What is the role of GISA and how would you like to see it evolve?

The role of GISA is to facilitate conversations and problem-solving between the student body and the administration. GISA is to capture the issues and areas of friction that students experience at the Institute, communicate that to the relevant Institute bodies, and find a way through. I would like to see our role evolve to be more proactive to student issues and also exercise more creativity in proposing solutions.

What types of surveys or discussions do you organise to take students’ concerns into account?

The GISA Board and Class Representatives send out surveys to Initiatives and students to get feedback or collect data on various issues. Two recent ones have been centred around collecting data on the financial need of PhD students and getting feedback on skill workshop topics for MA students.

We have weekly board meetings where students have the opportunity to bring up any issues or concerns they want to discuss. We also hold a minimum of one General Assembly (GA) per semester which is another opportunity for students to bring up issues. At GAs, the student body can vote on proposals such as the budget or change to our governing documents. Faculty and administration can join GAs.

The Master’s and PhD Forums are other spaces. They are large meetings where students can discuss issues relevant to their level of study. These Forums produce reports that are then presented to and discussed with the Direction of Studies. Beyond these official meetings and forums, GISA is constantly receiving and processing issues that we receive from students, and then relaying them to the Administration and Direction as needed.

What measurement tools have you put in place?

For our meetings, forums, and voting processes, we measure participation i.e. attendance, voter turnout, and online engagement. More broadly, we hold a Strategic Planning Meeting after the new Board is solidified in the autumn semester where we discuss goals for the individual roles and for the Board as a whole. We also discuss our statutes and bylaws and note areas for improvement.

How do you see GISA’s role in the Institute’s quality approach?

As the direct voice of the student body, GISA has the responsibility to provide structured feedback on various aspects such as curriculum and teaching, campus services, and general Institute policies. GISA participates in committees and meetings, on issues like financing, career, and housing for example, where we can offer our input and perspectives, and later relay any necessary information to the student body. In these spaces, GISA’s role is really to make sure that the student experience is prioritised and we do this by identifying gaps and drawing attention to angles or ideas that may have not been considered.