Senate Executive

Terms of Reference

The Senate Executive Committee prepares and organizes the business of Senate and acts on other matters delegated to it by Senate.

Responsibilities

The Senate Executive Committee’s duties are to:

1. Arrange the agenda and plan the forthcoming business of Senate;
2. Recommend special appointments to Senate, including the Clerk of Senate, the COU Academic Colleague, and the Alumni Representative;
3. Review Question Period Submissions for Senate meetings in accordance with the Question Period Guidelines, and determine whether questions fall within the purview of Senate;
4. Approve appointments to Senate standing and advisory committees on Senate’s behalf between the June and September Senate meetings;
5. Act on Senate’s behalf in graduation matters that arise between closed sessions, including approvals and record corrections;
6. Act on Senate’s behalf when empowered to do so by a motion of Senate; and
7. Undertake such other related tasks and assignments as may be assigned to it by Senate.

Membership

• The President and Vice-Chancellor (as Chair) (ex officio);
• The Provost and Vice-President (Academic) (ex officio);
• The Clerk of Senate (ex officio);
• Three members of faculty, elected from and by Senate; and
• Two students (one undergraduate and one graduate), elected from and by Senate.

Resources:

• Vice-Provost (Academic & Global Learning)

The term of a member of Senate Executive is coterminous with her or his term on Senate.

Quorum and Voting

Quorum is 50% of the membership, including least one elected faculty member.

Decisions are made by simple majority.

Reporting

The committee reports to Senate. Actions taken under items 4 or 6 will be reported at the next scheduled meeting of Senate. Actions taken under item 5 will be reported at the next Closed Session meeting.

Review

These terms of reference will be reviewed every seven years, or as needed.

Revision Dates: February 2021, February 2026