Committees and Working Groups
AGSEM has a number of permanent Committees, including the Audit, Equity & Diversity, External Affairs, Mobilization, and Mutual Aid Fund Committees. Members of the Mobilization and External Affairs Committees also participate in a number of Working Groups within the union, including the Mental Health, International Students, Graduate Funding, and University Affairs Working Groups.
The General Assembly and Delegates' Council may also establish Union Committees and Working Groups. As of May 2020, AGSEM members who serve on a Committee are compensated by hour at the current TA rate.
Committees are typically filled at a Spring General Assembly, but AGSEM members may be appointed to Committees with open membership, such as the Mobilization Committee and External Affairs Committee, at any time. If you would like to join a committee, you can contact us, or run from the floor at a General Assembly.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is a permanent committee of AGSEM formed by three elected members in good standing. The committee inspects the union's accounts and alerts the Delegates' Council of any discrepancies or concerns.
We do not currently have an Audit Committee for 2020-21. If you are interested in running for a position on the Audit Committee at the next General Assembly meeting, please contact us at president@agsem-aeedem.ca.
Equity & Diversity Committee
The Equity & Diversity Committee is a permanent committee of AGSEM formed of three to five elected members in good standing. The committee receives internal union complaints related to violations of AGSEM's Equity Policy and ensures all AGSEM Executives and Committees integrate, demonstrate, and communicate their commitment to the AGSEM Equity Policy. The committee may also work on projects for the union related to equity and/or diversity.
Current members of the Equity & Diversity Committee are:
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Pouria Tirgar Bahnamiri (Chair)
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Marta Beszterda
If you are interested in running for a position on the Equity & Diversity Committee at the next General Assembly meeting, please contact us at president@agsem-aeedem.ca.
Mutual Aid Fund Committee
The AGSEM Mutual Aid Fund was established to provide financial aid to members of AGSEM as well as members of the wider McGill or academic community.
A permanent Mutual Aid Fund Committee manages the Fund autonomously and reports to the AGSEM Delegates’ Council. Members include the Secretary-Treasurer (ex officio), the Mobilization Chief Delegate, a member of the Equity & Diversity Committee, and two Members-at-Large (ideally, rank-and-file members of AGSEM).
Current members of the Mutual Aid Fund Committee are:
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Matei Petrescu (Secretary-Treasurer, ex officio)
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Ewa Niżałowska (Mobilization Chief Delegate)
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Thomas Colbourne (Member-at-Large)
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David Aitken (Member-at-Large)
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Marta Beszterda (Equity & Diversity Committee)
External Affairs Committee
The External Affairs Committee is a permanent committee of AGSEM formed by elected or appointed members in good standing. The committee has an unfixed number of members. The committee promotes inter-union solidarity at McGill, with members of the Affiliates, and with other associations that share the Union’s objectives.
The committee participates in the following meetings and groups:
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Federation of University Student Unions (FUSE)
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McGill Communities Council
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McGill Health and Safety Committee
If you are interested in participating in the External Affairs Committee, please contact us at president@agsem-aeedem.ca.
Mobilization Committee
The Mobilization Committee is a permanent committee of AGSEM chaired by the Mobilization Chief Delegate and is composed of elected or appointed members in good standing. The committee has an unfixed number of members. The committee works on campaigns and organizing events, as mandated by the General Assembly or Delegates’ Council.
If you are interested in participating in the Mobilization Committee, please contact us at mobilization@agsem-aeedem.ca.
Working Groups
AGSEM’s Working Groups are flexible committees that are associated with the Mobilization and External Affairs Committees. Currently, we have the following Working Groups:
Mental Health Working Group
An inter-union and inter-association group that meets monthly during the academic year to discuss McGill’s services and policies related to mental health care. Aims to advocate for better mental health support for McGill students and student employees.
International Students Working Group
An AGSEM group that meets to discuss issues affecting international students and international student employees. Aims to inform AGSEM members about their rights and hold events that will help international students navigate their time at McGill and in Canada.
Graduate Funding Working Group
A loose group of AGSEM members and members of the Post Graduate Students' Society of McGill (PGSS) that discuss issues of funding at McGill, and how graduate funding packages intersect with Teaching Assistant employment.
University Affairs Working Group
A group of AGSEM members that collaborates with other members of the McGill community on policy revisions and other initiatives. It also advocates for an increased student and student employee presence within the university's structures of governance.
If you would like to participate in an existing Working Group or have an issue that you care about that is not currently addressed in the existing AGSEM Committees or Working Groups, please reach out to us at mobilization@agsem-aeedem.ca.
Join a Committee
If you would like to run for a position on an AGSEM Committee, or would like to learn more information, contact us using the form below. Alternatively, you may also run from the floor at a relevant General Assembly.