August 2026 Meeting Minutes

 The August 2026 Caucus meeting was held on August 20th, 2026.

Meeting highlights

• Motion to financially support TSSU STEM Block Party passes unanimously
• Students raise concerns over lab/office space relocation in preparation for upcoming BISC building renovations

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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June 2026 Minutes

 The June 2026 Caucus meeting was held on June 26th, 2026.

Meeting highlights

• Course credit requirement changes for grads approved but not coming into effect this year
• Planning for the welcome BBQ and other events

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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May 2026 Meeting Minutes

 The May 2026 Caucus meeting was held on May 25th, 2026.

Meeting highlights

• 2026 BISC caucus election held
• Motion to reimburse Alex Gregg for the purshase of Caucs merch and the NWSSMM conference
• Increase minimum funding for grad students by 2% each year passed by faculty
• PhD students with a MSc will no longer have mandatory course requirements

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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March 2026 Meeting Minutes

The March 2026 Caucus meeting was held on March 30th, 2026 .

Meeting highlights

• Caucus merch sales will be held at an upcoming payday coffee
• Caucus passes motion to provide $300 in support for the NWSSMM 2026 student conference
• Caucus election to be held in April
• Grads will recived a yearly cost of living "bump-up" to minimum stiped currently set at a rate of 2% for PhD and MSc.

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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February 2026 Meeting Minutes

The February 2026 Caucus meeting was held on February 26th, 2026 .

Meeting highlights

• SFU caucus merch purchase forms goes live. Elected caucus members to receive one free piece of merch, grad students to receive discount on merch purchases.
• Grad caucus recommendations for future building renovations - more shared/grad specfic spaces
• March 9th grad hosted speaker, Dr. Rachel Germain from UBC. Grad caucus hosting dinner at Biercraft.
• TSSU bargaining with SFU ongoing, SFU suggesting the switch to timesheets for grad students.
• Graduate student handbook complete and posted to caucus website

                                    You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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January 2026 Meeting Minutes

 The January 2026 Caucus meeting was held on January 20th, 2026 .

Meeting highlights

• Unanimous motion to send $300 to IDEAS conference organizers
• Caucus unanimously agrees to have Alex organize BISC caucus merch purchase
• Open discussion about what grad's would like to see in upcoming biology building renovation
• SFU appealing the decision to include RAs in collective agreement
• Cuts are likely to come to BISC lab courses, retiring lab/office staff likely not going to be replaced.

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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November 2025 Meeting Minutes

 The November 2025 Caucus meeting was held on November 27th, 2025.

Meeting highlights

• GSS election ongoing
• RAs now recognized under the TSSU collective agreement
• Unanimous motion to reimburse Sandra, Emmanuel, and Miranda for Halloween party expenses

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

See you in the new year!

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October 2025 Meeting Minutes

                        The October 2025 Caucus meeting was held on October 23rd, 2025.

Meeting highlights

• Sarah Ribeiro-Sahib elected as treasurer
• Survey for BISC grad financial income to inform potential BASS funding cuts
• Discussion from SFU surrounding changes to CAL
• EDI committee seeking input on ways to improve EDI in BISC
• End of month Halloween party, caucus once again hosting Christmas party Dec. 4th at Biercraft

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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September 2025 Meeting Minutes

 The September 2025 Caucus meeting was held on September 19th, 2025.

Meeting highlights

• Graduate handbook has been completed by the subcommittee
  
• Election will be held for a new Treasurer
  
• BISC graduate logo contest will be held at pay day coffee on Oct. 17th
  
• Upcoming events - Halloween party
  
  

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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August 2025 Meeting Minutes

 The August 2025 Caucus meeting was held on August 27th, 2025.

Meeting highlights:

- Request sent to remove core funds from account by Aug. 31st

- Undergraduate research scholarships ranked

- New administrative assistant hired

- Professional development grants due Oct. 6th

- Advocacy committee to create potential BC residency campaign for international post-grads

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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July 2025 Meeting Minutes

The July 2025 Caucus meeting was held on July 28th, 2025.

Meeting highlights:

- MBB joint seminar

- Communication between Caucus and GSS about IDEAs conflict

- Caucus and BISC department co-hosting welcome event

- Motion to transfer 100% of unused core funds to trust account

- DGSC to create poll about online vs. not-online options for candidacy exams

- TSSU vote to strike by September meeting if SFU does not agree to their terms

- Motion to request GSS grant for welcome event

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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June 2025 Meeting Minutes

 The June 2025 Caucus meeting was held on June 25th, 2025.

Meeting highlights:

- Biology department will cover the $150 discussed in May's meeting minutes

- Outreach committee looking for members

- Meeting with department chair about graduate student needs

- Faculty hiring 1-2 new members

- Shrum Biology/Science renovations

- Merchandise/logo competition discussion

- New subcommittee established for grad student pamphlet/important info document

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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May 2025 Meeting Minutes

The May 2025 Caucus meeting was held on May 21st, 2025.

Meeting highlights:

- Conflict with GSS over IDEAS conference support

- Budget deficit

- Grad RA bargaining/agreement

- End-of-semester event planning

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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April 2025 Meeting Minutes

The April 2025 Caucus meeting was held on April 9th, 2025.

Meeting highlights:

- Grad caucus will be supporting IDEAS and ToxTalks

- GPRs due for continuing grad students, conflict with GPR scheduling and communication

- CGSMs announced

- General lack of communications for what is required of incoming grads - Development of a grad handbook by the Caucus

- two-tiered health plans / increasing plan costs next year

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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March 2025 Meeting Minutes

 The March 2025 Caucus meeting was held on March 3rd, 2025. There was no February meeting this year.

Meeting highlights:

- Caucus election held

- Discussed issues surrounding the Caucus' inability to pay for events upfront

- Motion to donate money to IDEAS conference

- Changes in defense scheduling

- TSSU elections 

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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January 2025 Meeting minutes

The January 2025 Caucus meeting was held on January 29th, 2025. 

Meeting highlights:

- Caucus election to fill a number of positions

- ToxTalks sponsorship request

- Health plan referendum

- EDI monthly meetings

You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

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November 2024 Meeting Minutes

The November 2024 Caucus meeting was held on November 25th, 2024. You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

October 2024 Meeting Minutes

The October 2024 Caucus meeting was held on October 28th, 2024. You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

September 2024 Meeting Minutes

The September 2024 Caucus meeting was held on September 23rd, 2024. You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!

August 2024 Meeting Minutes

The August 2024 Caucus meeting was held on August 20th, 2024. You can find the full meeting minutes posted HERE!