In 2011, graduate students in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Queen’s University established the Queen’s Graduate Association of Planning Students (QGAPS) to represent the collective will of students in the Master of Planning program. QGAPS works to facilitate communication of the variety of activities and associations in which students serve and to promote the interests of its members. QGAPS is fully funded by its student members through an annual levy of $20.
Council is QGAP's official decision-making body and its voting members are the Executive and Representatives. The Association consists of 5 Executive members (President, VP Finance, VP Administration, VP Academic and Professional Development, VP Social Affairs), 7 Representatives (Upper Year CAPS, First Year CAPS, Upper Year OPPI, First Year OPPI, SGPS, Upper Year Class, First Year Class), 5 Committees (Promotions and Exhibitions, Academic and Professional Events, Social Events, International Experience Awards, Orientation), and 4 Coordinators (Course Review, Professional Development, Technical Support, Unit Research Ethics Board). Students are represented on the main governing bodies of the School (such as its SURP Graduate Committee) and on numerous more focused groups and therefore have a significant voice in the policy-making activities of the School. Here is the listing of SURP Student Representatives for 2023-2024 (Winter Term) (pdf 184kB).
Events and Projects
QGAPS members help organize a number of activities and events throughout the year including first-year student orientation, trips to conferences (such as OPPI and CAPS), field trips to Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, a visiting speakers lecture series, social functions and community events, and professional development activities and planning careers sessions with alumni.
Date and Process for Election
A meeting is held in September each year to elect the non-executive members of council to their respective positions (a two-year commitment) and in January to elect the executive (a one-year commitment). All QGAPS members may vote. Council is required to meet formally at least once per month between September and April, and informally at least once during May to August. Agenda topics range from internal administrative and financial matters to academic and professional development. Special meetings are held as needed.