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GSA 2008-2009 ACHIEVEMENTS
(GSA PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT)

After getting into the GSA last summer, we have tried our best to support graduate students in their various needs. We were lucky to have a group of energetic and spontaneous Concordia Graduate Students with us and we tried to go close to students.It was our priority to reach out and get people involved.

We encouraged our fellow students to share their visions, requirements and ideas. Through all our efforts and interaction with students, we are realizing that GSA has some more to offer to students which would require improved facilities in our part. Detailed introduction of GSA activities and great achievements are provided below:

1. OUR NEW GREEN AGENDA:

Planting seeds from which we all flourish

As a responsible Graduate student union ,GSA has taken necessary steps to minimize environmental damage by producing first green handbook of the GSA .Agendas are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper. According to Katasoho (the printing company), by using 100% post consumer recycled paper , we saved 9 trees , 24 335 liters of water , 565 kg of air emissions, 37m3 of natural gas and reduces soil waste output by 257 kg. Based on this theme, the Agenda was completely re-designed.

2. GSA PRESIDENT ALONG WITH OTHERS WON THE CCSL OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD!!

Mahboubeh Khani, GSA president is honored to be one of the winners of Concordia Council on Student Life(CCSL) Outstanding Contribution Awards

The CCSL Outstanding Contribution Awards are given to those Concordia students, staff and faculty who have made an exceptional contribution to student life or services at the University.

Congratulations GSA!

3. GSA RENOVATION PROJECT

We are pleased to announce that we succeeded to raise 40,000 $ from university to start renovating GSA House!

The GSA house is going to get a new look with better interior design and new furniture. We strongly believe that graduate students need a better environment. It is our concern and responsibility to offer you better facilities for your gatherings. Flooring, painting and new furniture are of our first attention. Most probably, this renovation will be done in May 2009. You will be informed whenever the renovation will be started.

4. FUND-RAISING PROJECTS

40,000 $ was raised from Millenium Committee for renovation project, 5,340 $ from COI Committee at Concordia for Orientation parties and 1700 $ from Dean of Student office for attending the Canadian Conference on students Leadership. The total amount is 47,040$ and is almost one forth of GSA budget. This was great success for GSA this year.

5. MORE TRANSPARENT GSA

• GSA accounts are externally reviewed

According to GSA By-Laws All G.S.A. accounts shall be externally reviewed annually. For the first time in last five years, GSA accounts are externally reviewed to assure the transparency to the members and fulfill our mandate for our team which is to make GSA more: transparent, accessible, helpful and functional.

• 30-minute meetings before the Council meetings

To make GSA more transparent and closer to your expectations, we encouraged you to take part in 30-minute meetings before the Council meetings and give us your valuable ideas, suggestions and feedback.

• Minutes of the GSA Council meetings are available on GSA website for the first time in GSA life

6. MORE FUNCTIONAL GSA

• Creating By-Law Committee

Since Bylaws should be fundamentally modified to fulfill the requirements of modern active and Progressive GSA that serves its members sincerely, we decided to create By-law Committee .We invited all graduate students to be part of this Committee. So far GSA Council has approved new Election By-laws and By-Law Committee has prepared General By-laws draft ready for approval.

7. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

• Collaboration with other student organizations

The CFS-Q-an affiliate of the national student lobby group CFS-represents students from Concordia University, Dawson College, and the graduate students of McGill. The CFS-Q's annual budget of almost $200,000 comes from student fees, the major of which is from Concordia students.

GSA Representative along with another member of the CFS-Q's Board of Directors sent a letter by bailiff on March 11 to Noah Stewart, CFS-Q Chair, alleging he has not provided any "meaningful financial information to members."

GSA is also demanding that Stewart bring all financial information back to the Montreal office from CFS national office in Ottawa.

• Graduate students' meeting against tuition fee increase

GSA held a meeting against tuition fee increase At GSA House and invited students to give their suggestion for the strategy to fight against the tuition fee increment. GSA Representative also raised voice against the Tuition fee increment in the Board of Governor of Concordia University.

8. GSA PUBLICATIONS

• The Bridge Magazine (Page: 20, The Bridge, new student program magazine, Fall-Winter 2008/2009)

GSA published a welcome note on The Bridge Magazine (Page: 20, The Bridge, New student program magazine, Fall-Winter 2008/2009) along with the detailed list of services offered at GSA.

• Leaflet "About GSA"

GSA published a short leaflet providing introduction to all services offered at GSA, GSA Health and Dental plan, CFS, GSA Assistance, Conference subsidies, Students initiated projects and much more.

• Concordia Booklet

GSA published an article providing introduction to all services offered at GSA in Concordia Journal.

• Concordia Journal and The link

We are trying to publish this article (President Annual report) in "Concordia Journal".

9. COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER STUDENT BODIES

• Students were invited to be a GSA representative in the University's committees and serve on different Committees.

• GSA President along with GSA VP-Finance attended the Canadian Conference on Student Leadership. They met the Executives of other Concordia Graduate Students' Associations and discussed several issues regarding graduate students.

• GSA VP-External attended CFS annual Conference.

10. EVENTS

a. Orientations

• GSA 2008-09 organized some of the most successful orientations ever in Concordia. The first one was for orientation party fall 08 which had an extension to a nearby night club in Crescent Street.

• The last orientation was the GSA Orientation Party on January 16, 2009 for the new students who joined Concordia in winter, 2009. Free GSA mugs were given to new graduate students.

b. Parties

• The party was on 21st November 2008, Friday, titled 'GSA Pre Exam Party'. It was another blast as students wanted to set free for a night before the exams.

c. Trips

• GSA Gaspe Trip [August 30- September 1, 2008]

The most memorable trip is obviously the GSA Gaspe trip. It was a three day packed program to the beautiful east coast places and a very long bus journey through one of the most beautiful landscape on earth.

• Quebec City Trip [14th February 2009]

What can be more desired than a trip to the beautiful Quebec City on Valentines Day! It was real cold in the ice hotel, but a lot of fun and yet another memorable 'family event' by GSA.

• Ski Trip to Mount Orford [21 February 2009]

Another successful GSA trip to the beautiful ski resort in the mount Orford.

• Ski trip to Mount Bromont :

On 14th March we had another successful ski trip on Mount Bromont.

d. French courses [August 08- 4 groups, January 09- 6 groups]

• There have been 10 French courses offered by the GSA so far. The popularity of the courses is high and so are the queues of students to register. Considering the large segment of international students in the graduate level at Concordia, 7 of the courses were for beginners. Most of the students never spoke French in life and the courses really gave them inspiration to move forward to learn more in future.

e. GSA Free Coffee

• To encourage students to come to GSA and enjoy their time, GSA offered students free coffee from December 1, 2009. GSA also is trying to promote sustainable Concordia movement by encouraging use of 'personal coffee mugs' by students. GSA is selling beautiful mugs at nominal price to students.

f. GSA IMMIGRATION SERVICE!!!

• There were three Immigration Information Sessions, free of charge held in GSA House. An expert Immigration counselor was invited to answer all your questions about immigration to Canada, during these Question-Answer sessions.

11. SERVICES

a. ISIC Card

• We are glad to inform you that we have started making ISIC cards at GSA house. Basically, ISIC (International Student Identification Card) is designed for student travelers and is valid overseas .It allows you to receive discounts on airfare, transportation tickets and passes, museum and concert admissions etc. Concordia graduate students can get an ISIC at no charge from the GSA house.

b. SIP funds

• So far GSA has distributed funds worth 4200 $ to encourage students for their Special Initiative projects. The processes are streamlined and students are encouraged to contact Executives directly to seek suggestions about their projects. This year there have been a very impressive number of successful applications which shows the positive mind set of the GSA team to encourage student projects.

c. Sponsorships

• GSA provides funds for each department. All the departments can apply for departmental allocation funds, and after reviewing their applications, GSA pay each department almost 10 $ per student. Also, students can ask GSA to be their sponsorships and we support them and give them funds. GSA sponsored a few successful programs : JMSB case competition, Some cultural events.

d. Lounge booking

• A number of gathering organized by other student groups held at the GSA lounge. With active suggestions and support from the GSA ensured that students keep the place clean.

e. Computer lab, photocopy, printing, fax services

• Graduate student can take advantage of facilities like Computer labs, photocopier and fax service. GSA house is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM to utilize these services.

Mahboubeh Khani
President
Graduate Students' Association (GSA)
Concordia University