The Graduate Student Caucus (GSC) of ACCUTE exists to represent the needs and varied interests of graduate students of English in Canada. Comprised of student representatives from English (and Comparative Literature) departments across Canada, the GSC elects an executive body at its annual meeting during Congress.

Graduate Student Caucus (GSC) Executive, 2025-2026

The Graduate Student Caucus (GSC) of ACCUTE is comprised of student representatives from English departments across Canada. It exists to represent the needs and varied interests of graduate students of English in Canada.

Current and Former Graduate Student Caucus Presidents

Raj Banerjee, University of Western Ontario (2025-26)
Raj Banerjee, University of Western Ontario (2024-25)
Marc Lynch, University of Calgary (2023-24)
Krista Collier-Jarvis, Dalhousie University (2022-23)
Kyla Morris, Queen’s University (2021-22)
Meghan Burry, Queen’s University (2020-21)
Nevena Martinović, Queen’s University (2018-19)
Kala Hirtle, Dalhousie University (2017-18)
Kala Hirtle, Dalhousie University (2016-17)
Elisa Gurman, University of Toronto (2015-16)
Nico Dicecco, Simon Fraser University (2014-15)

GSC Membership/ Departmental Representatives

What does a Departmental Representative Do? 

Student representatives exist to open and maintain lines of communication between English students in departments across Canada, as well as between students and ACCUTE, the national association that represents their interests (ie. at Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences, the CFHSS that runs the annual Congress, and at Social Science and Humanities Research Council, SSHRC, that manages national funding programs for students, faculty and Congress). This is done in two ways. First, student representatives represent ACCUTE to his or her department. This involves forwarding occasional emails, informing students about the association and its current mandates, and soliciting new members among the student body. Second, student representatives are responsible for representing their departments to ACCUTE. Perhaps the most important form that this representation takes involves the ministration of the GSC’s annual survey of graduate student life. This normally takes place sometime between November and February, and the final report is published in the June newsletter after been approved by reps in late April.

How can I become a Departmental Representative?
Student reps to the GSC are elected by their own departmental student associations, a process which may differ widely from one department to another. Contact a member of your department’s Graduate Student Association for information. If your department does not have a process for electing student representatives, please contact the GSC (see executive list below for contact info) and we will be happy to help you set something up.

Student reps to the GSC must be members of ACCUTE. For services rendered to their department, many reps have been able to get their ACCUTE fees refunded by their department.

Annual Graduate Students Survey

One of the most important of the GSC activities is the administration of an annual survey of graduate student life in Canada. This survey is very important as it provides:

a) a chance for each of us to get a clearer sense of how our departments are organized and run (and to generate conversations among students in our department about the institution that we inhabit),
b) a chance to witness how each of our department structures compares with other’s across the country (in the hopes that significant differences may become the stuff of changes and exchange), and
c) a chance to see how each of our departments evolves over time (if at all).

Graduate Student Survey, 2023-2024

Please note: these are not scientifically conducted surveys, and reflect only the self-reporting done by graduate students or other members of their individual departments. As such, users should verify specific data with individual departments. These surveys are offered as snapshots for general trends.

Surveys from past years are linked below:

Report on ACCUTE-GSC Survey Data 2024-2025

Report on ACCUTE-GSC Survey Data 2023-2024

Report on ACCUTE-GSC Survey Data 2022-2023

Report on ACCUTE-GSC Survey Data 2021-2022

Report on ACCUTE-GSC Survey Data 2018-19

Report on ACCUTE-GSC Survey Data 2015-16

Report on ACCUTE-GSC Survey Data 2014-15

Report on ACCUTE GSC Survey Data 2012-13

Meeting Notes and Updates

You can access the Graduate Student Caucus Reps Meeting Notes below:

2025-26 Meeting Notes

GSC Reps Meeting 2 – December 4 2025

GSC Reps Meeting 1 – October 17 2025

2024-25 Meeting Notes

GSC Reps Meeting 5 – May 16 2025

GSC Reps Meeting 4 – April 10 2025

GSC Reps Meeting 3 – February 21 2025

GSC Reps Meeting 2 – December 13 2024

GSC Reps Meeting 1 – October 9 2024

Graduate Student Conference Funding Options

Did you know that you, as Graduate Students attending Congress, have multiple opportunities to receive full/partial funding to offset your travel expenses?

Here is a checklist to help you reach out for resources:

– Usually, ACCUTE does offer partial Travel Bursaries for graduate students in need. Keep an eye out for emails before or during Congress.
– Reach out to your Program/Department: as our survey verifies, most departments do cover some of your conference travel costs, although policies vary from one department to another. It is a good idea to check with your respective departments to see what is covered.
– Apart from your Department, your University and/or graduate student body might offer some bursary or aid too. Again, this varies across institutions, so it is worth checking with your Graduate Student Representative if you are eligible.
– If you are presenting at a Joint-Sponsored Panel, it is also a good idea to check with your panel organisers to understand if you are eligible to a membership-waiver.

Graduate Student CFPS

You can find calls for papers here.