Message from the GSA President

Welcome to the University of Calgary!

On behalf of the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the University of Calgary’s 2023/2024 academic year. To our new members, from far and near, I want to congratulate you for taking the next step in your academic journey. Graduate school is a place to develop knowledge and experience, challenge yourself with new ideas, and become part of a vibrant student community. To our returning members, we are so proud of the work you have done so far, and we cannot wait to see what this year has in store for you. By pursuing graduate studies at the University of Calgary, you are joining a diverse and dynamic university environment that creates numerous opportunities to learn, discover, and develop both personally and professionally. Graduate students are an integral part of our university, and I hope you all find space within the university community to flourish and thrive.

As a graduate student at the University of Calgary, you are a member of the GSA. The GSA represents the collective interests of all graduate students, ensuring that graduate student voices are heard and acted upon. Our organization is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive graduate student experience and a key objective of the GSA is to continue advocating to leaders and stakeholders for a university community that is free of all forms of intolerance and discrimination. I encourage you to be an active member of our organization by engaging in the events, activities, and leadership opportunities through the GSA, your Department Graduate Association, and Graduate Student Groups. Together, we can make the GSA a strong and representative voice for all graduate students and have a meaningful impact on the campus community. If you would like to get involved, raise concerns, or just want to chat, please contact our elected executive team; we would be glad to hear from you.

While being a graduate student comes with unique set of experiences and challenges, know that you are never alone: the GSA strives to develop a network of resources to support and advocate for your interests. I invite you to browse the GSA website to learn more about some of the ways we are improving the graduate student experience. Included on this website is information about health and dental services, financial resources, and resources for academic support and advocacy. The GSA also endeavours to make sure you remember to have fun, and our website boasts a list of graduate student events, workshops, and activities organized by the GSA and its partners.

Once again, welcome to the University of Calgary and to the Graduate Students’ Association. I want to wish you a productive and successful academic year as you embrace all the opportunities to learn, discover, and create that lie ahead.

James Steele
GSA President 2023–2024