pgss and you - mcgill...pgss the society •the society is responsible for provide services and...

•PGSS and YOUTina GiordanoPGSS Internal Affairs Officer

• September 11, 2020

McGill

PGSS

PGSA

Members

What is the PGSS?• PGSS is the Post-Graduate Students’

Society of McGill University.

• We represent the voices of graduate students and (most) Postdocs on various committees, policies, issues, etc. across campus to the Administration of the University.

• We also provide several services to our members (which we will discuss later).

PGSS the CorporationThe Corporation is responsible for the business side of Thomson House:

This includes –• Restaurant• Catering services• External event hosting

3650 McTavish St.

PGSS the Society• The Society is responsible for provide services and events organized by PGSS.

• The Society is the part of PGSS that provides graduate students representation and advocacy.

• Committees (both internal to PGSS and external within the University) are administered by PGSS.

Committees of PGSSMcGill Committees

SenateBoard of Governors

Working GroupsAdvisory CommitteesCyclical Review Units

Library Advisory CommitteesFaculty Councils

PGSS CommitteesAcademic Affairs CommitteeCommittee for Member SupportCommittee on Monetary AffairsCouncil Steering CommitteeElections CommitteeEnvironment CommitteeEquity and Diversity CommitteeExternal Affairs CommitteeFamily Care CaucusGovernance CommitteeHealth and Wellness CommitteeInternal Affairs CommitteeInternational Students CaucusMember Services CommitteePolicy and Structure Advisory Committee

PGSS Governing BodiesAppointments BoardBoard of Directors

CouncilExecutive Committee

General MeetingJudicial Board

https://pgss.mcgill.ca/en/get-involved

PGSAsPost-Graduate Student Associations (PGSAs) are the departmental organizations of PGSS.

There are currently 60 PGSAs (that are largely based on departmental graduate programs).

You can find the contact for your local PGSA here: https://pgss.mcgill.ca/document/view/2983/PGSA%20contacts.pdf

Who represents you at PGSS?Executives

Vacant

Secretary-General Connie ShenFinancial Affairs Officer

Tina GiordanoInternal Affairs Officer

Yanik MüllerExternal Affairs Officer

Dakota RogersMember Services Officer

Eric WilkinsonAcademic Affairs Officer

Who represents you at PGSS?Commissioners

Jennifer ChenHealth Commissioner

Sophie OsieckiEnvironment Commissioner

Mike FanEquity and Diversity Commissioner

Lili LiStudent Support Commissioner

Zhenwei MaInnovation Commissioner

Kristi KouchakjiUniversity Affairs Commissioner

Macdonald CampusCommissioner

Almost filledShe’s shy

Services

Domestic students: https://pgss.mcgill.ca/en/health-and-dental-planInternational students: https://www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/health

Keep.meSafe

It is a 24/7/365 remote mentalhealth counselling service thatspecializes in student mentalhealth support.

WHAT IS IT?

24/7/365 immediate and unlimited supportthrough call and text (available when travelingabroad as well)Fully licensed professional clinicians every timeMental health care in over 60 languagesShort wait timesProvides access to in-person counselling as wellDiversity amongst its cliniciansConfidental

KEY FEATURES

Download the mySSP appavailable in the app storeSet up your profile under the"Profile" tab (needed to accessthe entirety of Keep.meSafeservicesBrowse services available.

HOW TO ACCESS:

Services

ServicesLeisure Courses

PGSS offers several leisure courses throughout the year including:

• French (5 different difficulty levels)• Spanish (3 different difficulty levels)• First-aid• Self-defense• Yoga• Meditation and Mindfulness

More info about each course and how to register here: https://pgss.mcgill.ca/en/courses

Services

ServicesSSMU Clubs

• While PGSS does not have organized clubs, all PGSS members are able to join any SSMU club.

• Clubs include athletics, charities, community outreach, fine arts, health and wellness, language, hobbies, leadership/networking, political/social activism, and religion and culture clubs.

• More info and club directory can be found here: https://ssmu.ca/student-life/clubs-services-isg/

ServicesPGSS Grants Program

• All PGSS members have access to the Grants program.

• This program aims to provide financial support up to $1200 to projects of a non-profit nature initiated by and for regular PGSS members (or PGSAs). PGSS members can apply more than once for new events!

• A recent extension of the Grants Program was the creation of the PGSS Travel Awards for conferences and academic study (up to $1000, currently not being awarded due to travel restrictions).

• https://pgss.mcgill.ca/en/pgss-grants and https://pgss.mcgill.ca/en/pgss-travel-grants

ServicesSSMU Daycare and Nursery• The PGSS and SSMU provides an affordable daycare for McGill students (undergrad,

grad, or postdoc) with depedents.

• More information can be found here: https://daycare.ssmu.ca

Study Sundays• 1-2 times/month PGSS holds Study Sunday events where PGSS Members with

dependents can bring their children to Thomson House for an afternoon to study while their children are cared for by qualified babysitters.

• Note: the frequency of this service has not been determined yet due to the ongoing pandemic.

Why should you get involved?

Why should students be involved at

PGSS?

Networking Opportunities

Develop strong

leadership skills

Social life outside of the

officeA bridge between university and the

employment market

Positive impact on McGill and Community

Acquire policy

making and governance

skills

For more information:

Tina GiordanoInternal Affairs Officer

internal.pgss@mail.mcgill.ca

Dakota RogersMember Services Officer

membership.pgss@mail.mcgill.ca

Or for general inquiries:studentlife.pgss@mail.mcgill.ca