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The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) provides free wellness resources for eligible 91ÑÇÉ« graduate students, including individual consultations, workshops and peer support.

The Wellness Consultation & Counselling Service offers confidential, 50-minute sessions with trained counsellors. Students can discuss stress, anxiety, low mood, self-doubt, isolation, relationship difficulties, balancing graduate studies and life, or personal wellness goals, and more. Appointments are available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in person, by phone or secure video platform. Email gradwell@yorku.ca to book an appointment.

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For students interested in developing practical wellness strategies, the Certificate in Personal Wellness: Wellness Workshop Series explores stress reduction, negative thought patterns and emotional resilience. The five-session online series introduce practices including mindfulness, gratitude and self-compassion. Sessions take place Oct. 20 and 27 and Nov. 3, 10 and 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The Graduate Student Wellness Support Group provides a confidential and welcoming space for graduate students to connect with peers, share experiences and develop practical coping strategies. This is a confidential and supportive environment designed to help you feel heard, understood, and less alone as you move through your graduate journey.

Different resources may be helpful at different points in a student's graduate journey. During Well-being Week and throughout the year, graduate students can explore the services and programs available to them through FGS.

Explore Graduate Student Wellness Services: yorku.ca/gradstudies/students/current-students/grad-wellness-services/

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Around the edges of the room, several student services and campus resources were waiting to meet them. Graduate Finance & Funding and Scholarships & Awards answered questions students often feel weighing on them. Graduate Wellness & Counselling and Student Accessibility Services shared that supports exist, and you do not have to be in crisis to use them. The Teaching Commons spoke with students about to teach their first tutorial. 91ÑÇÉ« International, YUGSA and CUPE 3903 talked through what it means to be an international student, a member, an employee. 91ÑÇÉ« Libraries, Athletics & Recreation, YSpace Hub, C4: Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom, Graduate Supervision, Graduate Academic Affairs, Graduate Student Affairs and the Office of the Ombudsperson each brought another piece of the map.

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Put that many services in one room and something useful happens. Students arrived with one question and left with answers to three they had not thought to ask yet. Someone who came to ask about funding leaves knowing what the Libraries can do for their research, and that there is an Ombudsperson if a challenge arises . Nobody planned those conversations. They are what connection looks like in practice, and where a true sense of community materializes.

That is the reason FGS brings this event to life every year. An afternoon like this creates opportunities for connection and conversation that will last and support students beyond just those 90 minutes. Part of the Faculty’s role is to sit between graduate students and the wider University, connecting them to critical resources early so that students can more easily navigate the University and access support when needed. Those first introductions shape how a graduate journey unfolds, ultimately setting them up for success in the months and years ahead.

GRAD@91ÑÇÉ«U is just the beginning. Beyond the swag bags, the pizza, and a stack of informational pamphlets, what students carried out of Scott Library that afternoon was the start of a network: a new community of peers, and people across 91ÑÇÉ« who know them and are ready to help. Those are the connections that will allow them to navigate the rest of their first week, and the years that follow.

Explore the accomplishments, stories, research, and leadership of 91ÑÇÉ«'s graduate alumni community. Connect with fellow graduates and discover how 91ÑÇÉ« alumni are making an impact around the world.

TESTIMONIALS

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

FGS 60TH ANNIVERSARY AWARD

This established award will be given to 6 part-time BIPOC scholars who are making excellent academic progress and demonstrate financial need. This award represents FGS’ commitment to both DEDI and Access for All, in acknowledgement of the barriers facing many scholars who balance advanced study with other commitments and caregiving.

Share Your Story

Have exciting news to share? Tell us what you’ve accomplished since graduating!

This meeting will be held in person.

1. Welcome and Chair’s Remarks

Chair Arash Habibi Lashkari

2. Orientation

Associate Dean Academic Cheryl van Daalen-Smith

3. Minutes (Previous Meeting, June 4, 2026) (.docx)

4. Business Arising from the Minutes

Report on Academic Planning & Policy Committee acting under summer authority for Faculty Council

For information

Changes to Appointment and Reappointment Criteria and Procedures
Graduate Program in Psychology
Approved June 10, 2026

Update to Faculty Regulations: Petitions – Extension of Program Time Limit  
Motion (.docx)
Approved July 8, 2026

5. Dean's Remarks

Dean Alice MacLachlan

6. Update to Faculty Regulations: Transfers Across Program Levels

Approved by Academic Planning & Policy Committee on September 9, 2026
For approval
Associate Director, Graduate Academic Affairs Wes Moir
Motion (.docx)

7. Update to Faculty Regulations: English Language Proficiency

Approved by Academic Planning & Policy Committee on September 9, 2026
For approval
Associate Director, Graduate Academic Affairs Wes Moir
Motion (.docx)

8. Reports from Faculty of Graduate Studies' Representatives to Senate Committees

Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, Senate Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy Committee
Anne MacLennan, Senate Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee
Marina Morrow, Senate Executive Committee
Desirée de Jesús, Senate Executive Committee's Honorary Degrees & Ceremonials Sub-committee

9. Senate Synopses

For information

Summaries of the Senate meetings of May 28 and June 25, 2026 (URL/pdf)

10. Other Business