Grad Council

The Graduate Representative Council (GRC) is comprised of one representative (“Grad Rep”) from each academic unit with a graduate program at UVic, the five member GSS Executive Board, and a representative of CUPE 4163 (representing sessionals and teaching and research assistants). The Grad Council meets monthly on Tuesdays at 5pm.

Representatives to the GRC are elected by students within their respective department each September.

Each Grad Rep serves on a subcommittee of the GRC. GSS committees help to carry out the goals and directives of the GRC. Committees have seats for members at large, and participation in a GRC committee is a key way to influence decisions made by your student society.

2022-23

Academic Unit

Grad Rep

AnthropologyRachel Hooton
Art History and Visual StudiesSarah Roberts, Megan Austin
Biochemistry and MicrobiologyLaden Kalani, Loc Ngo
BiologyTalen Rimmer, Sarah Lane
BusinessEthan Sun
Chemistry
Gregory Gaube
Child and Youth Care 
Civil EngineeringDavid Serrano Suarez, Prakriti Raizada
Computer Science
Andrea Nguyen
CUPE 
  
Curriculum and InstructionLindsey Beal
Earth and Ocean SciencesMoronke Harris
Economics 
Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies
Weiyi Liu, Sindhu Merwin
Electrical and Computer EngineeringAmer Kumar, Anushka Singh
EnglishLucie Kotěšovská
Environmental StudiesLauren Burton
Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education 
  
FrenchCédric Trahan 
Geography Kali McDougall
Germanic and Slavic Studies 
Greek and Roman StudiesAlex Galumbeck
Health Information Science Dee Dee Wong, Evangeline Wagner
History 
Indigenous Education 
Interdisciplinary Studies 
LawKristy Broadhead
LinguisticsMatthew Somerville, Rosemary Webb
Mathematics and Statistics 
Mechanical Engineering 
Medical Sciences/NeuroscienceKamal Narayana
Music 
NursingLorilee Scott
Pacific and Asian StudiesIvan Garcimartin
Philosophy 
Physics and AstronomySamuel Fielder
Political ScienceKaty Rosnau, Marlowe Evans
PsychologyHeba Elgharbawy, Cian Dabrowski 
  
Public AdministrationStephanie Dahling
Public Health and Social PolicyZachery Derrick
Social Dimensions of HealthOlive Li, Dorothy Beale
Social Work 
SociologyTyler Branston, Hossein Rahmati
TheatreBarbara Clerihue
Visual Arts 
WritingHana Mason

Frequently Asked Questions

Department reps are elected in September and each department has its own election process. Typically an election is held by the department grad association, or an election coordinated by the grad secretary. In some cases there is a faculty wide association that manages the elections, such as the Association of Graduate Education Students. Ask your graduate secretary or department grad association about your department’s process.

Departments should make efforts to select the representative before the first meeting of the Council in September.

* represent the interests of fellow grad students in your department through the GSS to UVic

* report back to your home department on discussions and decisions made during grad council meetings

* participate in a GSS committee (communications, events, finance, policy, student affairs)

* allow their academic unit to access the GSS Department Grant fund to organize an academic/social event or activity

* meet with grad students in your program to discuss common issues of concern and bring concerns and issues raised back to grad council

* participate in major governance decisions about the GSS

* attend the monthly grad rep council meetings (8-10 per year), and the Annual General Meeting and Semi-annual General Meeting

* sit on university committees and participate in major decisions regarding GSS positions on university policy

Grad Council meetings are open to all members of the Society. However, each academic unit has only one vote.  Several academic units have had success in designating one representative AND one alternate, when the rep and alternate have a good collaborative working relationship.  These reps/alternates can coordinate to ensure the academic unit has representation at every meeting, and if both attend the meeting, they can come to consensus on how to use their one voting card.  Electing a rep and alternate at the outset of the year if there is willingness to share the work and closely communicate, can be a great strategy.

Once the GSS is notified that you have been elected, you will be sent a schedule of meetings. You can also check out the schedule of meetings here

Grad Council meetings are held on Tuesday evenings once per month, September – April, with one additional meeting during the summer.

Grad reps are also expected to attend the GSS Annual General Meeting and Semi-Annual General Meeting.

For now, all meetings are being held online but we look forward to when we will be able to see you all again in person!

Please ensure that your grad secretary or departmental graduate association chair sends notice of your election and your contact information to the GSS by email to gssgov[at]uvic.ca.

If you’re interested in joining Grad Council, please contact our Governance Coordinator. If you are a grad council member and have questions, please contact our Executive Director.