SOGS Statement Regarding Harassment During the 2020 Presidential By-Election

Dear SOGS members, 

During the SOGS Presidential by-election this past summer, one member of the SOGS community failed to uphold the commitment to respect others outlined in our mission statement. In particular, this member sent several email messages to other members and Society officers that were variously intimidating, threatening and personally harassing. Although healthy debate and disagreement is encouraged at SOGS, these behaviours are clearly unwelcome and beyond what is appropriate. Please see a formal statement outlining SOGS’ response to this case of harassment.
 
Concerns about harassment can be directed to our Ombudsperson, Seth Kadish (ombudsperson@sogs.ca). Concerns about our harassment policies and procedures can be directed to our President, kirstyn seanor (president@sogs.ca).
 
Read the full statement HERE.

U15 Report

Graduate student societies (GSSs) from the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities informally met on November 10, 2020, to discuss how to coordinate federal advocacy initiatives relevant to graduate programs at research-intensive universities. This collaboration is loosely based on the Undergraduates of Canadian Research-Intensive Universities (UCRU).

Several common concerns have already been identified through our inaugural meeting, which include.

  • Challenges faced by international students still abroad
  • International student work permits and pathways to immigration in Canada
  • Mental health supports across cultural and linguistic groups
  • Tri-Council funding packages

President seanor is excited to be part of a sub-committee that will be coordinating to draft a letter to the federal government intending to:

1) draw attention to unique needs and contribution of graduate students,

2) highlight how the pandemic has impacted graduate students, and

3) outline solutions and actions for federal government to provide relief and support for graduate students.

Read the full report HERE.

November 2020 Newsletter

The Update is the official monthly electronic newsletter from the Society of Graduate Students that keeps you informed about issues affecting graduate students, such as important deadlines, social events, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy initiatives.

In the November 2020 issue you will learn about our upcoming Structural Retreat (Nov 10, 12, 17, 19) open to all SOGS members, 2021 Wellness Research Forum (annual grad conference), and Graduate Peer Support themed drop-ins, and more. The positions of Vice-President Advocacy (by-election) and Indigenous Commissioner (VACANT) are up for election at November Council. See what new events, initiatives, and clubs SOGS has planned.

Between editions of the newsletter, you’ll find updates on Facebook,  TwitterInstagram, the IGSIC Facebook page, our SOGS Advocacy page on our events calendar!

Read the newsletter and answer our monthly trivia question for a chance to win 1 of 2 $10 Grad Club gift vouchers!  

All links to external websites in this issue are live within the PDF document. Try clicking on text and images for hyperlinks.

Congratulations to our October 2020 newsletter trivia winners: MAHSHAD BERJIS and UJJOYINEE BARUA.  ****Please come to the SOGS office (MC room 8) to pick up your prize.

Quick link:  https://tinyurl.com/SOGSNovNewsletter

Letter to President Alan Shepard Regarding International Tuition Increases

Dear members, 

SOGS is deeply concerned by the increases to international graduate student tuition this 2020-2021 academic year. These tuition increases ranged from 2-15% and were approved by the University’s Board of Governors last April. Furthermore, international graduate students were not notified of these planned increases in a timely manner, which impacted their ability to make arrangements to financially plan or compensate for this increase.  For example, Master’s of Engineering students saw a 15% increase and saw no additional value added to their student experience and professional development at Western University to account for the increase.

In order to get answers and find solutions, the Society wrote a letter to Western University’s President, Dr. Alan Shepard, on October 26, 2020. This letter outlined the Society’s concerns regarding these international tuition increases and was copied to Western University’s Vice-Provosts, Secretary, and Deans who oversee graduate studies, as well as the President of the University Students’ Council, and the Editor-in-Chief of the Western Gazette.

SOGS has requested that the administration formally:

  • Provide targeted financial support for international students in programs that saw a tuition increase this year.
  • Distribute additional information regarding access to student financial aid.
  • Provide a report outlining the decision-making process behind the tuition increase.
  • Create a committee with graduate student representation to review the collaboration of SGPS and the Faculties to support incoming students and reduce the service gaps on campus. 
  • Consult with international graduate students about their experiences and the support they would expect from a university of Western’s calibre.
  • Provide a formal response to this letter by the end of November 2020.

Read the letter here.

October 2020 Newsletter

The Update is the official monthly electronic newsletter from the Society of Graduate Students that keeps you informed about issues affecting graduate students, such as important deadlines, social events, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy initiatives.

In the October 2020 issue you will learn about our Fall 2020 Wellness Week (Oct 13-17) and our #MySupportSystem Appreciation Day (Oct. 16), our new SOGS Household Donation Zone,  upcoming elections, virtual events, and more!

Between editions of the newsletter, you’ll find updates on Facebook,  TwitterInstagram, theIGSIC Facebook page, our SOGS Advocacy page on our events calendar!

Read the newsletter and answer our monthly trivia question for a chance to win 1 of 2 $10 Grad Club gift vouchers!  

All links to external websites in this issue are live within the PDF document.

Congratulations to our September 2020 newsletter trivia winners: Dhruvika Angrish and Sahab Zandi ****Please come to the SOGS office (MC room 8) to pick up your prize.

Quick link: https://tinyurl.com/SOGS-OCt2020-Newsletter

Update on Increases to International Graduate Student Tuition

Dear members;

The following update summarizes the ongoing work to further respond to concerns our international members have shared regarding tuition increases.

Dr. Siddiqui—Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Western Engineering—has kindly responded to a series of questions we shared with him around the decision to increase Masters of Engineering tuition 15% within one year. In summary:

  • The decision was part of a multi-year plan to bring Western’s tuition costs inline with comparable university programs.
  • Tuition estimates are shared with incoming students based on previous year costs. Engineering is working with SGS to improve this method.
  • The increase was decided before the pandemic hit, but the costs were maintained given the costs to adapt to online teaching environments.
  • Masters of Engineering is a self-funded program, so any additional funding/supports are managed through SGPS or other sources.

These additional details are underwhelming to say the least, but still appreciated for helping to identify service gaps to address. These responses have been shared with the Graduate Engineering Society in full to ensure transparency and to invite their thoughts on next steps.

Linda Miller has committed to following up with Glen Tigert, University Registrar, and Ruban Chelladurai, Associate VP (Planning, Budgeting & Information Technology), about how, and when, the additional funding Western committed in this year’s budget will be allocated to students.

Our ongoing and impending efforts on international students’ concerns are:

  • Reached out to Lise Laporte at Western international to ask about additional supports and future collaborations to address this issue;
  • Bringing a motion to Council to ensure any further efforts are completed with the weight of Council’s vote behind them;
  • Working with university contacts to try to get late fees waived for international students;
  • Working with our Committees and the Canadian Federation of Students to get a better sense of what other universities have been doing about tuition during COVID;
  • Working with the Canadian Federation of Students to identify additional opportunities for advocacy and escalation;
  • Reviewing our own processes to improve our ability to advocate promptly and proactively.

We’d like to once again offer our sympathies to our international members both for the frustrating situation they’re in, and for the time required to identify and implement appropriate responses.

In solidarity;

kirstyn seanor
SOGS President

September 2020 Newsletter

The Update is the official monthly electronic newsletter from the Society of Graduate Students that keeps you informed about issues affecting graduate students, such as important deadlines, social events, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy initiatives.

In the September 2020 issue you will learn about our Fall 2020 Term orientation week events, the SOGS Ombudsperson by-election, and our new SOGS Donation Zone where community members can donate (“sell”) gently used household items to graduate students for a chance to win 1 of 2 $75 in gift cards to the Grad Club, and more! 

Between editions of the newsletter, you’ll find updates on Facebook,  TwitterInstagram, theIGSIC Facebook page, our SOGS Advocacy page on our events calendar!

Read the newsletter and answer our monthly trivia question for a chance to win 1 of 2 $10 Grad Club gift vouchers!  

All links to external websites in this issue are live within the PDF document.

Congratulations to our August 2020 newsletter trivia winners: Diana Pham and Hema Sharma ****Please come to the SOGS office (MC room 8) to pick up your prize.

Quick links:

President’s Report: Increase in International Graduate Student Tuition

Multiple students brought forward concerns about international tuition fees. Preliminary research has found that moderate tuition increases were approved for international master’s programs in the spring and Western University has decided to maintain these approved tuition commitments. A key exception is that the Master’s of Engineering degree was approved a 15% increase.
 
The response from the university has primarily been to emphasize that tuition rates are proposed by faculties. Additionally, the university has committed an additional $13.5 million of financial support through “needs-based bursaries, work-study opportunities, summer research opportunities, and residence accommodation subsidies.”
 
These responses remain frustrating given the precarity our international students face. These responses are, nonetheless, understandable given the complexity of university affairs and the number of units involved in budgeting processes.
 
We’ve identified the following next steps:
 
    • Reach out to Engineering to get additional information;
    • Collaborate with SGPS to promote, and improve, subsidies and bursaries;
    • Identify/research responses at other universities;
    • Advocate through governmental and student advocacy contacts (e.g. CFS); and,
    • Review, confirm, and strengthen our own supports.
Additional suggestions and/or concerns are welcome at president@sogs.ca.
 
If you would like to learn more, please see our attached preliminary report here.
 
In solidarity, 
 
kirstyn seanor
SOGS President
 

August 2020 Newsletter

The Update is the official monthly electronic newsletter from the Society of Graduate Students that keeps you informed about issues affecting graduate students, such as important deadlines, social events, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy initiatives.

In the August 2020 issue you will learn about upcoming funding deadlines,  ongoing surveys, new resources, virtual events, and more. 

Between editions of the newsletter, you’ll find updates on Facebook,  TwitterInstagram, the IGSIC Facebook page and on our events calendar!

 All links to external websites in this issue are live within the PDF document.

Read the newsletter and answer our monthly trivia question for a chance to win 1 of 2 $10 Grad Club gift vouchers! 

Congratulations to our July 2020 newsletter trivia winners: Sarai Guererro and Laura K. D. Johnson. ****Please come to the SOGS office in the Fall term once we re-open to collect your prize.

Quick Link: https://tinyurl.com/August2020-Newsletter

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