Role & Responsibilities

Council oversees and directs the university’s academic affairs including:

  • grants academic degrees, diplomas and certificates;
  • grants scholarships, prizes, fellowships, bursaries and exhibitions;
  • approves all academic programs, new programs and program deletions;
  • authorizes the board to establish new colleges, schools, departments, endowed chairs and institutes;
  • prescribes methods and rules for evaluating student performance;
  • disciplines students for academic misconduct and hears student appeals;
  • prescribes qualifications for admission;
  • sets the academic schedule;
  • reviews library policies;
  • makes recommendations on physical and budgetary plans for the university;
  • and makes recommendations on any other matters it considers to be in the interest of the university

Meetings

Council will meet monthly during the academic term (September - June) except in February. The Chair can call a meeting during a month when a meeting is not normally scheduled. Meetings are open to all. 

Nominations and Elections

Council comprises elected representatives of all colleges, members at large, students, the president and provost.

Members

121 members, including:
  • the president
  • the provost
  • two elected members from each college and affiliated and federated college, one of whom may be the dean
  • two librarians, one of whom may be the university librarian
  • one elected student representing each college and each affiliated and federated college
  • 54 elected faculty (members-at-large)

Vicki Squires
University Council Chair
2024 - Current

Past Chairs

  • Marjorie Delbaere (2023-2024)
  • Susan Detmer (2021-2023)
  • Pam Downe (Acting Sept & Oct 2021)
  • Jay Wilson (2019-2021)
  • Chelsea Willness (2017-2019)
  • Kevin Flynn (2017)
  • Lisa Kalynchuk (2016-2017)
  • Jay Kalra (2011-2016)
  • Claire Card (2008-2011)
  • Barry Ziola (2007-2008)
  • Brett Fairbairn (2007)
  • Jim Merriam (2006-2007)
  • Joe Angel (2004-2006)
  • Robert Lucas (2002-2004)
  • Bryan Harvey (2001-2002)
  • Ron Cuming (1998-2001)
  • John Conway (1997-1998)
  • George Ivany (1995-1997)

Committees

Council Gazette