Author Archive: GSA VP Services

Dialogue Virtual Health Care Continuation: GSA Referendum

Posted on by

Dialogue Virtual Health Care Continuation: GSA Referendum

Access to in-person health services can often be limited and inconvenient for students. With Virtual Health Care (provided by Dialogue), health care is always just a tap away no matter where students are, and they never have to wait in line at a clinic.

Currently, students covered by the GSA Health Plan already have access to the service for the 2021-2022 policy year, until Aug. 31, 2022. Now the GSA is holding a referendum to determine if students support the continuation of Dialogue Virtual Health Care for future years.

Dialogue Virtual Health Care allows students to consult doctors and nurses via a mobile app or on the web from anywhere in Canada. Keeping safety a priority, the service evaluates and treats only health issues that can be assessed via telemedicine, when a physical exam isn’t required. Around 70% of typical walk-in clinic cases can be treated virtually.

The following features are included:

  • Fast access to medical professionals via chat, video, or phone
  • Video consultations with licensed doctors and nurses
  • Follow-up from the Dialogue team or referral to specialists
  • Prescription delivery to your pharmacy

Find out more about the current Dialogue Virtual Health Care service at www.studentcare.ca.

If renewed, it would cost $44.07 (tax included) for access from September to August, as of Fall 2022. Students automatically covered by the GSA Health Plan would also automatically be charged the Dialogue Virtual Health Care fee with their tuition and other fees. They would have the option to opt out during a Change-of-Coverage Period at the start of the school year and receive a full refund.

Voting in the referendum takes place online from Mar. 1, 2022 at 10 am – Mar. 3, 2022 at 6 pm.

Voting Link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=B2M3RCm0rUKMJSjNSW9Hcqh0nSYe0S1EmUXb31kEjb9UQllXMVJUSklRTzlUS0FPQU5YTjZGN0hFTC4u

FAQ is here.

Ukraine Solidarity Statement

Posted on by

Ukraine Solidarity Statement

The GSA would like to state that it stands with Ukraine and supports Canada taking a leadership role in supporting Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity.

Since invading Ukraine in 2014 and illegally occupying Crimea, Russia has waged a war of aggression in the east Ukrainian oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk. The human cost of this conflict to Ukraine has been tragic; with 13,000 dead, over 30,000 wounded and 1.5 million civilians internally displaced.

Russia’s recent actions suggest additional threats to the sovereignty of Ukraine, namely the movement of a significant amount of troops and military hardware to Ukraine’s borders and into occupied Ukrainian territory.

The GSA wishes above all for a peaceful resolution to this conflict, and joins the international community in response to Russia’s increasing threats against Ukraine. We call on the McMaster community to support:

  1. Ukraine’s independence and autonomy as a country;
  2. Canada’s humanitarian and developmental aid to Ukraine;
  3. Increasing sanctions on Russia to deter further aggression against Ukraine;

We echo the Trudeau government’s calls on Russia to de-escalate tensions and call on them to support Ukraine’s independence and prevent a further Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Share your support by sharing that you #StandWithUkraine or supporting the following NGOs:

For grad students who are in distress about these current events, the GSA encourages you to use our mental health supports including:

McMaster GSA Q&A with Doug Welch

Posted on by

McMaster GSA Q&A with Doug Welch

Thank you to McMaster University’s Dean of Graduate Studies, Doug Welch, for coming to answer graduate student questions in our Q&A on Thursday, February 3rd at 4PM!

Note: This video recording starts after the first question.

Here are some resources for grad students based on today’s Q&A:

Covid-19 Relief Funding is available. Apply now!

Posted on by

COVID-19 Relief Funding is available. Apply now!

The Graduate Students Association (GSA) of McMaster University recognizes that COVID-19 has disrupted the research progress of graduate students in a number of ways and that many students have had their program completion delayed substantially. To address student needs, the GSA has developed a COVID-relief fund for overtime graduate students who have otherwise been unable to receive any supplemental funding from their faculties, programs, or departments. Overtime graduate students who have not received supplemental funding through their programs/departments/faculties are eligible to request tuition support for Winter and Spring 2022 (up to $1500 per term to a maximum of $3000) by applying through the GSA. To complete your application, eligible graduate students and their supervisors must describe how COVID disrupted their research and/or academic progress and what obstacles were faced in receiving program/department/faculty funding.

Please submit THIS FORM along with your PROOF OF ENROLLMENT from Mosaic to the GSA prior to January 14th, 2022 at 5:00 PM EST by email at macgsa@mcmaster.ca

For questions related to this application, please contact gsavpadmin@mcmaster.ca

2021 GSA Election Result & AGM

Posted on by

2021 GSA Election Result & AGM

The 2021 GSA election results is here! Congratulations to the winner!

President: Caroline Seiler
Vice President External: Sarah Elshahat
Vice President Service: Wei Zhao
Vice President Administration: Harneet Hothi
FRC – Social Sciences: Ghada Sasa
FRC-Business: Ce Ji & Lingze Meng

The detailed election data is here.

The 2021 GSA AGM has been held on last Friday. Please have a look at the recorded meeting if you missed it at here. Password:!!#bN4zM

2021 GSA Election Vote has OPENED! Vote Now!

Posted on by

2021 GSA Election Vote has OPENED! Vote Now!

The 2021 GSA election will open from Monday, March 22nd 10am to Wednesday, March 25th 6pm!

Here is a link to ALL the candidates’ statements on our website. 

Please cast your ballot here:

Vote Now!

Note:

  • You need to login with your MacID to access the election poll.
  • At the end of the election date, we will check voters eligibility.

Besides, we have 2 candidates for the GSA President 2021-2022! Saturday, March 20th at 2 p.m. Thus, there is a Presidential Debate between 2 candidates Spencer and Caroline. Please have a look at their performance at Zoom!

GSA Annual General Meeting on March 26th @ 10:00 AM

Posted on by

2021 GSA Annual General Meeting on March 26th @ 10:00 AM

The 2021 GSA Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on March 26th @ 10:00 AM!

Register here!

Please check the following AGM documents:

Don’t forget to mark the date on your calendar!