Welcome, fellow graduate students, to the 2010 academic year.

Since your current GSA has been in operation, the equity forwarded to us by the outgoing association has left us relatively financially healthy, and with the capacity to have hosted events such as the GSA BBQ, cornboil, sports days and movie nights, among many other graduate student-oriented events.

It has, however, been our extreme fortune to have had the support of various programs, departments and offices campus wide. The AVC’s Graduate Studies and Research Office, headed by Dean Wichtel and his team, the newly erected Office of Graduate Studies, headed by Assistant VP Graduate Studies Dr. Brian Wagner and his Administrative Assistant Colleen Gallant, as well as the MBA Program, have all made significant donations to the GSA. This financial assistance has been vital in helping offset funding for events such as the wildly successful GSA Wine and Cheese Reception hosted in late November, as well as sending three delegates to the most recent Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) Conference in Ottawa.

It is noteworthy to reiterate that all GSA funding comes from donations. With UPEI’s push towards expanding graduate programs and increasing graduate student enrolment, we certainly look forward to continued assistance from our current supporters, as well as future support from other departments and offices across campus.

In closing, I wish all graduate students a successful and prosperous winter semester. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to even further graduate student involvement in our GSA sponsored events.

Please do not hesitate to send any questions or comments my way (gsavpfinance@upei.ca or bperry@upei.ca).

Sincerely,

Ben Perry
VP Finance
UPEI GSA