Category Archives: GSA

Dialogue Virtual Health Care Continuation: GSA Referendum

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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

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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

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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!

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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

Ethnic Grocery & Restaurant Discounts

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Ethnic Grocery & Restaurant Discount

“Ethnic Grocery & Restaurant Discounts”

The GSA is delighted to announce that all McMaster students and staff are entitled to exciting discounts for a wide array of ethnic grocery stores and restaurants in the region. Go and grab different food items and dishes from across the globe- Watch the video below for more details!

Gardening for Wellness Program

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Gardening for Wellness Program

The GSA & CUPE 3906 are pleased to launch the “Gardening for Wellness” Program in partnership with Hamilton Victory Gardens to support the well-being of students.

Overview:
All students are welcome to apply to have an enjoyable time full of exciting gardening activities in any of the three sites of Hamilton Victory Gardens:
1) Venture Centre
2) St Helen’s
3) Jones Road

Please visit the website for more information about the locations.

This program runs from mid-April to Oct. and provides students with the opportunity to:
–Engage with nature for a meditating time
–Participate in various exciting gardening activities (no prior experience required)
–Socialize with other students and community members (while following public health guidelines)
–Plant, grow, and harvest fruits and vegetables; students experiencing food insecurity may discuss with the coordinator about bringing home seasonal produce

How to register:
Interested students are welcome to fill out the application form here. There is a section in the application form asking you to upload a filled/signed waiver. Please find the waiver form here.

General guidelines:
1. Hamilton Victory Gardens will reach out to applicants regarding their application and next steps.
2. Acceptance into this program depends on submitting a complete application with all required information. Students will be based on a first-come, first-serve basis.
3. The GSA & CUPE 3906 do not provide shuttle buses to the garden sites. It is the responsibility of successful applicants provide their own transportation.

Questions? Please contact (volunteer@hamiltonvictorygardens.org) OR reach out to Sarah.

International-Domestic Peer Support Program

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International-Domestic Peer Support Program

The GSA is pleased to launch the International-Domestic Peer Support Program in partnership with CUPE 3906 and various organizations at the UofT, University of Waterloo, uOttawa and Queen’s University. The program is also supported by different associations at McMaster, including the IGSA.

Overview: The International-Domestic Peer Support Program provides an organized cross-institutional network to foster positive, friendly connections between international and domestic students and fellows, by encouraging community-building through knowledge and experience sharing related to topics such as academic studies and training, career paths, professional development, and life in Canada.

Structure: The program runs over a 5-month period (May-September). Participants are paired with a peer-supporter based on their requested level of study, institution, cultural learning opportunities, and individual support. Matches are always optimized to meet applicants’ first preferences, however, this is not guaranteed as it largely depends on the applicant pool.

Criteria for participation: Participants can be an international OR domestic + undergraduate student, OR graduate student, OR postdoctoral fellow. Participants can be from any faculty and/or program from an institution that is affiliated with the program. Participants can request a partnership with a peer at their own institution or another affiliate institution that’s listed on the application form.

Mission: To build a blended cross-institutional community which embraces diversity in order to cultivate an inclusive space for knowledge and experience sharing among academic peers. Partnerships between international and domestic peers are built with the intent to foster belonging and a sense of community.

Commitment and Events:
1. Participants must attend in a minimum of four (4) mutual peer support meetings (online, and/or in- person) during the 5-month program.
2. Participants must attend the 1-hour orientation session organized by the program co-ordinators in May.
3. Participants must attend the Ceremony of multi-culturalism at the end of the program (Fall term 2021, specific date TBD)

 

Please fill out the application here. Deadline is April 14th.

 

Questions? Please contact Sarah.

McMaster Fun & Comfy Zone

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McMaster Fun & Comfy Zone

The McMaster Fun & Comfy Zone is an online-based safe space based on a partnership between the GSA and CUPE 3906 for All McMaster Students to escape the university’s routine and have some fun & comfy time by enjoying amazing photos, inspiring stories of their fellows, and much more! Join us, participate and encourage your fellows by hitting like and leaving encouraging, nice comments! If you have not already, JOIN US TODAY by following our Facebook & Instagram pages.  
How it works: 

The McMaster Fun & Comfy Zone runs through wonderful submissions by McMaster students. Our Zone has a unique theme for every month, so you always get excited! All submissions that follow the guidelines below will be shared on our Zone and at the end of every month, all submissions will be entered into a contest on the Zone, and the GSA & CUPE 3906 social media. Each of the first six submissions with most votes will win a $25 gift card and will be featured in the weekly newsletter! Watch the demo above for more info.!

General guidelines:
1. For every month, new submissions are accepted any day until the 25th to allow for the contest to run on the last 3-4 days of every month. 
2. The components of submissions vary according to the theme and are announced on social media at the beginning of every month.

3. The schedule for posting the submissions on the Zone and social media will be based on a first come, first serve basis.
4. Only one submission per student per month is permitted.
 
Please note that in our Zone we do not accept nor tolerate any behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment, including any kind of harassment or discrimination based on any ground.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Sarah. 

July’s theme (Walk Around the World)

It’s Summertime! Submit a PHOTO for any interesting thing you come across during your WALK in any part of the world! Submit here.

Thanks to all participants for their breathtaking submissions for July’s theme! Watch the video above for the entire album and vote for the best submissions here.  

August’s theme (Summer Vacation Inspirations)

It’s Summer Vacation! Submit a 75-word self-reflection of “what summer vacation does mean to you” as a university student! This can be anything from fun activities to school related things, etc (Support your self-reflection with a PHOTO!). Submit here!