Frequently Asked Questions

This guide is meant to informally help graduate students navigate some of the requirements of applying for GSA Recognition Awards. Any further questions regarding GSA Recognition Awards can be directed to gsaad@ualberta.ca.

Information on the GSA Recognition Awards and Adjudication Criteria, as well as the composition and mandate of the GSA Awards Selection Committee, can be found in GSA Bylaw and Policy, Section O: GSA Recognition Awards.

Information on the GSA Recognition Awards Adjudication Procedures can be found in GSA Board Policy.

If there is any discrepancy between the information on this website and the information found in GSA Bylaw and Policy and GSA Board Policy, GSA Bylaw and Policy and GSA Board Policy take precedent.

How many awards can you be nominated or self-nominated for and receive?
  • According to GSA Bylaw and Policy regarding the number of awards you can be nominated or self-nominated for, there is "no maximum number of GSA Recognition Awards an individual can apply for each year, but they must meet the application eligibility requirements for each award, and each award applied for must have a complete application package."
  • Regarding the number of times an individual can be nominated or self-nominated for the same award, GSA Bylaw and Policy states, "only once each year."
  • Regarding the number of awards you can receive each year, GSA Bylaw and Policy states, "no more than one (1) GSA Recognition Award each year."
  • Regarding the number of times an individual or group can receive the same award, GSA Bylaw and Policy states, "no more than two (2) times."
Can I use the same Nomination Information Form for more than one award?
No, each completed nomination package must include a new Nomination Information Form, even if the same nominee is submitting multiple award nominations.
Do I nominate myself?

Yes, graduate students must nominate themselves for GSA Recognition Awards for graduate students or graduate student groups. The only exception for graduate student awards is the Graduate Student Spirit Awards, for which graduate students must be nominated by a graduate student peer. 

Graduate students must serve as nominator for the GSA Recognition Awards for staff and faculty (GSA Academic Staff Award, GSA Graduate Student Supervisor Awards, and GSA Non-Academic Staff Award).

How should I organize my CV?
CVs may be a maximum of four pages long. In addition, GSA Awards Selection Committee recommends that:
  • Students order the contents of their CV in relation to the award for which they are applying (eg. if you are applying for the GSA Graduate Student Service Awards, place your volunteer experience closer to the top). 
  • Students should prioritize the most relevant and the most recent information (eg. high school work is not a priority for the adjudication of these awards).
  • Students should organize each section of their CV in reverse chronology.
Please do not include a cover letter.
Why do I need to rank my award preference on the Nomination Information Form?
Each recipient can only receive one award per year, and as a result the GSA Awards Selection Committee requires that you list your preference if you are applying for more than one award. In the event that a student is ranked highly in more than one award category, the GSA Awards Selection Committee can take this preference into consideration. This ranking will not affect adjudication and will only be considered after all applications have been scored.
How do I get an Enrollment Verification Document?
Most of the GSA Recognition Awards require this document. You may find these steps helpful: 
  • Sign on with your CCID at https://www.beartracks.ualberta.ca 
  • Navigate to "Academics" > "My Academics" > "Verification Documents"
  • Select the tab for "Enrollment/Degree/Credential Verification Document".
  • Follow the instructions to select the Enrollment Verification and be sure to click the option to Print Online (below the box).

     

How do I submit my nomination application package?
Submit your complete nomination package(s) electronically as an email attachment via your UAlberta email to gsaad@ualberta.ca.
  • Send your documents in PDF format; each application package should be combined in a single, merged file. If you are applying for more than one award, please provide separate files for each award.
  • Nomination packages submitted without all of the required documents for a given award will be considered incomplete and not accepted.
  • Only include the documents listed in the Nomination Information section on the relevant award webpage. Extraneous documents (title pages, table of contents, cover letters, etc.) will be deleted prior to adjudication.
Why do I need to provide my GRA appointment letter?
In the past, students have expressed confusion about who is eligible for the GSA Graduate Student Research Assistant Award. Providing a copy of your appointment letter (your employment contract) is the simplest way for us to ensure that all applicants for this award are eligible. Note that GRA appointments are eligible; GRAF appointments are not eligible.
Other questions?
Once you have read this FAQ as well as reviewed the page for each of the GSA Recognition Awards that interest you (found in the left sidebar on this page), you may direct any out-standing questions to gsaad@ualberta.ca.