On December 4, 2025, the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU) held its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM). The executives presented progress on key issues and milestones, including transit, affordability, and food and housing security, and heard from graduate constituents about their funding needs. On December 9, UTGSU held a Board of Directors (BOD) meeting to approve minutes and discuss Winter GradFest, among other responsibilities.

AGM

In executive updates, Vice-President (VP) Academics Nicholas Silver recounted developments in the transit campaign, including efforts to make the post-secondary student fare equivalent to the TTC youth fare, expand transit advocacy across GTA transit agencies, and create tangible public policy ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. Silver also highlighted the Cost of Living survey research, the formation of U of T– and GTA-wide coalitions, and meetings with city councillors and staff. 

Silver then updated members on base funding concerns. All current and incoming students in funded PhD and doctor of juridical science programs are guaranteed $40,000 in base funding. The UTGSU will now campaign to include master’s and professional students, adjust the funding with inflation, and enforce funding increases. 

VP Graduate Life Eliz Shimsek provided an overview of programming in her portfolio, including mental health, food security, advocacy, and athletics, and weekly lunches with the U of T Food Coalition.

On the AGM agenda were presentations on the Food Equity & Education Drive referendum from U of T Food Coalition’s Mike Lawler, a PhD candidate in Geography and Planning. Despite five years of advocacy for food security, Lawler noted the little progress and a lack of investment in students’ food needs — gaps the Coalition’s weekly lunches have aimed to address. 

Voting on this referendum took place from December 2–5, with 88.7 per cent of graduate student voters supporting a refundable fee for a food security program.

UTGSU President Amir Moghadam and Interim VP External Jady Liang then presented findings from the Cost of Living Survey, highlighting rising inflation.

Later motions included developing a unionization campaign within UTGSU to establish a collective negotiation process with the university, as well as creating a comprehensive master’s student funding campaign. Base Funding Committee members Julian Nickel and Dorothy Apedaile spoke passionately in support, with Apedaile emphasizing, “organizing is required to get the tiniest concessions on funding.” 

AGM business also included discussions on safeguarding student democracy in light of Bill 33 and establishing a UTGSU Action Plan to respond.

December BOD

On December 9, the BOD reconvened for its monthly meeting. Directors discussed the Board of Appeals, specifically members’ responsiveness in adjudicating issues. VP Internal Dominic Shillingford’s approved motion sought to clarify the application process.

Next, the Ad Hoc Hiring Committee — created at the November BOD to recommend a replacement for the vacant VP Finance position — presented its report. As VP Shimsek moved the report, the recommendation was not to proceed with hiring due to timeline, continuity, and onboarding concerns. 

The committee concluded that ongoing financial-related motions and policies would be best supported by elected executives, and that reassigning financial duties among current officers would avoid the significant time required to train a new VP.