Early in the school year, it coordinates a gathering with the faculty so that students can feel at home as quickly as possible. EGSA's Professional Development Committee also hosts a series of workshops throughout the year, addressing issues varying from writing conference papers to post-graduate job opportunities. As well, EGSA is part of an interprovincial Graduate Lecture Exchange, through which students can deliver papers at Ontario universities and host speakers from those universities as they come to McGill. Finally, EGSA is a political body. Besides having an elected executive and committee members, EGSA also participates in various departmental committees so that graduate students are involved in hiring, curriculum, and general departmental policies and decisions.
Political involvement exists outside the department as well.
PGSS operates from Thomson House, located on campus in an elegant Victorian building, which contains many social rooms, a bar and dance floor, and offers weekly film showings. Membership in PGSS entitles the student to specific information on housing, sport and recreation, and social life. Of special interest in this handbook is information on medical coverage. Students are responsible for applying for this coverage through the office of the Dean of Students. International students without work permits are obliged to join the International Student Health Insurance Plan .