The History Graduate Student Association (HGSA) serves several purposes.

First, HGSA is the central organizing body for graduate history students. The HGSA email group is the main form of communication for graduate students and during our regular meetings we discuss issues impacting the graduate community. Current students can join the email group through Google groups, or by emailing the HSGA presidents below. 

Likewise, HGSA also represents graduate history students to the History department and the university. Through the HGSA, graduate students are elected to sit on important departmental committees, such as hiring committees and the graduate program committee, and are representated to the graduate union, CUPE 2278. 

Second, HGSA organizes academic events. Our biggest academic event is the annual Qualicum Conference, organized with the University of Victoria and Simon Fraiser University. Qualicum is well attended by graduate students in history from throughout Western Canada, and UBC always sends a strong contingent. Although the stated purpose of the conference is primarily academic, the comraderie and conviviality of the conference is the real draw. Current students should sign into the History department website for more information on Qualicum.

HGSA is also home to a number of Research Clusters and Working Groups where students and faculty meet to readings, present papers, and discuss each others' work. The History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Working Group is also organizing annual meetings with students from the University of Washington, in Seattle. Find out more about these Groups under the "Research Clusters" tab on the main page. 

Third, HGSA organizes social events for graduate students including Welcome Back Parties in September and January, an End-of-Classes Celebration in December, and weekly Pub Nights every Wednesday. Join the email list for updates. 

The 2011-2012 HGSA Co-Presidents: Mel Garipoglu and Erica German and can be contacted at President.HGSA@gmail.com