GSA Fees, Budget, and Audit
Membership Fees and Benefits
The GSA membership fee is $156.02 annually for full-time graduate students and $117.01 annually for part-time graduate students. The GSA is a fee-driven organization and the collection of the GSA membership fee supports every aspect of the organization's infrastructure (including the provision of services, advocacy work, and human resources and office administration costs). GSA members also pay additional fees associated with selected GSA services.
The GSA, pursuant to its mandate under the Post-Secondary Learning Act, provides a wealth of services to its members that enrich the graduate student experience at the University of Alberta.
Budget
The obligations of GSA Council, the GSA Budget and Finance Committee (GSA BFC), GSA management, the President, and the GSA Board (GSAB) are outlined in GSA Bylaw and Policy, Section K: Finances.
The principles guiding the GSA in the planning and management of the budget are also outlined in full in GSA Bylaw and Policy, Section K: Finances, and, briefly, focus on the following:
- Being open and transparent, and encouraging input from the GSAB and the GSA BFC;
- Considering the GSA's vision, mission, and mandate, using the GSA Board Strategic Work Plan as a guide;
- Ensuring long-term viability;
- Supporting resource accountability;
- Delegating budget decisions; and
- Proposing an inclusive budget to GSA Council.
Audit
In accordance with Section 97(1) of the Post-Secondary Learning Act, the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) is required to provide the University of Alberta’s Board of Governors with audited financial statements each year. For more information on this process, please refer to Section K: Finances of the GSA Bylaw and Policy.
Business Travel
2023-2024 Business Travel Expenses:
GSA student leaders are pursuing limited advocacy-related business travel in the current climate but are participating in online advocacy and information-sharing meeting opportunities.
GSA Directly-Elected Officers, outside of business and advocacy travel (which is posted above) and transition costs, have an expense line for training and incidental advocacy work (including hosting expenses, business lunches, transportation costs (where warranted), etc and questions re specific expenses can be directed to the GSA President.
