GSS Weekly Newsletter
From: Ngwatilo Mawiyoo [mailto:communications@gss.ubc.ca]
Subject: GSS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Graduate Students,
I trust you’re finding the extra time this Reading week useful. If you meant to watch any of the games at the Winter Olympics and haven’t, you have until this weekend to do so, and then that’s it for four years. Just so you know.
GSS Social & Recreational:
– Let’s go Ski at Whistler on March 9th! Deadline to register is March 1st, and as always, spots fill up fast!
– The GSS Salsa Night is ON! Tickets are on sale for our March 7th event! Whether you’ve never stepped foot on a dance floor in your life, or are fluent in the language of dance, this event has something for you! We’ve lined up a pro grade salsa lesson, and much musical and liquid inspiration to guarantee a good night! We’re also meditating daily – which is like – necessary for good vibes, right… All are welcome for the low low ticket price of just $5.
GSS Advocacy:
– The Canadian government’s Federal Skilled Worker Program has an eligibility stream that is open to international students who are pursuing or who have completed doctoral (PhD) studies at Canadian institutions. The GSS would like offer you another opportunity to share your experience with the program in order to advocate for the changes needed to help the program work efficiently. Please do so by filling out this super quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XRNDL3D
Contact vpexternal@gss.ubc.ca with any follow up questions or issues you may have.
– BC’s balanced budget ignores the needs of students at post-secondary institutions.
The GSS through the public consultation process submitted a document highlighting our needs to the budget select standing committee. This committee recommended a number of investments in post-secondary education in BC. Sadly this week’s budget did not incorporate the Graduate Provincial Scholarship and other recommendations within our submission. Your GSS will continue to advocate on your behalf to this government, highlighting why our education matters to this province and this economy moving forward.
GSS + UBC Sustainability:
– UBC is developing a 20-year Sustainability Strategy for the Vancouver campus. As part of the consultation process with faculty, staff, students and the community, you are invited to a graduate student workshop on February 27th, 4-5.30pm at the Policy Labs in the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (Policy Labs – ground floor). Register Here. Food will be provided. Please do complete the 8-minute survey to enter to win an iPad Mini! The workshops are your opportunity to hear proposed ideas for sustainability at UBC and to provide feedback on the draft strategic directions across (1) teaching, learning, research, (2) operations and infrastructure, and (3) community.
Contact Marko Pajalic for more information or visit http://sustain.ubc.ca/conversations2034.
That’s it from us. Thanks for reading!
GSS Communications Coordinator