Newsletter February 2025

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GSA Council Meeting

We wish to remind GSA Council members that our next council meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2025. The GSA Council will be voting on amendments to the GSA policies approved by the Governance Committee. Please prioritize this meeting in your schedule. We look forward to your active participation. If any GSA member wishes to submit agenda items, please contact the GSA char at gsa.chair@usask.ca.

Indigenous Achievement Week Event: March 12

Join the GSA and CGPS for a meal, giveaways, and the Stitching Stories Quilt Reveal to celebrate USask's Indigenous graduate students and those recognized during Indigenous Achievement Week.

The event will be held on March 12, 2025, at 4:00PM at the GSA Commons. All are welcome at this event, as it is part of Indigenous Achievement Week. Please register here so we know you're coming and can purchase food appropriately.

GSA-CGPS Need-based Bursary Winter Open Call | Opening soon

The winter term call for the GSA-CGPS need-based will open on March 3 at 8:30AM and close on March 17 at 8:30AM. Successful applicants will be contacted by March 31. The application can be found on GSA's website, and will be announced in a seperate PAWS announcemen email.

Based on student feedback, GSA wishes to remind students that this is a need-based bursary, and we would ask that students honestly evaluate their need and refrain from applying if they are in financially secure situations. Unfortunately, there are many more students in need than funds we have to disperse, but we aim to make sure that students in genuine need recieve support.

2024 Tax Filing and Information

The Canadian Federation of Students offers a free tax filing service to students. You can create an account here, and use promo code CFS1981 to file for free. Find more information about how to access your T4 and T4A via your PAWS account here. If you received a GSA-CGPS Bursary in 2024, your T4A by email (Winter, Spring/Summer calls), or included in your university T4A (Fall calls). If you require assistance with tax preparation, there are virtual and in-person tax-clinics available in Saskatoon. GSA is working to plan a tax clinic, but details will be announced at a later date.

24-hour/7-days Mental Health Support for Graduate Students

The GSA encourages all graduate students to take care of their mental health. A graduate student needing urgent support can contact the GSA's 24-hour/7-day mental heatlh support service, Empower Me, covered at no additional cost under the Health and Dental Plan.

USask Student Travel Awards

Are you planning to attend a conference this summer? Graduate students can apply for the USask Student Travel Award. GSA contributes funds to this program annually, and we encourage graduate students wishing to attend conferences, workshops, or other professional development opportunities to apply. Please note, you must apply at least one month in advance of your travel. Find more information here.

Resources for Student Experiencing Financial Hardship

If you are experiencing a significant financial crisis, GSA contributes annually to the University of Saskatchewan's Crisis Financial Aid program, which you may eligible to apply for. Crisis financial aid is designed to help students through an unexpected, temporary financial crisis. This program provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid each year.

If you are facing food insecurity, GSA contributes to the USSU Food Bank, which graduate students are eligible to receive goods from. It is located in Place Riel. There are also programs which provide free breakfast (Good Breakfast) and lunch (Soup and Bannock) throughout the week.

Health Innovation and Public Policy (HIPP) Conference - Free Registration

The Health Innovation and Public Policy (HIPP) Conference is a multidisciplinary student-run conference that is open to anyone, free to attend, and includes lunch. The conference will be held on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon on the afternoon of March 5th, 2025, in the Health Sciences Building E1130, and online via Zoom. Lunch will be served at 1:00PM and the conference will begin at 1:30PM until approximately 5:00PM. Attendees must register (for free) on the Eventbrite page by March 4.

GSA Commons

GSA Commons is located in the Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel at 1337 College Drive. The GSA Commons offers a warm study environment with available computers for public use and free tea and coffee. The current GSA Commons hours are 10:00AM to 4:00PM Monday to Friday, except when closed for special events. If you have questions/concerns, please contact any of the GSA Executives via email:

Stay up-to-date with GSA Services and upcoming events in the GSA Commons by visiting the GSA website.

Questions about your health and dental, vision, or travel coverage benefits?

You can access the provider online at Student Care or by calling their Care Centre toll-free at 1-877-795-4428, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Studentcare also maintains an on-campus office in Place Riel.

Follow us on Facebook (@USASKGSA), LinkedIn, Instagram (gsa_usask), X (@GSA_USask) and visit our website at gsa.usask.ca.

This email is being sent by the GSA to all graduate students through the PAWS Announcement System. It is not a message from or endorsed by the University of Saskatchewan.