With the province-wide strike by public school support staff beginning on Monday, October 6, the GSA recognizes that many graduate students with school-aged children may face additional pressures. Below is a list of resources available through the GSA, the University of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta, as well as community supports to help graduate student-parents navigate this period. Feeding…
The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) of the University of Alberta acknowledges the deeply troubling and ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including the recent escalation between Israel and Iran. We recognize that global conflicts affect members of our campus community in very real and personal ways—especially those with family, heritage, or community ties to the regions involved. During this time,…
The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) is excited to share the Strategic Work Plan (SWP) Final Report for 2024–2025. This document captures the collective priorities, goals, and initiatives set by the GSA to advocate for graduate students and enhance their academic, social, and professional experience at the University of Alberta. Highlights of the SWP include: The SWP was developed collaboratively through consultations with…
In response to growing challenges faced by our respective memberships, including economic instability, austerity, and shifting workplace demands, four University of Alberta associations have formed a coalition to amplify our collective voice and advocate more effectively for solutions. The new Coalition of University of Alberta Associations (CUAA) includes NASA, the Postdoctoral Fellows Association (PDFA), the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), and the University…
The University of Alberta Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), alongside student unions and post-secondary leaders across Alberta, has successfully advocated for key exemptions under the Provincial Priorities Act (PPA)—formerly known as Bill 18—which will take effect on April 1, 2025. The PPA requires Alberta’s public institutions to receive provincial approval before entering agreements with the federal government, raising concerns about its…
Written by Emma Chambers & Hannah Bayne, GSA EDI Committee Members Report Summary & Organization Harm reduction supplies and information are essential health services in Canadian universities. This report serves as a call to action for the University of Alberta and all Canadian universities to implement harm reduction strategies in all campus spaces where alcohol consumption occurs or could occur.…
Edmonton, AB — The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) at University of Alberta (UofA) expresses concerns over the province’s 2025 Budget and its failure to address the systemic underfunding of post-secondary institutions (PSIs). Despite Alberta’s surplus in 2024, the budget includes no increase to the operating grants for public PSIs, reduces financial aid for students, and redirects public funds toward private,…
An open letter from the students’ associations of your province. Dear Government of Alberta, Today, we twenty-five students’ associations of Alberta urge you to restore operating grant funding for the province’s public and nonprofit post-secondary institutions (PSIs). Since cuts began in 2019, Alberta has dropped from being Canada’s third-most educated province to its sixth, and PSIs that were once a…
The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) has issued a response to the independent review of the encampment protest that took place on campus in May 2024. In this statement, the GSA addresses the findings of the report, expresses concerns regarding the university administration’s handling of the situation, and outlines recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The Graduate Students’ Association…
The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) is excited to announce the launch of the Graduate Course-Based Master’s Community Engagement Award! This award, created in collaboration with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS), is designed to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of course-based master’s students at the University of Alberta. It highlights academic achievement, leadership, and dedication to community…
