Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome to our volunteer page! Calling all graduate students eager to make a difference and enrich their academic journey beyond the classroom. Whether you're passionate about leadership, community engagement, or simply want to contribute to the vibrant tapestry of our graduate community, there are myriad opportunities awaiting you. Dive into leadership roles, lend your skills to the Graduate Students' Association, collaborate with the Student Union, or explore various avenues where your talents can shine. Join us in shaping the future of our academic environment and fostering a thriving community.
GPESA Volunteer Opportunities
Are you eager to make a difference, connect with peers, and enhance your graduate experience? Look no further! The Graduate Programs in Education Students' Association (GPESA) offers a myriad of volunteer opportunities for students like you. Whether you're passionate about event planning, mentoring, advocacy, or community engagement, there's a role tailored to your interests and skills. Keep reading to discover how you can get involved and contribute to our vibrant community.
Tapestries of Learning Symposium is not just an event; it's a testament to the collaborative spirit and scholarly excellence of graduate students in the field of education. Organized annually by graduate students, for graduate students, this symposium is a vibrant tapestry of research, innovation, and community. If you're passionate about education and eager to be part of a dynamic event that celebrates knowledge sharing and academic exploration, we invite you to join us as a volunteer. Whether you're assisting with logistics, facilitating sessions, or helping behind the scenes, your contribution is integral to the symposium's success. To express your interest in volunteering for Tapestries, please email gpesa@ucalgary.ca and/or tapestries@ucalgary.ca , and include Tapestries Volunteer in the subject line. Be a part of this enriching experience and help weave the threads of learning together!
The Peer Mentorship Program offers the opportunity for incoming graduate students to be paired with a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year graduate student. Peer Mentors volunteer to support Peer Mentees in making a successful transition into graduate school by connecting them with on-campus and online services and resources that are available to them, by providing social support as new students pursue their academic programs and practical advice. Both Peer Mentors and Peer Mentees benefit from leadership and social support as they fully engage in the graduate student experience. Graduate students from all specializations and degree programs within the Werklund School of Education are welcome to join!
Excited about shaping the future of graduate education? GPESA's executive elections, held annually in April or May, offer you the perfect opportunity to step up and lead. Connect with our current executives to gain insight into the various roles available and discover how you can make a tangible impact on our graduate community. Don't hesitate to nominate yourself for a position—you bring unique perspectives and skills that can drive positive change. Embrace this chance to empower your fellow students, advocate for their needs, and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of graduate life. Together, let's elevate our academic journey and create meaningful experiences for all. Look for the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) email in summer announcing elections.
Are you a master’s or doctoral student looking to boost your writing productivity? Look no further! Our monthly writing group is open to all graduate students, providing a supportive and productive environment for your academic writing endeavors. If you’d like to support the writing group lead as volunteer, reach out at gpesa@ucalgary.ca and make sure Writing Group Volunteer is in the subject line.
Navigating grad school, whether online or in person, can sometimes feel like a solitary journey. The GPESA Grad Chat is a safe space for graduate students to come together, discuss their experiences, and build community. If you’d like to volunteer as a Grad Chat leader, email gpesa@ucalgary.ca and make sure Grad Chat Leader Volunteer is in the subject line.
Are you passionate about upholding the integrity of our democratic processes and ensuring fair elections within our graduate community? We're seeking dedicated individuals to serve as our Chief Returning Officer (CRO) each year. As the CRO, you'll play a crucial role in overseeing our executive elections, upholding transparency, and fostering inclusivity throughout the process. The time commitment is two months, from April to May. If you're ready to take on this vital responsibility and contribute to the democratic foundation of our association, we want to hear from you! Express your interest in becoming our next CRO by emailing gpesa@ucalgary.ca with the subject line 'CRO Volunteer' no later than the last day of February each year. Join us in shaping the future of graduate education through principled leadership and democratic stewardship.
Interested in actively contributing to the academic and administrative decisions within the Werklund School of Education? We invite dedicated graduate students to volunteer for positions on various Werklund committees where you can serve as a graduate student voice. As a committee member, you'll have the opportunity to provide valuable input, shape policies, and influence the direction of our academic programs and initiatives. Whether your interests lie in curriculum development, student affairs, or faculty governance, there's a committee where your expertise and passion can make a difference. Committee volunteer terms typically run from September to May, aligning with the academic year. Volunteers are accepted on an as-needed basis, so if you're interested in joining, please contact gpesa@ucalgary.ca with the subject line 'Werklund Committee Volunteer.' Together, let's work towards excellence in education and student success!
COMMITTES
- Internationalization Advisory Committee
- Research Advisory Committee
- Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee
- Graduate Programs in Education Council (Preferably filled by a member of the exeuctive team. Observers are allowed)
Emerging Perspectives Graduate Student Journal Volunteer Opportunities
Emerging Perspectives: Graduate Research in Education and Psychology is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal for graduate students in education and educational psychology (e.g., school psychology, counselling psychology), developed by graduate students at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. Emerging Perspectives profiles original research, authentic ideas, and innovative practice from graduate students in both research and professional arenas. Each issue offers a platform for critical discussion, creative dialogue, and knowledge exchange of interest to community practitioners, educators, and researchers in education and health-related settings. To facilitate continuous dialogue, Emerging Perspectives publishes on an ongoing basis.
EPIGREP is in regular need of editors, volunteers, and reviewers. Reach out to epigrep@ucalgary.ca to get involved.
Graduate Labour Union Volunteer Opportunities
Graduate students who are Academically Employed (i.e., have a GANT, GAT, or GAR contract) make up the Graduate Labour Union (GLU). The Graduate Labour Union Committee (GLUC, former Labour Relations Committee), chaired by the GSA AVP Labour, exists to carry out the trade union functions of the GSA. GLUC represents, supports, and educates Academically Employed Graduate Students at the University of Calgary. This includes but is not limited to collective agreement negotiations, the handling of disputes with employers, and advocating for a high standard of graduate student employment.
There is an ongoing call for stewards and/or volunteers to help with door things like door knocking, tabling, and events planning. Stewards are graduate workers in your department that are trained to handle common problems that may arise for Graduate Assistants. Stewards provide a direct line of communication to your Graduate Labour Union Executive Committee, so that your representatives know how to best advocate for you.
Want to get involved? You can visit GLU at their office on the first floor of MacHall (office hours are on their office hours page) or contact Chair@GLUcalgary.ca. Alternatively, you can contact your PSAC regional representative Keira Gunn at gunnk@psac-afpc.com.
Graduate Students’ Association Volunteer Opportunities
Offering a diverse array of volunteer opportunities tailored to individual interests and passions, the GSA invites students to join their dynamic organization. Whether one's interests lie in event planning, advocacy, community outreach, or student governance, there's a place to thrive within the GSA community. Embrace the opportunity to shape the graduate student experience at UCalgary and contribute to positive change on campus and beyond. Explore the volunteer opportunities available today.
The GSA is pleased to extend volunteer opportunities to graduate students matching their skills and passions, where they can lend their expertise and enrich their experience.
The GSA currently has 9 committees, 4 subcommittees, and 2 working groups that work diligently to carry out initiatives and host events to improve the graduate student experience. The Chairs and Vice Chairs of these committees and subcommittees together with the Chief Returning Officer, GRC Speaker, GRC Clerk, AVP Labour, and GSA Executive Director make up the Senior Leadership Team which acts as an advisory body for the GSA Board of Directors.
Current committees seeking volunteers are
- Governance Committee
- Finance Standing Committee
- Awards Committee
- Academic Events Committee
- Student Experience and Events Committee
- Sustainability Committee
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (EDIA) Committee
- Departmental Engagement Working Group
- Food-Housing Working Group