Proposal for a PGSS Equity Commissioner

Why an Equity Commissioner?

Structure of the PGSS:

Responsibilities of the University and Academic Affairs Coordinator:

• Standing Committees and University Bodies:
  1. PGSS Executive Committee
  2. PGSS Council
  3. CGSS (sometimes chair)
  4. PGSS Academic Issues (chair)
  5. PGSS University Affairs (chair)
  6. Senate
  7. Graduate Faculty Council
  8. Graduate Faculty Executive
  9. University Committee on Student Affairs
  10. Advisory Committee on International Students
  11. Advisory Committee on Women Students' Issues
• Workgroups and ad hoc positions (2000-01):
  1. Ad Hoc FGSR Restructuring Task Force (chair)
  2. Graduate Studies Policy Committee
  3. Research Policy Committee
  4. FGSR Task Force for Restructuring of the Graduate Faculty Council
  5. Academic Policy and Planning Committee (APPC)
  6. APPC Workgroup on Supervisor Evaluations
  7. CSA Workgroup on Student Academic Integrity
  8. Ad Hoc Senate Workgroup on Intellectual Property

Campus Equity Issues

• Chairing CGSS is a demanding role in terms of time and energy.
• Raise profiles of Joint Senate-Board Committee on Equity, Senate Tribunals, Charter of Students Rights and committees for Student Affairs, Sexual Harassment, and Women Students' Issues, Students with Disabilities, Academic Integrity Issues

Proposed Responsibilities of a PGSS Equity Commissioner

• Chair CGSS (approved by CGSS)
• Chair PGSS Standing Committee on Equity (new)
• Committee on Student Affairs (ex-officio)
• Advisory Committee on Women Students' Issues (coordinate rep)
• Advisory Committee on Students with Disabilities (coordinate rep)
• Committee on Sexual Harassment (inactive?)
• Joint Senate-Board Subcommittee on Equity
• Senate Tribunals (coordinate reps)
• Charter of Student Rights (inactive)
• Academic Integrity Issues
• Liason with other on-campus groups: SSMU Equity Commissioner, Queer McGill, Access McGill, Women's Union, MISN, etc.

Relationship to PGSS Executive

• Elected by general membership (like senators, BOG rep)
• Report Regularly to Council
• Consults with PGSS Exec, particularly UAAC
• UAAC will continue to sit ex-officio on CGSS (maintain strong ties between Exec and CGSS).
• Stipend: $1500 from CGSS (approved), $1500 from PGSS (proposed).

Required Constitutional Amendments

• New Bylaw defining the Equity Commissioner and responsibilities.
• Terms of Reference for a PGSS Equity Committee.
• Revisions to Bylaw 8 for elections.
• Revisions to Bylaw 26 for the CGSS.

Items of Note

• EC will have speaking and voting privileges at council.
• EC will not be an ombudsperson, but will defend the rights of graduate students on campus.
• The EC will be accountable to both the PGSS and the CGSS. The EC will be required to report monthly to PGSS Council.
• Timeline:
  1. May 2000: Stephen Dery's EC proposal to Exec
  2. May 2000: CGSS Approves $600 stipend for Chair
  3. May-present: CGSS Chair remains vacant
  4. September 2000: Equity discussion paper submitted to CGSS by UAAC.
  5. October 2000: CGSS approves EC proposal in principle, including chairperson-ship and $1500 stipend.
  6. December 2000: PGSS Council Committee of the Whole discussion
  7. December 2000: Draft Constitutional amendments to Ad Hoc Constitution Committee
  8. January 2001: Constitutional Amendments to PGSS Council.
  9. January 2001: Constitutional Amendments to Constitution Committee
  10. February 2001: Consitutional Amendments to PGSS Council (2nd reading).
  11. March 2001: PGSS Annual General Meeting
  12. March 2001: PGSS 2001-2002 Elections
• Other student organizations with Equity Commissioners: UofT Ugrads (exec), York Grads (exec), SSMU Ugrads (non-exec).