Alberta Graduate Council

350 MSC
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
ph: (403) 615-4730
fax: (403) 282-8992

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AGC NEWS

Government of Alberta Daily News

De January 2010 – Province-wide graduate student research conference gaining support across Alberta. Learn more about it!

December 2009 – Athabasca University graduate students join the Alberta Graduate Council. The AGC now represents ALL Alberta graduate students studying at research universities.

December 2009 - Read the Third Edition of AGC Awareness!

November 2009 – The AGC held its annual Legislative Lobby Week in Edmonton. Stay tuned for more details on the week.

September 2009 - Read the Second Edition of AGC Awareness!

July 30, 2009 - Read the First Edition of AGC Awareness!

July 29, 2009 - The AGC meets with Health Minister Ron Liepert
We discussed issues related to medical research and the role that graduate students play in the system.

May 22, 2009 - The AGC asks the Students Finance Board to pressure Minister to keep tuition policy in place.
We asked to the Board to put pressure on the Minister to keep the current tuition fee policy. The AGC strongly supports the current policy and is against any further increases in graduate student tuition.

You can review our presentation here.

February 28, 2009 - The Winter Meeting of the Alberta Graduate Council is held in Calgary.
Go HERE to see the meeting's agenda.

November 21, 2008 - The AGC asks the Alberta Students Finance Board to make international graduate students eligible for provincial scholarships.
Go HERE to find out more.

October 27 and 28, 2008 - The AGC organizes first annual "Meet Your MLA" Day at the Alberta Legislature
Go HERE to find out more.

September 16, 2008 - Alberta Graduate Students Applaud Investment in Graduate Student Awards
Go HERE to read the AGC's news release.
Go HERE to read the government release and details of the announcement.

August 25, 2008 - The AGC asks the Alberta Student Finance Board to recommend the creation of graduate scholarships to support nursing and fine arts students
Go HERE view the presentation.

Mar 17, 2008 - AGC congratulates Doug Horner
Go HERE to view our congratulatory letter to Minister Horner regarding his provincial re-election and re-appointment as Minister of AET.

Mar 3, 2008 - 2008 Provincial Election comes to an end

Mar 1, 2008 - AGC holds a general meeting
Go HERE to view the presentation given to the AGC members

Feb. 25, 2008 - AGC election candidate survey results update posted.

Go HERE to link directly to the answers, divided by geographic region

February 8, 2008 - AGC responds to provincial election call through a press release.

Feb 1, 2008 - AGC starts Facebook Group
This gives Grads and PSE stakeholders a forum for discussion regarding Grad-related issues

Go HERE to check it out or join today

Jan 31, 2008 - AGC attends PIA's "Education & Alberta's Future" forum
Keynote speaker Dr Fraser Mustard, along with Jane Hewes, Ellen Bielawski and Don Fleming gave fantastic presentations regarding education in Alberta

Go HERE for more info on Public Interest Alberta's Post Secondary Education campaign

Nov-Dec, 2007 - AGC participates in the Research Capacity & Provincial Research Centres of Excellence Working Group
The AGC participated in discussions, led by the Ministry of AET, which are vital to the implementation of the Roles & Mandates

For more information on the Roles & Mandates document, go HERE

Dec 19, 2007 - AGC meets with Minister of AET, Doug Horner
The AGC and UofA GSA met with the Minister to discuss the important issue of Grad Housing

For more information on the Affordable Student Housing Campaign, go HERE

Dec 3, 2007 - AGC meets with Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ray Danyluk
The AGC and UofA GSA met with the Minister to discuss the important issue of Grad Housing

For more information on the Affordable Student Housing Campaign, go HERE

Nov 28, 2007 - AGC supports Roles & Mandates in Legislature
A process initiated nearly a year ago by the Ministry, the development of the Roles & Mandates Policy Framework has been a collaborative effort among the many stakeholders - including Grads. Go HERE to view the statement of support.

Nov 22, 2007 - AGC presents at the Students Finance Board
Advocating for issues raised with the Minister, the AGC presented to the SFB. Click HERE for the full presentation.

Nov 21-23, 2007 - Grads are represented on the Students Finance Board
Our first SFB member, Christopher Skappak, attended his first SFB meeting

Nov 20, 2007 - AGC meets with Minister of Advanced Education & Technology to discuss Grad issues
The AGC met with Minister Doug Horner to discuss Grad student support and to advocate for a $1500/yr Research Allowance & SSHRC mirror at the provincial level.

Nov 20, 2007 - AGC attends Question Period at the Legislature
Click HERE to see video footage. (Time = 3.00 is most interesting)

Nov 7, 2007 - AGC nominates Chris Skappak as our SFB representative
Feel free to contact Chris or the AGC Chair regarding any questions, comments or suggestions.

Oct 27, 2007 - AGC meets at UofA
The AGC met to discuss many issues pertaining to Graduates across the province, as well as to prepare for the year ahead.

Aug 20, 2007 - Minister Horner recommends Grad student for SFB
The AGC has succeeded in having a graduate voice added to the Students Finance Board. Minister Horner has recommeded that a graduate student should serve on the SFB.

May 21, 2007 - AGC prepares for a new year
The Alberta Graduate Council is deep in planning for our upcoming 2007/08 year, with a host of ambitious projects. AGC is working on a response to the Roles and Responsibilities document put out by the Department of Advanced Education and Technology, which is due at the end of June; an e-mail campaign to Municipal Affairs Minister Ray Danyluk on the need for housing reform; arranging for a meeting with Minister Doug Horner; and our council meeting on June 23 in Lethbridge. As always AGC is participating inside and outside of government on a wide number of fronts to advance the interests of graduate students. We are always looking for bright and energetic volunteers from Alberta's graduate student population, so do not hesitate to let us know if you want to contribute.

Dec. 30, 2006 - AGC welcomes Minister Horner
The Alberta Graduate Council wrote the new Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Doug Horner in December 2006, welcoming him to the portfolio and offering some suggestions to hit the ground running in his first months on the job. Recommendations include the need for a provincial funding agency for social sciences and humanities research, removing the legislation which requires international differential tuition fees to be levied against all international students and a more affordable tuition fee policy.

Nov. 30, 2006 - AGC calls on the U of L to support campus daycare
A daycare is a crucial part of ensuring that a campus community is welcoming to students with children, and is vital to graduate recruitment and retention at Alberta's universities. the Alberta Graduate Council wrote in November 2006 a letter of support urging the University of Lethbridge's board of governors to support the creation of a daycare on campus.

May 9, 2006 - Graduates are against new government legislation
Graduate students are deeply concerned by Bill 40, the Post-secondary Learning Amendment Act, introduced on May 8, 2006. The new act will remove Alberta's tuition policy from legislation, allowing it to be changed by the Alberta cabinet rather than be fully debated in the Legislature. This poses many problems, such as the undemocratic nature with which the bill was introduced without consultation with any students and the clear and present danger for de-regulation of tuition fees in Alberta. Students are willing to wait for a new tuition fee policy and are hoping the government will leave the bill for consultation over the summer.

January 19, 2006 - AGC asks the tough questions in the federal election
AGC surveyed all candidates in a university riding for the upcoming federal election to keep graduate students better informed on where the parties stand. Specifically, we were interested in each candidate's understanding and commitment to post-secondary education. The results are in, so be sure to take a look. What they said...

January 17, 2006 - Grads to participate in next stage of PSE review
AGC has been asked to represent Alberta's graduate students in the next stage of A Learning Alberta, the comprehensive review of Alberta's post-secondary system. AGC will sit on the Transforming the System subcommittee, which is tasked with developing recommendations for funding, research and affordability for Alberta's colleges and universities. The subcommittee is expected to report to Minister of Advanced Education Hon. Dave Hancock by March 31.