interest) 1,000.00 21,540.00 1,000.00

4000 Revenue - Other

Total 4000 Revenue 711,400.00 353,892.95 754,520.75

4150 Other income -

-

4999 Office Equipmnt Fund Withdrawal -

-

Total Income 711,400.00 353,892.95 754,520.75

Expense

5000 Honorarium/salary/benefits

5001 - Human Resources

--

-

5005 Executive 56,400.00 35,800.00 56,400.00

5010 HSGSA 14,400.00 9,600.00 14,400.00

5015 CRO 1,000.00 - 1,000.00

5020 Council Chairperson 1,000.00 - 1,000.00

5025 Minute Taker - - -

5030 Employee Pay 100,000.00 53,520.71 100,000.00

5040 Employer Paid CPP 3,500.00 3,537.41 3,500.00


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5045 Employer Paid EI 2,700.00 2,537.24 2,700.00

5050 Employer Paid RRSP 2,550.00 1,902.86 2,550.00

5055 Blue Cross Premiums 4,100.00 3,113.24 4,100.00

5060 Parking or Bus Pass 570.00 462.07 570.00

5000 Honorarium/salary/benefits - Other - 3,600.00 -

Total 5000 Honorarium/salary/benefits 186,220.00 114,073.53 186,220.00

6000 Expenses - - -

6005 HSGSA - Bannatyne Disbursements 17,550.00 541.29 17,550.00

6010 Campaigns 2,000.00 1.00 2,000.00

6020 Capital Expense

6025 Major Purchases 1,000.00 - 1,000.00

6035 Office Space 50,000.00 - 70,000.00

6040 Lounge Space 50,000.00 - 75,000.00

6020 Capital Expense - Other - - -

Total 6020 Capital Expense 101,000.00 - 146,000.00

6100 CFS Canada 26,000.00 - 26,000.00

6125 CFS Manitoba 17,500.00 - 17,500.00

6200 Council & Committees

6205 Venue Booking & Equipment 200.00 - 200.00

6210 Committee Hospitality 600.00 104.30 600.00

6215 Hospitality (Meals at Meetings) 4,000.00 1,180.56 4,000.00

6220 Parking/Bus for Meetings 500.00 336.80 500.00

6200 Council & Committees - Other - - -

Total 6200 Council & Committees 5,300.00 1,621.66 5,300.00

6300 Donations - - -

6325 Elections

6021 Elections 1,000.00 - 1,000.00

6325 Elections - Other 500.00 - 500.00

Total 6325 Elections 1,500.00 - 1,500.00

6375 External meeting Expenses

6380 CFS External Meetings 15,000.00 10,050.01 15,000.00

6385 Other External Meetings - 8,439.82 -

6375 External meeting Expenses - Other - - -

Total 6375 External meeting Expenses 15,000.00 18,489.83 15,000.00

6400 Fees

6405 Bank Service Charges 70.00 48.82 70.00

6410 Annual Incorporation Fee 25.00 25.00 25.00

6415

Subscriptions, Etc 300.00 217.67 300.00

6420 Professional Consulting 2,000.00 - 2,000.00

6425 Revenue Canada - Penalty Charge - - -

6430 University Charges - - -

6435 Other Fees 500.00 210.00 500.00

6400 Fees - Other -

-

Total 6400 Fees 2,895.00 501.49 2,895.00

6450 - Fees Paid to UMSU


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6451 - UMFM - 17,025.00 17,025.00

6452 - UMREG - 8,512.50 8,512.50

6453 - WUSC - 8,512.50 8,512.50

6454 - World Wise - 1,702.50 1,702.50

Engineers without Border 1,672.79 851.25

6450 - Fees Paid to UMSU - Other - - -

Total 6450 - Fees Paid to UMSU - 37,425.29 36,603.75

6475 Gradzette 19,500.00 12,099.42 19,500.00

6500 Grants

6503 Departmental Grants 50,000.00 16,582.50 50,000.00

6505 Graduate Teaching Award 100.00 100.00 100.00

6510 Special Projects 6,000.00 3,800.00 6,000.00

6520 Conference Grants 100,000.00 46,019.75 100,000.00

6535 Donations 6,000.00 1,000.00 6,000.00

6540 - Emergency Loans/Grants 3,000.00 2,451.00 3,000.00

6545 Childcare (PlayCare DayCare) 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00

6550 Holiday Hampers 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00

6555 Food Bank 3,000.00 - 3,000.00

6560 Tax Office 2,500.00 - 2,500.00

6500 Grants - Other - - -

Total 6500 Grants 176,600.00 75,953.25 176,600.00

6600 Promotions

6605 GSA Designed Items 2,000.00 3,550.36 2,000.00

6610 CFS Handbook 3,200.00 2,278.50 3,200.00

6615 Sports 1,000.00 - 1,000.00

6625 CFS Bulk Purchases 1,000.00 - 1,000.00

6640 CFS Website Administration - 31.50 -

Total 6600 Promotions 7,200.00 5,860.36 7,200.00

6725 Long Term Accounts Payable

6730 Expense - - -

6725 Long Term Accounts Payable - Other - - -

Total 6725 Long Term Accounts Payable -

-

6750 Office Expenses & Supplies

6755 Stationery and office supplies 3,100.00 925.29 3,100.00

6760 IOS Copier Lease 4,000.00 2,480.36 4,000.00

6765 IKON Photocopies 1,500.00 584.96 1,500.00

6770 Insurance 5,000.00 7,340.00 5,000.00

6775 Office Improvements 250.00 - 250.00

6777 CUPE3909 Expenses 200.00 318.40 200.00

6780 U of M - Monthly Ledger 1,500.00 994.35 1,500.00

6785 - Office Expenses/Supplies - Other 50.00 343.52 50.00

6750 Office Expenses & Supplies - Other - 172.48 -

Total 6750 Office Expenses & Supplies 15,600.00 13,159.36 15,600.00

6795 Professional Development 1,000.00 571.20 1,000.00


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6800 Programming

6805 Orientation 10,000.00 7,287.26 10,000.00

6810 Social Events 15,000.00 4,795.69 15,000.00

6815 Seminar Series 8,000.00 - 8,000.00

6820 Speakers Series 10,000.00 1,051.91 10,000.00

6825

GSA Awards Luncheon 3,000.00 4,536.53 3,000.00

6830 - Council Retreat 4,000.00 - 4,000.00

6800 Programming - Other - - -

Total 6800 Programming 50,000.00 17,671.39 50,000.00

6850 Endowment

6851 Endowment Fund 10,000.00 - 10,000.00

6852 Capital Fund 10,000.00 - 10,000.00

Total 6850 Endowment 20,000.00 - 20,000.00

6925 Professional Consulting

6930 Audit 7,000.00 5,500.83 7,000.00

6935 Legal 7,000.00 1,744.82 7,000.00

6940 Computer & Website Maintenance 30,000.00 20,839.02 30,000.00

6945 - Professional Consulting - Other 2,000.00 1,339.50 2,000.00

6925 Professional Consulting - Other - - -

Total 6925 Professional Consulting 46,000.00 29,424.17 46,000.00

6950 Retained Earnings Fund -

-

Total Expense 710,865.00 289,967.95 755,865.00

Net Income 535.00 63,925.00 (1,344.25)

SpeakerSeries

March1st,2011:Dr.RichardHeinzlAspartoftheannualGSASpeakerSeries,theGSAinvitedDr.RichardHeinzl,founderofDoctors

WithoutBordersCanadato speakonLessons fromAbroad:TheOpportunitiesofaBorderless

World.TheeventwasheldonMarch1st,2011attheBannatyneCampus.

ThisparticularspeakerserieswasajointventurewiththeFortGarryCampusandBannatyne

Campus.TheGSAcontributed$5,000,theHSGSAcontributed$2,000,theFacultyofMedicine,

theFacultyofGraduateStudies,andthePresidentsOfficecontributed$1,000each.

March28th,2012:StephenLewis

Forthe 2012SpeakerSeries, theGSA is seekinga partnershipwith StudentLife tobringMr.

StephenLewistotheUniversityofManitobafortheGSASpeakerSeriesonMarch28,2012.

Whilethepartnershipiscurrentlybeingdiscussed,assponsorsoftheeventtheGSAwouldbe

includedinpromotionalmaterials,andhavetheopportunitytoparticipateinareceptionwith

Mr.Lewisafterhispresentation.Mr.LewisisinternationallyrenownforhisworkonHIV/AIDSin

Africa,aswellashisexperiencewiththeUnitedNations.

The$5,000fundingallocationfortheannualspeakercanbefoundunderthebudgetlineitem

6820.


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Workshops

March7,2011aworkshopwasheldentitledHowtogetajobforgraduatestudentsworkshop

attheBannatynecampus.Thisworkshopincludedhowtobuildyourresume,howtogetajobat

theNationalMicrobiologyLab,communication,whatdoyouneedtoknowwhenapplyingajob,

jobsearchsuccessfortheFacultyofMedicine,NSERC,andlifesciences.

CopyrightInformationSession March8,2011.Presentationby DariaPatriefromEnglish,Film

andTheatreonFortGarryCampus.

HolidayFoodHampers

This year the GSA continued the working relationship with UMSU to cosponsor the annual

holiday hampers, distributing holiday hampers for graduate students in need. The GSA

purchased 50 hampers,using the full $5,000allocated to the program from the budget line

underHolidayHampers.Pick-upanddeliveryofthehampersoccurredonDecember15,2011.

Most registrations for holiday hampers were from international students, as well as from

students who have family and children. GSA President Peter Nawrot and Senator AdamReisachervolunteeredtodeliverhamperstograduatestudentswhowouldnotbeabletopick

themupin-person,whiletheVPAYijie(Jennifer)Chenassistedalldayindistributionfromthe

UMSUCouncilChamber.

ThehamperswerepreparedbyUMSU,andtoysfromtheholidaytoydriveweredonatedto

familieswithchildrenasgifts.Thehamperscontainedchicken/turkey,non-perishablefood,rice,

noodles,jam,teabagsaswellasstuffingandcranberrysauce.Pleasefindbelowtheholiday

hamperpercentchangesbetween2010-2011.Thisshouldbeusefulinreviewingthegrowthof

theholidayhamperprogram.

FoodBank

TheGSAbudgeted$3,000.00forthe2011-2012towardstheUniversityofManitobaFoodBank,

operatedbyUMSU.StudentsinneedcandropbytheUniversityFinancialAidandAwardsoffice

(4

th

floorofUniversityCentre)foraccesstotheUMSUfoodbank.TheGSAscontributionstothefoodbankcanbefoundunderbudgetlineitem6555.

GSAAwards&Bursaries

The Graduate Students Association confers peer-to-peer recognition of fellow graduate

studentswhoarecurrentlynotrecognizedbytheUniversityofManitobaGraduateFellowship

orother nationalawards.The Awards aredesigned to recognize theimportant contributions

!"#$%&' ()*+,' -%../ % !"#$%&' ()*+,' 01/+)&%2 -%.%,"&/"2 !"#$%&' ()*+,' 01/+ )&%2 -%.%,"&/ "2 !"#$%&' ()*+ ,' 01/+ )&%2

!" #$ %&'()#*+ ,$ !- .#// (&'.,),*+ %( -! ,% "$&'."),*+ ,0).$* ,()-$* "()0$*

3%&4%2,501"2.%5678796788

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>867&.$$-&B5&28>C6&5D7 6787 6788

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29/112

graduate students make to society through scholarship and community involvement. The

awards have been made possible by the generous contribution of Dr. James Burns, a levy

appliedtoallgraduatestudentsapprovedthroughaGSAreferendum,andacontributionmade

bytheManitobaScholarshipandBursaryInitiative.

Awards

The2011-2012GSAAwardsCommitteemetthroughoutthesummer,andcametoadecisionfor

theGSA2011-2012Awardrecipientsafterreviewing40applications.

TheGSAAwardswereawardedtothefollowingindividuals:

GraduateStudents'AssociationTeachingAward

Dr.DavidWattDepartmentofEnglish,Film&Theatre

GraduateStudents'Assoc.AwardforFulltimeMaster'sProgram

AlonWeinbergNativeStudies

DarioSchor-ElectricalandComputerEngineering

GraduateStudents'Assoc.AwardforFulltimeDoctorateProgram

GontshwanetseKethusegile-PeaceandConflictStudies

GraduateStudents'Assoc.AwardforParttimeMaster'sorDoctorateProgram

KhalieDanineJackson-Davis-Curriculum,TeachingandLearning

JenniferMcKinnon-Curriculum,TeachingandLearning

The GSA Awards Luncheonwas held onTuesday, August 30, 2011atMarshall McLuhanHall

(UniversityCentre)at theUniversityofManitobatoacknowledgegraduatestudentswhowon

awardsintheawardscompetition.Approximately80guestsattendedtheluncheontocelebratetheachievementsofthesegraduatestudents,includingtheMinisterofAdvanceEducation&

Literacy,Minister ofHousing& Community Development,Memberof Parliament Winnipeg

South,MLAforMorris,membersfromtheCouncilonPost-SecondaryEducation,guestsfrom

Manitoba Innovation, Energy & Mines, University of Manitoba Vice-Presidents, Registrars

Office, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Financial Aid & Awards, University of Manitoba Faculty

Association,GSA,HSGSA,CFS,UMSU,awardsrecipientsandtheirfamilies,supervisors,headsof

theirdepartments,andGSAcouncilors.Theeventwasverysuccessfulandincreasedtheprofile

oftheGSAamonggovernmentanduniversityrepresentatives.

The2011-2012GSAAwardscommitteemembersincluded:

Chair,VicePresident(Academic) JenniferChen

President PeterNawrot

VicePresident(External) ToniaBates

HSGSAVicePresident(Academic) MarkCollister

Senator OlivierGagne

HumanitiesDesignate MichelleKeller

SocialScienceDesignate TimMelnyk(graduated)

Nat.andAg.ScienceDesignate LauraCobus

ProfessionalStudiesDesignate HamedAghakhani


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GraduateStudent DavidBoutilier

GraduateStudent MohamadaliAlizadehsadrdraneshpour

GraduateStudent FatemehKhorasani

GraduateStudent GrahamParsons

The2012-2013GSAAwardsandTeachingAwardapplicationswillbeavailableonGSAwebsite

(www.umgsa.ca)bytheendofJanuary.

Bursaries

ThebursaryfundsfortheFall2011andWinter2012sessionswerereleasedinDecember2011

and deposited through students Aurora accounts. The UMSU and GSA Graduate Student

BursaryFund (Award number: 43819)hasbeen grantedto4 graduate students at $4,000 in

total.TheGSA/UMSUGraduateBursary(Awardnumber:44830)hasbeengrantedto7graduate

studentsat$7,000intotal.TheGraduateStudentsAssociationBursary(Awardnumber:45358)

hasbeengrantedto13graduatestudentsat$65,000intotal.Thetotalamountofbursaries

giventograduatestudentsis$76,000inadditiontotheGSAAwardsgivenforthe2011-2012

whichisvaluedat$50,000.

The 2011-2012 GSA has provided $126,000 in awards and bursaries to graduate

students.PleasefindbelowtheGSAbursarychangebetween20092012.

2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

UMSU&GSAGraduateStudent

BursaryFund

$1,00010=$10,000 $1,0005=$5,000 $1,0004=$4,000

GSA/UMSUGraduateBursary $1,00021=$21,000 $1,00020=$20,000 $1,0007=$7,000

GraduateStudentsAssociation

Bursary

$5,00015=$75,000 $5,00014=$70,000 $5,00013=$65,000

Total $106,000 $95,000 $76,000

ICSOrientationDay

TheInternationalCentreforStudentsheldorientationdaysonSeptember1and17,2011and

January6,2012.TheVPApresentedduringtheGSAsessions,whichincludedapproximately40

newinternationalgraduatestudentsinSeptember,and15-20newinternationalgraduate

studentsinJanuary.

TopicscoveredincludedGSAstructures,services,grants,advocacyandcampaigns.

GSAhandbooks,rulers,pamphletsandpromotionalmaterialsweredistributedtothestudents.

FundingIncreases

Asaresultofstudentanduniversitylobbyingefforts,theGovernmentofManitobaannounced

on April 14, 2011 the provision of long-term, stable funding increases to universities in the

province, including operating increases of 5% each year, for the next three years. The

government also announced a 1% cap on tuition fee increases, ensuring that universities in

Manitoba remain among the most affordable in the country. In addition, the provincial

government announced an additional $250,000 towards the ManitobaGraduate Scholarship

Programprovidingscholarshipstograduatestudentsintheprovince.


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Advocacy

Becauseoftheconfidentialandpersonalinformationassociatedwithadvocacycases,andinthe

interest of privacy, details of advocacy cases will not be presented in this report.

Advocacycasescanpertaintoacademicappeals(includingrelationshipsbetweenstudentsand

their advisors, funding, fees, plagiarism, time to completion issues and others) as well as

personalorhealthrelatedissues.

GSAExternalActivities

BoardofGovernors

UMGSAAutonomy

AttheJune2011meetingoftheBoardofGovernors,theBoardvotedinfavoroftheGSAbeing

recognizedasanautonomousstudentunionwherebythemembersoftheGraduateStudents

Association(studentsenrolledintheFacultyofGraduateStudies)beassesseda$68.88persemesterGSAStudentOrganizationFee,whichwillbeforwardedtotheGraduateStudents

Association.TheboardalsovotedthatmembersoftheGraduateStudentsAssociation

(studentsenrolledintheFacultyofGraduateStudies)beassessedan$8.375persemesterGSA

StudentLevyFee,whichwillbeforwardedtotheGraduateStudentsAssociation.TheBoard

alsovotedthatmembersoftheGraduateStudentsAssociation(studentsenrolledintheFaculty

ofGraduateStudies)willcontinuetobeassessedtheCanadianFederationofStudentsand

CanadianFederationofStudents-ManitobafeesassetbytheBoardofGovernorspreviously.

BoardMeetingStructure

TheBoardofGovernorsapprovedthechangeinthestructureandtimingofBoardmeetings.ThischangewillbeeffectiveJanuary2012.TheChairsummarizedthesubmission,statingthat

thekeytoitisreducingthenumberofBoardmeetingsfromseventosixannuallyandhaving

more in-depth discussions on strategic areas. The Chair reminded Board members that the

meetingshavealways been set for 4:00p.m. to7:00 p.m. even though the expectationand

practice has been to end by 6:00 p.m. and noted that under the new meeting model the

meetings will likelybethreehours long.TheChair then explained that therewouldbethree

policy/strategymeetingsandthreebusinessmeetingsperyear.Further,she statedthatsome

businessmattersmaycreep intothestrategymeetings,particularly inthebeginning,but that

wouldnotbetheintention.TheChairthenaddedthatthisnewmodelcouldnotbeallowedto

delay the necessary work oftheBoardso some flexibilityand ongoingmonitoringwouldbe

needed.Lastly,theChairnotedthatthismodelwouldallowdiscussionofsomebiggerissues

and provide opportunities for education on matters where the Board needs a better

understanding.

Re-appointmentofthePresidentoftheUniversity

TheBoardofGovernorshasre-appointedDr.DavidT.Barnardto a second five-year term as

PresidentandVice-Chancellor,beginningJuly1,2013.TheBoardmadethisappointmentonthe

recommendationofthePresidentialReviewCommittee.TheCommitteewasestablishedbythe


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Board to invite submissions from members of the community and seek feedback on the

Presidents performance and to recommend back to the Board on the advisability of re-

appointment.TheCommitteereceivedagooddealoffeedbackfrommembersoftheUniversity

communityandontheirbehalfIwishtothankthosewhotookthetimetosharetheirviews.

ThereviewhasprovidedanexcellentopportunitytohearfromtheUniversitycommunityontheirimpressionsofthePresidentsleadershipandthechallengesandopportunitiesfacingthe

University ofManitobagoing forward. These impressionswillbe sharedwith Dr.Barnard to

assisthiminhisongoingleadershipoftheUniversity.

ProfessorG.Lukcs

TheadministrationoftheUniversityofManitobaandProfessorG. Lukcshaveentered intoa

fairandmutuallyagreeduponsettlement.TheUniversityhasrescindedalldisciplinaryactions

against Professor Lukcs (including reprimand, suspension and denial of increment). All

outstandinglegalproceedingsbetweenthepartiesareterminated.Thepartieshavealsoagreed

thatitistotheirmutualbenefittoendtheemploymentrelationship.Thespecifictermsofthe

agreementareconfidentialandwillnotbedisclosed.

Pre-BudgetSubmissiontoHouseofCommonsStandingCommitteeonFinance

The University of Manitobas pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing

Committee on Finance includes three recommendations: 1. Provide funding for a Canadian

CerealResearchLab;2.Strengthen investmentin Canadasresearchgrantingagencies,and 3.

Createa newfundingprogramto supportinternational research collaborations.The Standing

CommitteewillreviewallrecommendationsinpreparationoftheFederalbudgetin2012.

ExecutiveLead,IndigenousAchievement

ThepositiontitlehasbeenconfirmedasExecutiveLead,IndigenousAchievement.Whenthe

new senior leadership position responsible for Aboriginal Achievement at the University of

Manitobawasapproved,thetitleExecutiveLead,AboriginalAchievementwasidentifiedasa

workingtitle.InordertobetterreflectboththeCanadianandInternationalIndigenousresearch

effortsat theUniversityofManitoba aswell as to furthersupport Indigenous students (First

Nations,MtisandInuit,includinginternationalIndigenousstudents)whoeitherplantoattend

the University of Manitoba or are currently enrolled at the University, Executive Lead,

IndigenousAchievementhasbeenidentifiedasamoreappropriatetitlefortheposition.Ms.

DeborahYoungwasappointedtothisnewly-createdpositioneffectiveJuly4,2011.

RestructuringofSecurityServicesattheUniversityofManitobaBannatyneCampus

TheUniversityofManitobaiscommittedtothesafetyandsecurityofitsstudents,staffand

visitors.Aspartofthatcommitmentwefeltitimportanttoreviewourcurrentsecuritysystem

toensureresourcesandstaffinglevelsinSecurityServicesatboththeFortGarryandBannatyne

campusareappropriateandsufficientbasedonthetypeandfrequencyofcallsforservice.

That review analyzedall calls for service receivedatboth campusesover a six- year period

between 2004 and 2010. The results of that review indicated that we could optimize our

resourcesandmaintainahigh levelofsecuritybyreorganizingourSecurityServices staff ina


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moretargetedway.ThisdecisionwasnotpartoftheROSEproject.Itderivedfromareviewof

thenatureandfrequencyofsecurityservicecallsforassistanceoverasixyearperiod.

SpecialConstablesandsecurityguardsprovideasimilarservice.SpecialConstablesareprovided

with a special designationunder anagreement with the Province ofManitoba that enables

themtolaychargesunderalimitednumberofprovincialandmunicipalstatutessuchasthe

HighwayTrafficAct,thePettyTrespassActandtheCityofWinnipegnoiseby-law.

Thesix-yearreviewofthenatureandtypeofsecuritycallsreceivedat theBannatynecampus

showed that the vast majority of those calls involved situations which do not require the

servicesofa SpecialConstable.Infact,over97.5percentofallcallsattheBannatynecampus

werefor situationsorincidentswhichdidnotrequireanofficerwithSpecialConstablestatus.

NearlythreequartersofcallsreceivedattheBannatynecampusinvolvedattendingtounlocked

doorsor buildingalarms.In contrast, the sizeof the FortGarrycampus and the nature and

frequencyofactivitiesheldthereresultedinahighernumberofincidentswhichdidrequirethe

involvementofSpecialConstables.

UM security staff will be on site at all times at the Bannatyne campus to assist staff andstudents. Calls related to issues of personal safety will be immediately dispatched to the

Winnipeg Police Service, as they always have been. The University of Manitoba enjoys an

excellentworkingrelationshipwiththeHealthSciencesCentreandtheWinnipegPoliceService

andwillcontinuetoworkwithbothagencies.Studentsandstaffrequiringanescorttotheircar

orbusstopwillbeabletoaccesstheservicesofsecuritypersonnel.

All patrol officers atBannatyne have been offeredpatrol officer positions at the Fort Garry

campusattheirsameclassificationandsalarystep.

Theproperalignmentof skills andresourcesensuresourcontinuedefficient responseto the

safetyandsecurityofallstaffandstudentsoftheUniversityofManitoba.

FGSFacultyCouncil

Dr.Barnardattendedandtoldfacultymembersthatsomeprogramswillreceivemorefunding

whileotherprogramwillbecutaspartoftheAcademicRestructuringPlan.Therewasabrief

questionandanswerperiodwiththePresidentoftheUniversityandfacultymembersrequested

thattheUniversityadministrationconsultandcommunicatemorewithfacultymembersbefore

initiatingchanges.

StudentAdvising

The President of the University approached the Vice Provost of Students last year about

reviewing advising services on campus. This is a common area for improvement at many

institutions. Several other Canadian institutions have conducted similar reviews which the

UniversityofManitobacanlearnfrom.Theprojectedtimelineforthereviewhasbeensetat15

to18 months. There isanactive Advisors Exchangegroup on campus that meets regularly,

whichischairedbyGregSobie.Gregwillliaiseandrelayinformationtoandfromthisgroup.

Centralizingadvisingservicesacrosscampusisnotbeingconsidered.Advisingiscloselytiedto


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studentretentionandstudentsatisfaction.Inordertoimproveservicestoourstudentbody,the

followingwillbeconsidered:

Whatisacademicadvising?

What are the students needs during the various stages throughout their academic

careers?

Howsatisfiedarestudentswithadvising?

Whatarethegaps?

Whatarethebestpracticesinadvisingatotherpost-secondaryinstitutions?

WhatrecommendationsshouldbemadetoimproveadvisingattheUniversity?

Graduate students requireothertypesof specializedservices.Aquestionarose if this review

includethegraduateadvisorandstudentrelationship?Ananswerwasnotclearlystated.

International students particularly have increased stress with these situations. Cross-faculty

advisingshouldbeconsideredasstudentsmayreceiveconflictinginformation,andalsocanfeel

theyarebeingsentfromoffice-to-officewithoutproperadvice.

Advisingstartsasearlyasrecruitmentandcontinuesthroughoutthelifeofastudent(includingCCRopportunities)tograduation.

Fourcomponentsofacademicadvisinginclude:

Program; Academic; Career Development/Professional Opportunities; and Specialized

(i.e.,Accessibility,Athletic,International,Aboriginal,Graduate).

WirelessAccess

Thereareseveralareasthatdonothavewirelessserviceoncampus.Unfortunately,theplanto

have this projectcompleted bySeptember2012 is not feasible. ISTis currently reviewing all

spacesoncampuswithandwithoutaccessandtheyarecoordinatingwithPhysicalPlanttoplanthisproject.ItisexpectedthataplanwillbecommunicatedtotheUniversitycommunityshortly

aftertheholidaybreak,includinga timelineas towhatcanbecompletedbySeptember2012.

WirelessisavailableinPembinaHallResidence.

EmailandIDs

Therearetwoissueswithregardstostudentemailaccounts.Thefirstissueincludesbeingable

toclaimaUM IDearly(atapplication,admittance,oracceptance,asopposedtoregistration).

TheearlierastudentisabletogetanID,theearliertheorientationprocesscanbegin.Thishas

beendiscussedwithISTataStudentAffairsLeadershipTeammeeting.Thesecondissuehasto

do with students not using their UM account, and/or having it forwarded to their personal

account. There arepotential security andprivacy issues with thispractice. Students findthe

portalcumbersomeanddonotusethisaccountonaregularbasis.TheUniversityofManitoba

willbechangingthestudentemailsystemtoeitherMicrosoftOfficeorGoogle.

MobileApp

Frustrationhasbeenexpressedthatthisappisnotavailableforblackberriesasmanystudents

areblackberryusers.Thereisaconcernthattherewasnostudentinputonthedevelopmentof


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theapp,norontheadvisorycommitteeforupdatingtheappeventhoughtheywereassured

that they are to be included. Student Affairs has also asked for representation on this

committee.

InternationalStudentHealthPlan

The Registrar advised that there was a meeting the appropriate provincial ministers and

representativesfromtheManitobapost-secondaryinstitutions.Itishopedthatclarificationof

the plan is provided and that a clear communications plan with a FAQ document can be

availableforallparties.Thereare somequestionsaboutearlyenrolmentavailabilityandhow

studentscanobtainarefundfromthecurrentUMplan,ifapplicable.

UndergraduateResearchOpportunities

Sincetheprovincialelection,therehasbeenacontinuedpushtoobtainadequatefundingfor

research activities and therehas been some success todate. There is anonline module on

researchintegrityavailablewhichisaself-servicetutorialwhichtakesapproximatelysixhoursto

complete. The Research Office has reviewed it, have received very positive feedback fromconsultations, and therefore the University of Manitoba will be purchasing the software. A

certificate is provided upon completion of the module whichwill add considerable value to

studentscvs.ItisbeingconsideredfortheCCRaswell.Thisisafantasticopportunityforour

studentsaswewillbethefirstCanadianuniversitytooffertheprogram.Itisexpectedtobe

launchedinlatespring.Studentsinsciencearelaunchingaresearchjournal,whichissupported

bythedeansofficesinscienceandengineering.Itwillbepeerreviewedandtherearefaculty

advisorsthatwillsupporttheinitiative.ItwillbelaunchedinJanuary2012.

Signage/Wayfinding

TheAssistantVicePresidentofAdministrationspoketoareportoutliningtermsofreferencefortheworkinggrouponoutdoorwayfinding(includingthetunnelsystem).Wirelesssignagewill

beconsideredaspartofthisgroupseffortsaswell.Thegroupisfocusingonaddressingthe

needsof new students and visitors to campus and are working on some items that can be

completedwithashortturnaroundtime.

StudentResidenceCapitalPlan

Itisacknowledgedthatmoreresidencesarerequiredoncampus.Residenceoperationscannot

runadeficit.Asignificantchallengeinthisregardisthatfeesarecollectedforonlyeightmonths

of the year.There isa need to retrofitUniversity College and Mary SpeechlyHall (both are

almost 45 years old). McLean Crescent is evolving as residence row for undergraduate

studentsasresidencesareinaclusterandneartothedininghall.TheCampusPlanningOfficeis

creatingamasterplanfortheSouthwoodLandswhichwillincludeoptionstobuildresidences

forgraduatestudentshousingandfamilyhousingforinternationalandAboriginalstudents.Itis

importanttohavetheseoptionsasitisincreasinglydifficultforthesegroupstofindappropriate

andsafehousing,particularlyclosetocampus.Therearethreeoptionsforthemanagementof

newresidences:UMindependent(existingsystem),private(similartoatraditionalapartment),

orinpartnership(adeveloperconstructsandmanagestheproperty,butallowstheresidence

lifeprogrammingtoberunbyourstaff).Duringthesummer,thedeveloperhastheabilityto


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runtheproperty as a hotel.As theStrategic Enrolment Management plan includes doubling

graduatestudentenrolmentoverthenextfivetosevenyearsandalsoincreasingAboriginaland

internationalstudentenrolment,theresidencecomponentiskeyinplanning.

PersonalSafety

ThestudentsofBannatyneCampuswillbeholdinganeventwithoutSecurityServices(usingthe

FAQ document). The Assistant Vice President of Administration announced that the new

Bannatyne Security Services plan will not be implemented until the end of January, so the

directorofsecurityservicescanattendameetingintheearlynewyear.Theremaybeanopen

forumarrangedforallfaculty,staffandstudentstocommunicateandclarifycorrectinformation

aroundthisissue.TheCommitteewasassuredthatsafetyonallcampusesisahighpriorityof

the University and the protocols of security service will not be changed as a result of this

initiative.

RegardinglightingontheFortGarrycampus,apilotprojectwillbestartedwithchanginglights

onGilsonCrescent(leadingintoNlot)toflorescentlighting.Thecurrentlightingcastsshadows.

Thepilotprojectwillassessthedifficultytochangebulbsandwhetherthelightingimproves.Patwillfollow-up about thepossibility of installing a swipe card systemat theDentistry parking

entranceatBannatyne.

Parking

TheDirectorofAncillaryServicesadvisedthataParkingAdvisoryCommitteeisbeingestablished

which will meet quarterly. The membership includes students and administrative

representatives.AnewParkingServicesManagerhasnowbeenhired,andthefirstmeetingof

this group will be held very soon. The committee currently does not a graduate student

representative.UMGSAwillpursuetohaverepresentationonthiscommittee.

EnhancingStudentSpacesonCampus

TheAssistantVicePresidentofAdministrationadvisedthathisstaffandmembersofUMSUare

workingtogetheron theStudentSpaceImplementationTeam(SSIT).ProjectsincludetheArts

loungeandtheArmestunnelspacewhicharebothmovingforward.

TheStudentLifeofficewillhaveastaffoftwelveinJanuary2012anditwillmaintainthespaceit

hascurrentlyuntilthespring.Thisofficerequireshigh-trafficstudentspaceastheywelcomeall

studentsandprovideservicestotheentirestudentbody.Inaddition,theofficeprovidesspace

forStudent Recruitmentto meet prospectivestudents,aswellas formanystudent program

groups.TheAssistantVicePresidentofAdministrationisworkingoncampusspaceplanning.

Itwasnoted that theUniversity Centre Agreement is being redrafted and is currently being

reviewed by the Legal Office. This agreement is between UMSU and the University Centre

servicestosetoutbestpracticesand theallocationandcontrolof space inUniversityCentre.

Theoriginalagreementwassignedin1987.


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CanadianFederationofStudents

TheCanadianFederationofStudentsoffersanumberofprogrammesandservicesinorderto

meettheuniqueneedsofstudentsandtohelpstudentssavemoney.

Services-ISIC

TheISICistheonlyinternationallyrecognizedproofoffull-timestudentstatusintheworldandisa

studenttraveldiscountcardinthat70countriesworldwide,includingCanada.Iftravellingabroad,

theISICprovidesdiscountsonaccommodation,admissiontohistoricalsitesandmuseums,and

transportation.StudentsreceiveexclusiveWestJetdiscountswiththeISIC.Studentsreceive10%off

whentheyusetheirISICtobookaroomatMotel6locations.IfyouhaveavalidISICyoucansave

upto90%offtheretailpriceofMicrosoftSoftwaresuchas:

Office2010ProfessionalPlusforPC

Office2011forMac

MicrosoftProject

MicrosoftVisioWindows7operatingsystem

ForafulllistofISICdiscountsinCanadaandabroadvisitisic.org.ThepriceoftheISICis$20.00.For

full-timestudentswhoaremembersofeithertheCanadianFederationofStudentortheCanadian

FederationofStudents-Service,thecardisissuedasabenefitofmembership(i.e.the$20.00feeis

waived).

218 ISIC cardswere providedfor graduate students this past year. This totals toa savingsof

$4,360.00forourstudents.

ServicesStudentsaverDiscountCard

TheStudentsaverCardisCanada'sonlystudentownedandoperatednationalstudentdiscount

program.WiththousandsofdiscountsacrossCanada,Studentsaverhelpsstudentssavemoney

oneverydaypurchaseslikebooks,clothing,food,andentertainment.

Each year, Federationmembers receivetheir Studentsaver Card throughtheir local students'

association.Memberssimplytaketheircardtoanyof theparticipatingbusinessesto receive

discountsrangingfrom10%to50%offpurchasedgoodsandservices.Inadditiontodiscounts,

the card acts as a Federation membership card. Unlike the ISIC, the Studentsaver Card is

availabletopart-timestudents.

Visitthestudentsaverwebsitehere: www.studentsaver.ca

ServicesUfile.ca

InanefforttomakeUFileaccessibletomoreCanadians,UFile.caprovidesalargenumberof

taxpayers with the opportunity to file their tax returns with UFile.ONLINE taxsoftware,

absolutelyfreeofcharge.Federationmembersareeligibleforthisprogramandmanygraduate

studentsmakeuseofthisservice.TheUMGSAcontributes$2500.00eachyeartowardsthetax


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officethatUMSUoperatestoassistpeopletofiletheirtaxes.Inaddition,UMGSAhashostedan

informationsessionwiththeCanadianCustomsandRevenueAgencytoprovidestudentswith

theskillsandknowledgetohelpthemcompletetheirtaxreturns.

InternalMattersregardingtherelationshipbetweenCFSandUMGSA

Ms.Gonsalves washired to investigatea possible loanowing to theCanadianFederationof

Studentsoveradecadeagoandhassubsequentlyprovidedapreliminaryreportofherfindings.

Thisreportisanobjectivereportthatisstatingfactsbutinnowayprovidesanyconclusions.I

have read through the report and note that there is a lot more material that needs to be

reviewedandthatthisisapreliminaryreport.Atthisstagewehaveinformationthatdoesnot

clearly show whether GSA has joined CFS such that GSA must collect fees from graduate

studentsatUniversityofManitobaforCFSandremittoCFS.Thereportatthisearlystagedoes

notcontainarecommendationorconclusionastowhattheavailableoptionsare,whichismore

than understandable given the internal contradictions in the material that was

summarized.Uponconsultationwithourlegalcounselsreviewofthereportthefollowingwas

stated:

Perhapstheonlyconclusionorrecommendationthatcouldbemadeatthisstageisthatinsufficient and contradictory information discovered to date suggests that further

research and investigation iswarranted before it will be possible to suggest further

actions.

The report will be given to the membership at the upcoming Annual General Meeting to

determinethewillofthemembershiptofurtherresearch,investigate,analyse,andsynthesize

thematerialsthathavebeencollected.

ThedissentofLocal96(UniversityofManitobaGraduateStudentsAssociation)onthemotion

toadopttheagendaasamendedtonotincludeitem4."CFS-Manitoba:OperationReviews",at

theJanuary17,2012ProvincialExecutivemeetingleftusnochoicebuttoleavetheProvincialExecutive on principal of dissent regarding changes to theagenda that prevented discussion

deemedtobeof severeimportancebyourco-representatives.Thepositionof Local96is that

weareinviolationofthebylawsofCFSManitobaandthatLocal96cannotfurtherparticipateif

thedecisionofthedirectorsistobreakthebylawsofCFSManitoba.

Senate

KeypointsofsenatemeetingsheldfromMay2011untilDecember2011arepresented.Please

addressanyquestionstotheappropriatesenator;

May2011:SenatorGagn

June2011:SenatorKarari

September2011:SenatorKarari

October2011:SenatorGagn

November2011:SenatorReisacher

December2011:SenatorReisacher

Agendasofanyandallsenatemeetingsareavailableatthefollowingwebsite:

http://www.umanitoba.ca/admin/governance/senate/agendas/index.html


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Minutesofthesenatemeetingsareavailableatthefollowingwebsite:

http://www.umanitoba.ca/admin/governance/senate/minutes/index.html

A brief report regarding senate committee activities is also presented by each senator

(attached).

May2011meeting

ThebachelorofLaws(LL.B.)degreewasrenamedtoJurisDoctor(J.D.).Thiswasdonetofollowa

trendacrossCanadaofdepartingfromthehistoricalBritishrootsoftheLL.B.Itwasnotedthat

thisdoesnotmaketherecipientsoftheJ.D. doctors.

An annual report for all senate committees was included in the agenda for information

purposes.

The 2011 budget was announced, promising the University of Manitoba an operating grantincreaseof5%annuallyforthenextthreeyears.A$250000increasetotheManitobaGraduate

Scholarshipwas also announced fora total of$2,250,000 available tograduate students this

year.

June2011meeting

1. Faculty of Education Recognition of Degrees from Booth College and ProvidenceCollege(Page53-55)

ReportondegreerecognitionfromBoothandProvidencecollegesconcernstherecognitionof

certain degrees from non-unionized institutions/colleges in Manitoba that have faith-basedhiring and tenure perceived by some faculties as constituting insufficient protections for

academicfreedom.

Ms. Gottheil (Vice Provost, Students) MOVED a motion on behalf of the committee, THAT:

Senate approve the Report of the Senate Committee onAdmissions regarding the Faculty of

Education, recognition of degrees fromBooth CollegeandProvidence CollegedatedApril 15,

2011.

Aftersomedebatethemotionwascarried.

2. FacultyofMedicine:ChangesinAdmissionRequirements(Page56)

This report from the Faculty of medicine constituted the numerous changes to admission

requirements. First was a clarification of the definition of Manitoba applicant, secondly a

clarificationtoensureconsistencywithCanadianForcesmemberstoensurethedefinitionwas

the same aswas used inother provinces, the third related toAboriginal applicants and the

documentation that required for students to declare themselves as being Aboriginal which

SCADMrecommendedbemoreinclusivetoalignwiththedefinitionsfromotherprovinces.


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Ms. Gottheil (Vice Provost, Students) MOVED, on behalf of the committee, THAT: Senate

approvetheReportof theSenateCommitteeonAdmissionsregardingtheFacultyofMedicine

datedApril15,2011.

AftersomedebatetheMotionwascarried.

3. ProposaltointroduceaCitationinInternationalization(Page62)This Proposal for citation on internationalization recommends that graduating students who

meet certainrequirements toobtaina specialcitation on their degree inadditiontotheco-

curricularrecordsystemnowinplace.

Precisely,recognizingthatthegraduateisa'globalcitizen'thisaccreditationwillprovide'value-

added'degreestohelpgraduatesstandoutinthepost-graduationlabourmarketandthereby

attractpotentialstudents.

September2011meeting

1. Booth Colleges (See II.1): It was reported that the Senate Committee on Approved

Teaching Centres has considered the list of proposed courses and instructors as

submitted by Booth University College for cross-registration with the University of

Manitobain2011-2012.FormoreinformationonBoothColleges,pleaseseemyJune

reportabove.

2. Application fortheUniversity ofManitobaResearchGroup: (SeeIII.3): Therewasa

report about the establishment if the above mentioned group. The envisioned

outcomesoftheQualitativeResearchGroup(QRG)aremanifold.One,itwillserveto

advancethevolumeandqualityofqualitativeresearchacrossmultipledisciplinesatthe

UniversityofManitoba.TheQRGprovidesassistancetoresearchers,andmentoringtograduateandundergraduatestudentsengagedinqualitativeresearch,including mixed

methods.Two, it fosters collegial research partnerships across departments, faculties

andstudents,Thiswillcontributetothefurtheringoftheuniversity'sresearchpriorities

forexample, in a way that promotesa collegial climateacrossdisciplines.Lastly, the

QRG will serve to further the University of Manitoba's profile both nationally and

internationally.

3. Submission of graduate course, curriculumandprogram changes: (See IX.1). It was

reportedthattheFacultyofGraduateStudieshasresponsibilityforallmattersrelating

to the submission of graduate course, curriculum and program changes.

RecommendationsfornewprogramsorprogramchangesaresubmittedbytheFaculty

CouncilofGraduateStudiesfortheapprovalofSenate.ItwasreportedthattheFaculty

Council ofGraduate Studies voted via e-mail on June27,2011 to considerproposals

fromtheDepartmentofComputerScienceandtheDepartmentofGeologicalSciences

October2011meeting

Nothing of direct interest to students. The monthly student senate caucus meeting was

cancelledforthatreason.


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A Manitoba Palliative Care and Education for Sustainable Well-Being research groups were

established. The purpose of the formation of new research groups is to encourage

collaborationsandtosecureadditionalfundsfromexternalfundingagencies.

November2011meeting

TherewerethreemainpointsofinteresttograduatestudentsduringthisSenatemeeting.

First,SenateapprovedaproposalfromtheFacultyofGraduateStudiesthatwouldintroducean

Ph.D. inNursing. Itwas supported by thePlanningandPriorities Committee, and intends to

admit sexdoctoralstudents every twoyears (with a minimumof 12students). Students will

haveaccesstoUofMGraduateFellowshipsandotherresearchfundingfromtheFaculty.

TheSenateapprovedtherenewaloftheManitobaCentreforNursingandHealthResearchfor

thenextfiveyears.Thereview,completedbytheSenateCommitteeonUniversityResearch,

wasrequiredbyprocedure.

Senate also approved the re-structuring of the Senate Committees on Animal Care and the

EthicsofResearch Involving Human Subjects.Under thenew structure,Senate retainspolicy

authority,butthe day-to-day issueswould behandledbya non-Senatecommittee.Thenew

committee,whichwouldinclude twograduatestudentsselectedby theGSA,wouldreport to

Senateatleastannually.

Otherpointsoninterestnotdirectlyrelatedtograduatestudentsinclude:

a) Senate approved a change to the final examination regulations for the Faculty of

Science. This eliminated a requirement that all final exams be worth at least fifty

percentoftheoverallgrade.

b) SenateapprovedachangetotheDonnaR.MooreBursariesinMedicine.TheawardisnowtargetedtowardsAboriginalwomen.

December2011meeting

TherewasonemainpointofinteresttograduatestudentsduringthisSenatemeeting.

TheSenateapprovedamotionfromtheJointSenatesCommitteeon JointMastersPrograms

BetweentheUniversityofWinnipegandManitobatoincludethenamesofbothinstitutionson

thedegreeparchment for theJoint Masters Program inReligion. TheSenate also approved

alterationstotheregulationoftheJointDisciplineCommitteeofHistory.

Otherpointsoninterestnotdirectlyrelatedtograduatestudentsinclude:

a) TheannualreportoftheInternationalCollegeofManitoba.

b) TheFacultyofAgriculturalandFoodSciencesincreasedtheadmissionaverageforentry

to the Agriculture Diploma program from 50 to 60 percent (barring extenuating

circumstances).

c) TheFacultyofDentistryeliminatedtheTransferApplicantcategory.Ithasnotbeenused

inthepast10years.


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SenatecommitteeupdatesSenatorGagn

ReportfortheSenateCommitteeonUniversityResearch

ThecommitteehasmettwicefromMay2011toDecember2011.

September2011

Acallfor3newresearchchairsallocatedtotheUniversitywassentouttofaculties(2SSHRC,1

CIHR).Anewendowedchairincardiologywasrecommendedtobeestablishedtosenate.The

termfortheManitobaCentreforNursingandHealthResearchwasreviewedandrenewedfora

term of 5 years. Subcommittees were struck toevaluate fourresearchinstitutes: theHealth

Leisure&HumanPerformance,Disaster,LegalandCentreforHumanRightsresearchinstitutes

December2011

ThetermfortheInstitutefortheHumanitieswasreviewedandrenewedforatermof5years.

TheCentreforHumanRightsResearchwasestablished.AnewdraftoftheStrategicResearchPlanoftheUniversitywaspresentedforpotentialfurtherrevisions.Asubcommitteewasstruck

toevaluatetheManitobaInstituteforMaterialsresearchinstitute

ReportfortheJointSenatesCommitteeonMaster'sProgramsAppeals

Thecommitteehasnotmetinthereportingperiod

SenatecommitteeupdatesSenatorKarari

ReportfortheSenateCommitteeonAcademicandAdmissionAppeals

The Committee has dealtwith a number of appeals in the course of 2011. In keeping with

convention,thesehearingshavebeensummarisedwithoutcompromisingtheconfidentialityof

theappellants.

SenatecommitteeupdatesSenatorReisacher

AllsenatecommitteeswerealreadyfilledatthetimeofelectionofsenatorReisacherinOctober

2011.Thereisnothingtoreport.

ExternalMeetingsandConferences

CanadianFederationofStudentsSemiAnnualMeeting-November2326,2011

Gatineau,Quebec

Attendees:

university of manitoba graduate students' association - 2012 annual general meeting package

Documents