Grad Rep 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 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.
GRC Meeting Dates & Agendas
Connect with the campus groups that are here to advocate for you during your time as a UVic student!
Want to join GRC?
Find information about how to become your department’s Grad Representative at the bottom of this page!
Committees
The GSS committees do most of the work of the society, and as such are the primary way a student can have influence on the key decisions the society makes.
This list of our GRC members will be updated mid-September, when all members have been elected!
| Academic Unit | Grad Rep |
|---|---|
| Anthropology | Semyon Drozdetckii |
| Art History and Visual Studies | Sarah Roberts |
| Biochemistry & Microbiology | Gillian Leach & Liam Mihalynuk |
| Biology | Muskan Karmani |
| Business | Jenna Mehlmann |
| Chemistry | Jesse Delmage & Phillip Jurek |
| Child and Youth Care | |
| Civil Engineering | Samira Sarkardei |
| Computer Science | |
| CUPE | |
| Curriculum and Instruction | Iram Zahra & Samim Nikbakht |
| Earth and Ocean Sciences | Stacy Edmonsond & Nadiya Shore |
| Economics | |
| Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies | Yasmeen Barakat |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | Victor Marrugat Arnal & Mahmoud Chick Zaouali |
| English | Kerri Li |
| Environmental Studies | Lauren Burton |
| Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education | Isaac Barss & Maryam Sheikhi |
| French & Francophone Studies | |
| Geography | Adam Regier & Hazim Ismail |
| Germanic and Slavic Studies | |
| Greek and Roman Studies | Luke Montgomery |
| Health Information Science | Marian Kane & Ghita Hajjami |
| History | Joan Kelly |
| Indigenous Governance | Ali Malhi |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | |
| Law | Katarina Sawchuk |
| Linguistics | |
| Mathematics and Statistics | Khai Quigley |
| Mechanical Engineering | Maziyar Khadivi & Bernardo Leite |
| Medical Sciences/Neuroscience | Dhwani Sura |
| Music | Talietha Sangha |
| Nursing | |
| Pacific and Asian Studies | Bryce Bartsch & Delaney Johnson |
| Philosophy | Yukio Jamieson-Burns |
| Physics and Astronomy | Olivia Moluchi & Nathan Clements |
| Political Science | Michael Chutskoff |
| Psychology | Nazanin Babaei |
| Public Administration | Jeremy Perkins & Mary Ann Sing |
| Public Health and Social Policy | |
| School of Indigenous Governance | |
| Social Dimensions of Health | Luiza Costa & Kythryn Stone |
| Social Work | |
| Sociology | Neve Sugars-Keen & Jasmine Padam |
| Theatre | |
| Visual Arts | |
| Writing | Shaelin Bishop & Aldyn Chwelos |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run to become my department rep?
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 is coordinated by the department or program’s graduate 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.
What does a Grad Rep do?
- Represent the interests of fellow grad students in your department to UVic via the GSS
- Report back to your home department on discussions and decisions made during grad council meetings
- Participate in a GSS committee (e.g. Advocacy & Campaigns, Events, Finance, Bylaw & Policy, Appeals, Stipend Review)
- Enable their academic unit to access the GSS Department Grant to fund an academic/social event or activity
- Meet with grad students in your program to discuss common issues of concern and bring any issues raised back to grad council for discussion
- Participate in major governance decisions regarding the running of the GSS
- Attend the monthly GRC meetings (8-10 per year), and the Annual General Meeting and Semi-Annual General Meeting to vote on important issues and communicate them to your departments
- Sit on UVic committees and participate in major decisions regarding GSS positions on university policy
Can there be more than one representative per department?
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 a 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.
When does GRC meet?
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.
All GRC meetings are held hybrid, so feel free to connect however works best for you!
I’ve been elected. What now?
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@uvic.ca
Further questions?
If you’re interested in joining Grad Council, please contact our Governance Coordinator at gssgov@uvic.ca. If you are a grad council member and have questions, please contact our Executive Director at gssmgr@uvic.ca.
Get Involved
Join us in shaping the grad student experience at UVic! Connect, advocate, and gain valuable skills. Explore opportunities to get involved today!