To: Graduate students at the University of Waterloo
Cc: Faculty Associate Deans, Graduate Studies; Faculty Administrative Assistants, Graduate Studies; Faculty Recruitment Officers; Department/program Graduate Co-ordinators; Department/program Graduate Officers/Associate Chairs; Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs staff; The Centre staff; Graduate Student Association (GSA) president; GSA general manager
From: Justin Wan, Interim Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Date: May 28, 2026
Subject: Upcoming changes to GTA/GRA hiring and application processes
Note: this email is for information and for action
I am writing with an update on changes to the employment process for University of Waterloo’s Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs).
A new collective agreement between the University of Waterloo and CUPE Local 5524.01, a union representing GTAs and GRAs employees, was approved on February 26, 2026. As a result, the process for obtaining GTA and GRA appointments will change for the fall 2026 term.
A collective agreement is a formal, legally binding document that sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a group of employees. In this case, it outlines pay rates, hours of work, workload expectations, employment leaves and employee protections for University of Waterloo graduate students working in (both present and future) GTA and GRA roles.
Beginning with fall 2026 appointments, GTA and GRA positions will no longer be automatically assigned. Instead, graduate students who wish to be considered for a GTA and/or GRA role will need to apply for available positions through a centralized recruitment process and the Workday system. The collective agreement also establishes a new hiring priority framework for GTA/GRA appointments.
To support this transition, eligible students will receive a separate (email) notice before the end of June outlining the remaining GTA/GRA employment allocations specified in their original Offer of Admission. This notice is intended to help students understand how employment commitments will be applied within the new hiring process.
We are sharing this information to keep you informed and encourage you to review the newly created Graduate student unionization – understanding the basics web page, which includes information on hiring priorities, timelines, and definitions related to these changes.
Further updates will be shared as they become available. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact your graduate co-ordinator.