Graduate Course Union Policies

To provide guidance and support to GCU's, the Board of Directors, in consultation with the Graduate Representative Committee, has adopted a series of policies.

• The actions of a Graduate Students' Association (GCU) must not be contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code, RSU Policies, or the Policies of the University.

• No individual connected with the GCU can realize any financial gain from the GCU's actions or activities.

• Since GCU's are funded by RSU for the benefit of Ryerson students, all activities must be directed toward students.

• GCU's must submit the required Student Risk Assessment form to the Office of Student Community Life when an off-campus event is directly sponsored by the GCU.

• All GCU's are required to have a valid constitution and must submit a copy to the Campus Groups Coordinator annually, signed by the GSA signing officer no later than October 31.

• All GCU's are required to file an executive list with active student numbers, addresses, telephone numbers of executive members, and signatures of all signing officers on an annual basis and no later than September 30.

• No membership fee may be levied on RSU members.

• All GCU's are expected to undertake projects and programs to benefit their members.

• The Campus Groups Coordinator is responsible for providing GCU's with a copy of all RSU GCU policies. 
  
  

• Approval of all grant applications for funding must be obtained by the Graduate Representative Committee prior to the event or activity.

• An official receipt or invoice must be presented to the Campus Groups Coordinator with a cheque requisition form signed by two of designated signing authorities. The receipt must indicate information regarding the supplier.

• A revenue deposit form must be completed whenever revenue is realized from an event or activity and submitted with the corresponding funds to the Campus Groups Coordinator for deposit.

• Each GCU has a RSU administered trust account. If it has been determined that an event realized a profit and the monies were not submitted to the Campus Groups Coordinator for deposit within one week of the event, all monies will remain in the trust account.

• There are to be no separate bank accounts except in the case of programs joint with other Universities. The RSU trust account system removes the need to operate bank accounts. If it is discovered that a GCU is holding a separate bank account, all assets will be immediately frozen until such time that the account is closed and the balance is transferred by the Campus Groups Coordinator in the trust account.

• No loans will be issued by RSU for any reason or purpose.

• No grants will be issued for social events.

Each official GCU is allotted a yearly fiscal budget of $400 from the RSU. The breakdown below represents the amount that can be allocated in each category. Any expenses above or not included in the budget must be applied for through a Grant Application prior to the purchase of the item or be funded through your trust account.

Education: $100
Funds available towards academic events. For speakers, a small gift is recommended in lieu of an honorarium. To save on items purchased from the Ryerson Bookstore, pickup a purchase order form from the Campus Groups Coordinator. It is a non-cash transaction.

Social Events: $100
Funds available towards social events for prizes, food, and decorations.

Miscellaneous: $200
Funds available for supplies, printing costs for meetings, and other operational expenses.

To access funding:

• Spend money within the above framework from a personal account (usually an executive member)

• Keep your original receipts

• Fill out a Cheque Requisition Form available from our website or the RSU Main Office on the 3rd floor of the Student Centre

• Submit the form and receipts to the Campus Groups Coordinator in SCC311

• After two weeks from submitting all the required information, pickup your cheque from the RSU Main Office
  
  

To get access to grant funding:

Fill out and submit a grant proposal. Forms are available from the Campus Groups Coordinator. You will be required to send a representative from your GCU to a Graduate Representative Committee meeting to make a presentation to the Executive members.

Contact: Campus Groups Coordinator | campusgroups@rsuonline.ca | (416) 979-5255, ext.1-2323