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Hello Graduate Student:
You are invited to participate in the Graduate Students' Association (GSA)'s Annual Survey. The entire graduate community has been asked to participate in this survey. You will be asked a variety of questions, which will help inform the GSA, its executives, and the university to develop strategic planning, program development, and resource allocation for the next year.
This survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, and we look forward to receiving your feedback.
Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and entirely anonymous, and the answers will not be tied to you as an individual. If you feel uncomfortable answering any questions, you can withdraw from the survey at any point. It is very important for us to learn your opinions.
Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported only in the aggregate. Your information will be coded and will remain confidential. If you have questions at any time about the survey or the procedures, you may contact the GSA Communication Coordinator at [email protected]
At the end of the survey you will be asked for your email address if you wish to be entered into a draw to win an iPad Mini! Your email address will only be used to contact you should you win the iPad Mini, and all email addresses will be deleted after the winner is notified.
*Please note that the Survey may work better in a Safari browser. If you are experieincing difficulties with the Survey, please try another browser.*
Thank you very much for your time and support. Please start with the survey now by clicking on the Next button below.
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| * What program are you in? |
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| * What campus do you spend the majority of your time on? |
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| * What degree stream are you in? |
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| * What year of your program are you currently in? |
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| * What year of your program are you currently in? |
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| * What do you want to get out of your graduate degree? Please explain. | | |
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| * At this time, do you intend to stay in Alberta after graduation? |
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| * How prepared do you feel for the next stage of your career/life at this point of your degree? Please explain. | | |
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| * At this time, do you intend to stay in Alberta after graduation? |
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| GSA Supports and Services |
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| * Do you know where the GSA Office is located? |
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| * Have you ever contacted the GSA? (Please check all that apply) |
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| * Was the GSA staff and/or executive able to help you address or solve your question/issue? |
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| Why was the GSA staff/executive unable to help you address or solve your question/issue? Please explain | | |
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| How satisfied are you with the following:
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| FGS Supports and Services |
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| How satisfied are you with the following Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) services:
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| * Have you visited the GSA Website? |
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| * Were you able to find what you were looking for on the website in an efficient manner? |
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| How satisfied are you with the following aspects of the GSA website:
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| Do you have any comments or suggestions for the GSA website as we redevelop the site? | | |
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| * The GSA Executives will be blogging, and potentially vlogging, via the GSA website throughout the upcoming 2016-17 academic year. Will you visit the GSA website for current happenings and updates when these blogs/vlogs appear online? |
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| * How likely will you be to read/watch the blogs/vlogs? |
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| * What kinds of content would you like to see on the website through the blogs/vlogs? (Select all that apply) |
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| Which of the following UCalgary/GSA Apps have you downloaded and used? |
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| * Do you read the GSA Newsletter, News and Views? |
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| Comments/Suggestions on how to make the News and Views more effective and interesting for graduate students. | | |
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| * How often do you think the GSA should be producing a newsletter for graduate students? |
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| * How do you receive information about the GSA and its services? (Check all that apply) |
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| * What Social Media platforms do you use? Check all that apply. |
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The GSA recognizes that each graduate student has individual circumstances that are unrelated to their degree/program but that nonetheless impact their studies. The following questions relate to the types of services that the GSA can offer for different elements of our graduate student population.
Please select from the below options to help the GSA know more about our graduate student population and the kinds of services that will help us serve you better. |
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| What services/supports, beyond those already provided, would assist you as a distance learner? | | |
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| What services/supports, beyond those already provided, would assist you as a student in a professional program? | | |
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| What services/supports, beyond those already provided, would assist you as a mature student? | | |
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| What services/supports, beyond those already provided, would assist you as a student with a disability? | | |
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| What supports/services, beyond those already provided, would assist you as a student with dependents? | | |
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| What services/supports, beyond those already provided, would assist you in your studies? | | |
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| What services/supports, beyond those already provided, would assist you as an Aboriginal student? | | |
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| * Are you aware that the University of Calgary is currently in the midst of developing an Aboriginal Student Strategy? |
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| Is there anything you would like the GSA to know, or to advocate on, regarding Aboriginal graduate students as the Strategy is developed? | | |
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| What services/supports, beyond those already provided, would assist you as an international student? | | |
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| Please indicate which of the following best describes your situation: |
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| How did you find the process for becoming a Permanent Resident? | | |
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| * Do you feel that there is a role for the University/GSA to play in helping graduate students to receive PR status? |
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| How did you find the process for acquiring a visa? | | |
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| * Are you in the process of applying for PR status? |
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| How do you find the process of applying for PR as a graduate student? | | |
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| Is there a way for the University/GSA to support you in your application for PR status? | | |
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| * Which of the following family members are here with you in Canada |
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| * How are you/ were you funded? |
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| * Was your funding secured for |
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| * Do you have access to TA/RA opportunities? |
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| * Are you aware of the International Differential Fee (IDF) applied to international students' tuition? |
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| * Was your Department's policy/position on the IDF ever explained to you? |
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| * At what point in your degree program was the IDF explained to you? |
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| * Do you feel that you have a good understanding of the funding structure for international students in your Department? |
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| Is there anything specifically that you would like to have clarified about the funding structure/International Differential Fee? | | |
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| Do you have any other comments/concerns about international funding, tuition and fees? | | |
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| Cross-Campus Services and Supports |
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| How satisfied are you with the following cross-campus services and supports:
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| * Do you feel that there is anything missing on campus that could improve your experience as a graduate student? | | |
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| * Is there anything specific that the GSA could to to improve your student experience? | | |
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| * In January 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Right to Strike must be provided. In light of this ruling, the Alberta Government is working to develop Right to Strike legislation for the post-secondary sector, including graduate students who work as TAs and RAs within the University. Some of the currently identified issues that exist with Right to Strike Legislation include the power imbalance between graduate students and their supervisors (i.e. academic reprisals for striking); the "triple-hat" existence of graduate students as (a) students, (b) employees and (c) teachers of undergraduate students; the awkwardness of being locked out of working as a researcher but still being a student; and finally the impracticality of a strike vote in which only current TAs and RAs would be able to vote on a strike that will affect all graduate students. Are there any other issues that you see regarding graduate students having the Right to Strike? | | | | * Benefits to the Right to Strike include having the ability to (potentially) more effectively ensure safe workplace environments and fair compensation. Are there any other potential benefits that you can identify from having the Right to Strike? | | |
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| * The Government of Alberta has frozen tuition at 2014-15 levels for the past two academic years. This means that, despite the University wanting to increase tuition students have paid the same rates for the last three years. However, the Government has not increased the number of dollars it has provided to the University in its operating grant, which means that the University is dealing with increased costs to post-secondary education without increased revenues to sustain those costs. Furthermore, the Government has recently decreased the number of dollars it allocates to research and innovation which means fewer external scholarships, fewer grants, and generally less money available for graduate students and graduate student research. In the past, the GSA's position on tuition has been to tie tuition increases to increases in funding/compensation levels for students on the basis that increases in tuition generally mean increases in the value and quality of education that we receive. Does this tuition position hold true in 2016? | | | | * Are there other issues or concerns with tuition and funding that you would like to see the GSA address? | | | | * What would an ideal tuition/funding (scholarship/grant) model look like? (i.e. if tuition were to increase/decrease/stay the same, what would you like to see happen to funding? vice versa?) | | |
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| * Which of the following best describes your feelings toward tuition right now? |
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| * Do you have a supervisor? |
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| How satisfied are you with the following:
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| * What student-supervisor relationship sources have you utilized (Select all that apply)? |
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| Do you have any suggestions on how the GSA can support you in having a positive relationship with your supervisor or otherwise improve your supervision experience? | | |
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| How satisfied are you with the following:
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| Do you have any comments or suggestions on how your department could improve your graduate experience? | | |
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| * Have you used the GSA's Health and Dental service (StudentCare)? |
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| Are you satisfied with the current level of service? Please explain. | | |
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| With respect to the Health and Dental program, how would you rate the following?
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| Last Defense Lounge (LDL) |
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| * Do you know where the LDL is? |
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| * How often do you go to the LDL? |
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| What would incentivize you to go to the LDL more often? | | |
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| * When do you most often visit the LDL? |
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| * What is the main purpose(s) of your visits to the LDL? |
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| * What types of menu offerings would you prefer? |
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| * What type of atmosphere would you prefer to see in the LDL? |
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| * When deciding where to dine/socialize on campus, where do you go for information? |
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| * When deciding where to dine/socialize on campus, what is most important to you when making your decision? |
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| * How many times, on average, per week do you dine on campus? |
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| Do you have any comments or suggestions on how to make the LDL more appealing to graduate students? | | |
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| How satisfied are you with the following:
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| * The GSA offers a wide range of financial supports, which of the following have you heard about: |
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| * How did you hear about these funding opportunities? |
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| * Have you ever applied for GSA Funding? |
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| * Which of the following did you apply to? |
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| * How would you rate the feedback you received on your application? |
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| Do you feel that the evaluation criteria for GSA funding is appropriate? Why or why not? | | |
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| * In your opinion, is information about GSA funding/awards readily available and clearly communicated? |
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| * What would you like to see from the GSA in terms of awards/funding? |
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| Do you have any comments or suggestions for how the GSA can better communicate and improve GSA awards and funding? | | |
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| Do you have any comments or suggestions to improve graduate student funding, in general? | | |
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| Graduate Assistantship (Teaching/Non-Teaching) |
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* For the following questions, please note that a GAT is commonly referred to as a TA position, and a GANT is commonly referred to as an RA position (non-discipline). A GAR is also commonly referred to as an RA position (discipline-specific)
Have you held a Graduate Assistantship (Teaching (GAT)/Non-Teaching(GANT)) or GAR? |
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| Knowing you held a GAT/GANT/GAR...
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| Is there anything additional you would like to see added in the next (2018) Collective Agreement? | | |
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| Do you feel that the Collective Agreement is fair for graduate students? Please explain. | | |
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| Do you feel you had sufficient support in each of these areas?
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| How many hours per week did you spend completing your GAT/GANT/GAR duties, on average? | | |
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| * Did you have any issues with workload/expectations while completing your GAT/GANT/GAR responsibilities? |
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| * How severe was the issue? |
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| * Did you file a formal grievance? |
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| Was the issue resolved? If yes, how? If no, why not? | | |
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| * Do you feel that you receive enough professional development as an academic through your GAT/GANT/GAR opportunities? |
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| * Do you feel that you have had enough training for your GAT/GANT/GAR opportunities? |
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| * Do you have enough access to TAships? |
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| * Do you have enough access to RAships? |
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| Do you have any comments on the pedagogical academic training opportunity that is provided by GAT/GANT/GAR opportunities? Are there other methods of pedagogical academic training you would like to see other than GAT/GANT/GAR opportunities? | | |
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| Any additional comments/suggestions about Graduate Assistantships: | | |
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| Professional/Personal development |
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| How satisfied are you with the quantity of professional/personal development opportunities with the following:
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| How satisfied are you with the quality of professional/personal development opportunities with the following:
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| Have you used any of the following services (Select all that apply)? |
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| What kinds of Professional Development workshops would you like to see the GSA offer? | | |
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| * Are you aware that the GSA offers professional development workshops? |
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| * Which of the following workshops have you attended (Select all that apply)? |
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| * Would you like to see the GSA offer a speaker series/panel discussion that discusses relevant topics related to professional development? |
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| Do you have any suggestions for topics to be considered for a speaker series/panel discussion related to professional development (i.e. social media and the law: how your privacy is impacted when looking for employment?) | | |
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| Which of the following time periods for attending workshops/speaker series panels best suit your schedule?
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| * At which campuses would you be interested in workshops being available? |
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| * Are you aware that the GSA offers a mentorship program? |
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| * Have you ever considered acquiring a mentor to help you navigate your post-secondary experience? |
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| * Would you consider participating in a peer mentorship program as a mentee? |
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| * Would you consider participating in a peer mentorship program as a mentor? |
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| How important would each of the following services be to you?
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| What other career/professional development services would you like to see the GSA or University offer? | | |
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| Please provide any comments or suggestions to improve your professional development experience. | | |
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| * Have you ever served on a GSA committee? |
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| * If you were to sit on a GSA committee, which committee)s) would you be interested in? |
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| * The Academic Standing Committee is working to provide more learning resources and opportunities for graduate students. Which of the following resources would you like to see implemented: |
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| * For the above opportunities, which is your preferred delivery method: |
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* As part of the Academic Standing Committee's mandate for the coming year, the committee will be reviewing how the GSA handles students' academic issues.
Have you ever contacted the GSA or the VP Academic regarding an academic issue, or an appeal? |
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| * How would you rate your experience in dealing with the GSA/VPA regarding your academic issue/appeal? |
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| What improvements would you like to see from the GSA regarding academic issues/appeals? | | |
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| Are there any GSA policies/procedures you would like to know more about (i.e. Quality Money, Budget/Fees, etc.)? | | |
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| * Which of the following GSA documents have you read? (select all that apply) |
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| * Are you aware that the GSA offers discounted tickets for certain events within the Calgary community? |
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| * How did you find out about these events? (Select all that apply) |
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| * What type of events are you most interested in getting discounted tickets to? (Select all that apply) |
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| * The GSA is working on providing more group activities, which are discounted for our members. Would you be interested in attending any of the following events? (Select all that apply) |
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| * What type of event would you like to see more of? (Select all that apply) |
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Family (especially families with young children)
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Watching sports (hockey, football, curling, etc.)
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Playing sports (intramurals, rafting, etc.)
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Music (orchestra, folk festival, etc.)
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Art (galleries, museums, exhibitions, painting classes, etc.)
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Food (wine tasting, restaurant outings, etc.)
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| Did you hear about GradFest? |
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| How did you hear about GradFest? | | |
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| The Community Engagement Committee is working on providing volunteer opportunities for students to volunteer off-campus (in the Calgary community). Which type of volunteer opportunities would you be most interested in? (Select all that apply) |
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| Are you satisfied with your experience living on-campus? Please explain. | | |
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| What kind of events, workshops, seminars, or services would you like to see organized for students living on campus? | | |
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| * The GSA aims to play a bigger role in creating a more sustainable campus. Please select the areas of sustainability that are most important to your life as a graduate student. |
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Nature (Environment, Resources, Eco-System, Climate)
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Economy (Production, COnsumption, Employment, Investment)
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Society (Government, Culture, Institution, Social Concerns)
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Wellbeing (Individual Health, Families, Self-Development, Quality of Life)
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| Do you have any sustainability ideas that you would like to see implemented? | | |
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| During your time at the University of Calgary, have you experienced mental health concerns? |
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| Did you seek the help of a mental health professional? |
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| Other than health professionals, who did you communicate with at the University about your mental health concerns? (Select all that apply) |
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| Were you able to get the help you needed? |
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| Please elaborate (if desired) | | |
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| To improve graduate student mental health, which of the following should the GSA offer more of? (Select all that apply) |
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| What types of workshops/events would you be interested in attending? (Select all that apply) |
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| If you were to experience mental distress, what would be your main concerns as a graduate student? (Select all that apply) |
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| Is there anything else you would like to let the GSA know? | | |
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| * To thank you for participating in this survey, the GSA would like to enter you into a draw for an iPad Mini. Would you like to be entered into the draw? |
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| * Add your email address to be entered into our draw: | | |
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| Thank you for participating in the GSA's Annual Survey! |
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