About Us

The Trent Graduate Students’ Association (TGSA) is a not-for-profit, student-run organization that represents over 1000 graduate students enrolled at Trent University on both the Peterborough and Durham campuses.

Who is a member of the TGSA?

Our executive team and the Board of Directors, who are elected by the general membership, administer the society to provide financial support, political advocacy, resources, and social events with the aim of connecting graduate students across campus with each other, the university, and the government. We achieve this by establishing and maintaining communication with Trent University administration, faculty, staff, and undergraduate students, as well as organizations outside of the Trent community. Learn more about our initiatives here.

The TGSA is committed to improving our association and creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all graduate students. Your backgrounds, cultures, and values enrich our student body and we strive to create a sense of belonging for each student in our close-knit community. The TGSA also recognizes that students are complex beings. As such, we wholeheartedly support the positive mental health and overall well-being of students. Please find a list of mental health resources under our website’s Service tab.

Your feedback and suggestions on ways to improve our services to you will be highly appreciated. Please feel free to scroll through our website to learn more about our team, the services we provide and our advocacy and feedback forms.

TGSA Governing Body

by-laws and policies

The by-laws and policies
are available for download.

View

TGSA BOARD MEETINGS

Previous Board meeting Agendas and Minutes are available for download.

View

*Meetings of the TGSA Board are held monthly and are open to all members.

Mission Statement

The Trent Graduate Students’ Association will foster, support, and contribute to the intellectual growth and cultural development of graduate students by advocating for their unique needs and concerns. The Organization will also work to build a sense of community amongst graduate students and work to promote a positive relationship with Trent University and the community at large.

The goals of the TGSA are

To draw into formal association all graduate students at the University on a Democratic and cooperative basis

01

To contribute to the intellectual growth and cultural development of members of the University community

02

To uphold and respect principles of academic freedom

03

To promote the welfare of, and advocate for, individual and collective graduate student needs and concerns

04

To promote and maintain communication between graduate students and other members of the University community including administration, faculty, staff, and undergraduate students or associations

05

To organize services or activities that supplement the learning experience and to develop a sense of community with our peers and other members of the community

06

To support and further the intellectual, cultural, social, and political activities of graduate students

07

To provide avenues for the exchange of ideas between graduate students of all disciplines and to promote the dissemination of graduate student research

08

To pursue equity and social justice by promoting respect, integrity, accessibility, and fairness in matters relating to the work of The University as they pertain to graduate students

09

To act as the official voice of all graduate students on matters pertinent to graduate students both inside and outside the University

10

To provide graduate students with a suitable Health and Dental Benefits Plan that balances their unique needs with acceptable premiums and oversee the operation of the Health and Dental Benefits Plan

11

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Emma Kaszecki

President

[email protected]

Pronouns
She/Her

Program
Environmental and Life Science, Ph.D

Experience
For the 2021-2022 year I served as the Environmental Commissioner on the TGSA advocating for sustainable practices on behalf of graduate students. I have also been the student advocate on the Euglena International Network since February 2021 advocating for student research related to Euglena sp. on an international scale.

What I hope to bring to the Board: My top priority as President of the TGSA will be to fortify the association by repairing relationships with university administration, and forging new connections with the TCSA and TDSA. As a key part of the teaching and instructional framework at Trent, graduate students are a critical demographic despite our size. Many gradates students are unaware that there is even an organization that represents them, their interests, and their needs. I will make it my mission to have the TGSA be the place to go whenever graduate students have questions, comments, or concerns.

Song on Repeat
One Right Now – Post Malone

Daniel Palberg

VP Internal Affairs

[email protected]

Sarah Rayner

VP Student Affairs

[email protected]

Pronouns
She/They

Program
Cultural Studies, Ph.D

Experience
I have previously been a part of the TGSA for three previous terms as Equity Commissioner (2018/19), VP, Student Affairs (2019/20), and VP, Communications (2022/23). I have a background in community work and activism, as well as in visual art and design.

What I hope to bring to the board: I’m excited to plan fun events and keep our membership in the loop with issues that effect them as graduate students!

Song on Repeat
TKO – Le Tigre

William Kim

VP Senate

[email protected]

Pronouns
He/Him

Program
Environmental and Life Science, Ph.D

Experience
I have been involved in teaching positions for 8 years and have supported learning in individuals of various educational backgrounds including students with mentally disabilities to graduate students in research. During my time in these positions, I engaged in one-one interactions with students requiring direct educational support and sat in meetings discussing ways to enrich academic success.

What I hope to bring to the Board: In this role, I hope to engage with graduate students and relay any questions/concerns to TGSA team. From this, I aim to bring ideas that enhances the educational experience in graduate studies at Trent.

Song on Repeat
The Chainsmokers – Who Do You Love ft. 5SOS

Board of directors

Jaz Raine

Equity Commissioner

Henrietta Appiah

International Student Commissioner

Heather Klyn-Hesselink

Environmental Commissioner

Vacant

Arts & Sciences Representatives

The TGSA is represented on the following University Committees

University Senate

14 total committees

Academic Planning & Budget Committee (AP&B)

Daniel Palberg, VP Internal Affairs

Committee on Indigenous Education (CIE)

Jaz Raine, Equity Commissioner

Cyclical Program Review Committee (CPRC)

William Kim, VP Senate

Graduate Studies Committee (GSC)

Emma Kaszecki, President
Holden Lowes, Science Graduate Student Representative (MSc)

Library Advisory Committee

Tyler Majer, Arts Graduate Student Representative (PhD)

Research Policy Committee (RPC)

Emma Kaszecki, President

Research Ethics Board (REB)

Holden Lowes, Science Graduate Student Representative (MSc)

Research Grants – CIHR

William Kim, VP Senate

Research Grants – NSERC

William Kim, VP Senate

Research Grants – SSHRC

William Kim, VP Senate

Distinguished Research Award

Emma Kaszecki, President

Special Appeals Committee

William Kim, VP Senate

Teaching Awards

William Kim, VP Senate

Teaching & Learning Advisory

William Kim, VP Senate

Advisory

17 total committees

Animal Care

Bradley Howell, Science Graduate Student Representative (PhD)

Environmental Advisory Board (EAB)

Heather Klyn-Hesselink, Environmental Commissioner

Facilities & Grounds

Heather Klyn-Hesselink, Environmental Commissioner

Nature Areas Stewardship

Heather Klyn-Hesselink, Environmental Commissioner

Presidential Advisory Council on Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility (PACHREA)

Jaz Raine, Equity Commissioner

IT Steering Committee

Emma Kaszecki, President

Colleges and Student Services

Emma Kaszecki, President;
Daniel Palberg, VP Internal Affairs

Athletics Advisory Committee

Emma Kaszecki, President

Colleges

Emma Kaszecki, President

Housing Advisory Committee

Tyler Majer, Arts Graduate Student Representative (PhD)

Food Services Advisory Committee

Heather Klyn-Hesselink, Environmental Commissioner

Orientation

Emma Kaszecki, President

Student Wellness

Jaz Raine, Equity Commissioner

Convocation

Emma Kaszecki, President

Careers & Experiential Learning Committee

Henrietta Appiah, International Student Commissioner

Campus Fair Trade Steering Committee

Heather Klyn-Hesselink, Environmental Commissioner

CASSC Issue Based Committee

Daniel Palberg, VP Internal Affairs

HAVE CONCERNS?
CONTACT US!

If you have any concerns or questions that you would like to be addressed, or if you are interested in representing the TGSA and graduate student membership on any of these committees, please do not hesitate to contact us

Contact

Board of governors

Please note that although the TGSA does not have an assigned seat on the Board of Governors (BOG), we are in frequent communication with our student representatives on the BOG and can always request to bring an issue forward.

CUPE 3908

The TGSA works closely with our union, CUPE 3908, which aims to improve working conditions for contract faculty and student academic workers at the provincial and national levels. CUPE 3908 also provides additional funding for graduate students who are Unit 2 workers.

Governance Documents and Finances

Our monthly Board Meeting schedule is posted on here. Meetings are held over Zoom and are open to the membership. If you are interested in attending a Board Meeting, please email [email protected] for the Zoom link.

Our by-laws and policies govern how the TGSA operates as a not-for-profit incorporated association. In the winter semester, amendments to the by-laws are made at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the approval from the membership through the democratic process. Voting for proposed by-law changes is open to the entire membership regardless of whether the member attended the AGM or not.

Your TGSA Student Support Fee funds the operations of our services and supports the advocacy work of the association. We aim to make your Trent University experience the best it can be while you are studying and living here. We thank you for your support and we hope to bring you the same level of important services and events for all students to access.

A detailed breakdown of the various fees for different Graduate Programs can be found here. Please refer your specific program to ensure you are following the appropriate fee schedule.

A Peterborough transit pass is available to graduate students for an annual fee of $344.26. Students are required to opt-in to this service by completing the transit pass form through the myTrent portal located under: Services > Campus Services > Peterborough Graduate Student Transit Pass. 

A Durham bus pass (UPASS) is available for a fee of $150 per term. Currently, the UPass is only available to students for the fall (September-December) and winter (January-April) semesters. To opt-in to this service, please visit Trent Durham Transit page or complete the transit pass form located in the myTrent portal located under: Services > Campus Services > Trent Durham Transit Pass.

All full-time and part-time domestic graduate students automatically opt-in and are charged for the Health & Dental Plan offered through the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) and offered by StudentVIP. If a student has pre-existing coverage there is an option to opt-out of the Health & Dental Plan during the first month in which they begin their studies. At this time, students also have the option to opt-in family members to their Health & Dental Plan for an additional fee.

International graduate students automatically opt-in and are charged for two (2) health insurance policies that work together to provide comprehensive coverage: the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) offered by Sun Life Financial, and the Health & Dental Plan offered by StudentVIP. There is an option for students to opt-in eligible dependent on their UHIP plan for an additional cost. Students with pre-existing coverage may have the option to opt-out of UHIP and the Health & Dental Plan. To discuss the eligibility of adding dependents to your UHIP, or whether or not you are eligible to opt-out of UHIP, BTBTplease contact [email protected].

Graduate Ancillaries & Levies 2023-24

Peterborough Campus

Ancillary FeesFull-TimePart-Time
Convocation $17.43$3.49
Wellness Fee – Counselling$16.11$2.81
Wellness Fee – Accessibility$1.19$0.26
Campus Safety Response Services$10.33$0.00
International Scholarship Fund$6.38$0.00
Trent Nature Areas$2.48$0.00
Athletics$236.60$66.35
College Fee$66.91$33.45
Campus Card$10.00$10.00
Ancillary Fee Total$458.67$131.28
TGSA Levies   
Student Levy Seasoned Spoon$3.00$0.00
Kawartha World Issues Centre $5.35$5.35
PR Community & Student Association Sadlier House$5.00$5.00
TGSA Student Support Fee$107.74$53.87
TGSA Levies Total $121.09$64.22

Graduate Ancillaries & Levies 2023-24

Durham Campus

Ancillary FeesFull-Time
Convocation $17.43
Student Services Fee$71.82
Athletics$141.24
Campus Fee$242.23
Campus Card$10.00
Ancillary Fee Total$499.54
TGSA Levies  
TGSA Student Support Fee$107.74
TGSA Levies Total $107.74