Elections
2025 Executive Board Elections
The GSS Executive Board Elections – NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
The GSS is seeking five committed advocates to serve on our Board from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. Nominations open on Monday, February 10. Please find our nomination package below. You can find our campaign package, with our guidelines and rules for our elections/referenda, below. We recommend that candidates for the Board plan their campaigns during the nomination period as additional time for campaigning beyond what is in the schedule below will not be allotted.
All currently registered graduate students can nominate themselves for the Executive Board, campaign in referenda, and vote in GSS governance events. Scroll down for a description of our Board positions.
Nomination Period: Monday, February 10th, 10:00am – Monday, February 24th, 4:00pm
Campaign Period: Tuesday, February 25th – Tuesday, March 4th
Voting: Wednesday, March 5th, 9:00am – Friday, March 7th, 4:30pm PST. All voting will be conducted online at https://uvicusec.simplyvoting.com/. The link, and all relevant information and materials will be posted here. Campaigning during the voting period is not permitted.
Questions? Email the GSS Electoral Officer, Jono Qualter, at votegss@uvic.ca for details
Want to meet your candidates before you vote?
GSS Executive Board Positions
Chair
The Chair acts as the official spokesperson of the Society. The Chair is the primary liaison between the Society and the University administration and external political bodies. Internally, the Chair heads up the Executive Council and the Graduate Representative Council.
Director of Student Life
The Director of Student Life is responsible for planning GSS-sponsored activities and coordinates social, recreational, academic, and professional events with on-campus partners. The Director of Student Life chairs the Events Committee and sits on Club’s Council and the University’s Orientation Committee.
Director of Finance
The Director of Finance works with the Executive Director and the Finance Committee to prepare the annual budget for the Society and to ensure the financial health of the GSS. They assist in day-to-day operations, review all Society contracts, and sign the cheques.
Director of External Relations
The Director of External Relations is responsible for coordinating advocacy campaigns targeting all levels of government and off-campus partners, supporting the Chair in communications with media outlets, preparing public statements to members on matters related to advocacy campaigns, and provide support, guidance, and direction to volunteers, GRC reps, and members on advocacy campaigns. They chair the Advocacy and Campaigns Committee.
Director of Internal/University Relations
The Director of Internal/University Relations acts as the primary liaison with members of UVic administration, and between the members of the Executive Board and the University’s Senate and Board of Governors, Faculty of Graduate Studies, and Graduate Executive Committee. They are responsible for coordinating campaigns as directed by the Board which target UVic, and supporting our University partners in providing an annual grad student research day. They serve as Vice-Chair of the Appeals Committee and the Advocacy and Campaigns Committee.
Candidate for Chair
Rosemary Webb
I’m Rosemary (they/them), a 3rd year PhD student in Linguistics, and I’m hoping to be your next elected Chair! I have volunteered with the Graduate Students’ Society since I started at UVic in 2022, increasing my level of involvement each year. Having spent the past year as the Director of Internal/University Relations, I’ve gained valuable knowledge of the inner workings of the GSS, our relationships with University and community partners, and the day-to-day lives of graduate students here.
My experience in my current role has prepared me well to step into a new role as Chair. As the Vice-Chair of the Advocacy & Campaigns and Appeals Committees, I’ve learned about both the challenges and rewards that come from chairing committees, as well as the responsibilities of each Committee. As a co-organizer of Graduate Student Appreciation Week and a regular volunteer at various GSS events (hopefully you’ve met me at Wednesday Coffee!), I have a deep appreciation and understanding of the work that the Events Committee and staff do to keep our community vibrant. I sit on many committees across the university, raising graduate student concerns to UVic administration, which has required me to become familiar with UVic and GSS policies in addition to gathering feedback from fellow students. The relationships I have established with advocacy groups and University decision-makers will serve as a great foundation as I transition into a more prominent leadership position.
As Chair, I will continue to foster connections between the GSS and university groups, student advocacy groups, and community groups. We have worked hard to build strong partnerships and gain GSS representative seats on more university committees and regional associations, meaning more graduate student voices are heard where they’re needed, but I’m sure there are still gaps to fill! The Board this past year has worked to increase training and engagement opportunities for our members, which I’d like to again emphasize with the upcoming Board. I believe the GSS is a place for graduate students to enrich their university experience in whichever ways feel important to them: socially, professionally, and personally. I hope that we can offer something for everyone here, and highlight our members’ contributions to the Society.
The GSS has grown a lot over the time that I’ve been here, and I want to ensure stability with that growth; above all, my goal is to provide leadership through support. One of the most delightful parts of being involved in the GSS has been meeting so many people, both offering and accepting guidance, or just sharing in the wild ride that it is to be a graduate student. I hope you’ll have me as your Chair for 2025-26 so that I can keep listening and learning from you, while uplifting you as best I can!
Final results from the 2025-26 Election are now available
Please join us in welcoming the 2025-26 GSS Executive Board. Check back at this website in January 2026 for the next election!
- Chair: Rosemary Webb
- Director of Finance: Maggie Lawton
- Director of Student Life: Asma Noureen
- Director of Internal/University Affairs: Sarah Roberts
- Director of External Relations: Jitendra Palaparty
Find full voting results in our History & Archives.
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Find full voting results for the March 2025 Elections in our History & Archives.
Elections results are ratified and any unfilled positions are filled at the Semi-Annual General Meeting (SAGM). For SAGM minutes, click here.
Want to learn more about the Executive Board positions? Find position and duty descriptions here and contact information for our Board members here.
Want to get involved with Graduate Student Council (GRC) to represent the grad students in your department? Find more information here.
Electoral Officer
The Electoral Officer is elected at the Semi-Annual General Meeting (SAGM) in March, serving from April 1 to March 30 of the following year. They cannot be a nominee for any elected Society office, a current Executive Board voting member, or part of any referendum side. Their responsibilities include managing all elections, by-elections, and referenda in accordance with Society Bylaws, ensuring the integrity of Grad Council elections, overseeing electronic voting platforms, notifying candidates of the election schedule, and collaborating with the Electoral Appeals Committee.
Electoral Appeals Committee
The Electoral Appeals Committee reviews and resolves complaints and appeals related to the integrity and fairness of Executive Board elections and referenda. It may impose penalties, resolve disputes, or invalidate results if necessary. Complaints must be submitted in writing, within seven days of preliminary results. Decisions follow principles of fairness, are delivered in writing, made public, and are final unless new information arises. For more information about the committee, contact the Governance Coordinator at gssgov@uvic.ca
Get Involved
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