Wilfrid Laurier University Senate By-laws and Regulations

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This online version is for convenience; the official version of this policy is housed in the University Secretariat. In case of discrepancy between the online version and the official version held by the Secretariat, the official version shall prevail.

Table of Contents

• 1. Definitions
• 2. Officers of the Senate
• 3. Members of the Senate
• 4. Meetings of the Senate
• 5. Committees and Councils of the Senate
• 6. Senate Standing Committees
• 7. Joint Committees
• 8. Recommendations to the Board of Governors
• 9. Procedures
• 10. References to the By-laws

1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions

In these By-laws:

1.1.a. Board, means the Board of Governors of the University.

1.1.b. Act, means The Wilfrid Laurier University Act, 1973 and the Wilfrid Laurier University Amendment Act, 2001.

1.1.c. Chair, means the chair of the Senate.

1.1.d. chair, means the chair of the committee.

1.1.e. Collective Agreement, means the collective agreement negotiated between Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association, for full-time faculty and professional librarians (July 1/2020 to June 30/2023).

1.1.f. Department, The by-laws distinguish between two meanings of the word ‘department’.

1. A department, for the purposes of the administration of academic programs, means a department or division within the various faculties of the University heretofore or hereafter designated by the Board upon recommendation of the Senate. In the by-laws, this type of department shall be referred to as an academic administrative department.

2. A department, for the purposes of Senate representation only, means an academic unit (Faculty or School) of the University which is headed by a Dean, with the exception of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. In the by-laws, this type of department shall be referred to as a Senate representational department.

1.1.g. faculty member, means a regular member of faculty as defined in the Act.

1.1.h. Academic librarian, means a regular member of the professional librarians.

1.1.i. Secretary, means the secretary of the Senate as provided in By-law 2.2.

1.1.j. secretary, means the secretary of a committee.

1.1.k. Presiding officer, means the Chair, Vice-Chair, or in the absence of either, the person so designated by the Senate.

1.1.l. members, means members of the Senate.

1.1.m. Brantford Campus, means the Brantford campus of Wilfrid Laurier University.

1.1.n. Waterloo Campus, means the Waterloo campus of Wilfrid Laurier University.

1.1.o. Briefing Note, means the template provided by the Secretariat used to summarize items and materials being presented to the Senate and its Committees. 

1.2 Definitions

1.2.a. The definitions in this by-law are those expressed in The Wilfrid Laurier University Act, 1973, the Wilfrid Laurier University Amendment Act, 2001, Senate By-law No. 1, and any subsequent amendments thereto.

1.2.b. "Union" means Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union. "Graduate Association" means Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Students’ Association.

1.2.c. Undergraduate students are students who are admitted to the University and registered in one or more courses, placements or other educational activities recognized by the Senate of the University as requirements of some undergraduate degree or diploma program.

1.2.d. Graduate students are students currently registered in the graduate programs of the University.

1.3 Definitions of By-laws and Regulations (Regulation)

"By-law" is defined as a standing rule created by the Senate for the purpose of governing its internal affairs and its external relations.

"Regulation" is defined as a rule of order prescribed by the Senate to regulate conduct within the Senate. The primary difference between these two categories of rules which determine the structure and direct the action of the Senate is the process of creating and changing them. By-laws are created or amended upon receiving affirmative votes from at least two-thirds of those voting at the Senate meeting, provided that the number of affirmative votes constitutes a majority of the total membership of Senate. Regulations are created, changed or abandoned by motions which receive the affirmative votes from a simple majority of those present at the Senate meeting.

1.4 Terms of Reference for Senate Governance Committee (Regulation)

By-laws and regulations refer to the structural organization of the Senate and to its internal operations; consequently they fall within the purview of the Senate Governance Committee. All by-laws are to be reported to the Senate by this committee, whereas regulations will normally reach Senate consideration by avenues other than this committee. However, when the relationship of the University Act or the Senate by-laws to any proposed regulation is in doubt, the question may well be referred to the Senate Governance Committee for advice. The Senate Governance Committee will interpret Senate by-laws and regulations not only to the Senate but to individuals and bodies of the University outside the Senate. Such requests for interpretation and information are not necessarily reported to the Senate.

1.5 Definitions of Policies and Procedures (Regulation)

"Policy" is defined as a statement of principle or intent designed to direct future decisions and actions. As such, a Senate policy is understood to have broad meaning for the direction of the educational affairs of the University. The implementation of such policy is carried out through Senate committees or a variety of university administrative and faculty offices and bodies following procedures, which the committee defines as rules prescribed for conduct and for implementation. For clarity, for coherency, and for the best understanding of academic responsibilities and roles, these policies and procedures should be established deliberately and clearly by the Senate. It is the responsibility of implementing bodies, whether Senate committees or other university offices or units, to seek Senate approval for any course or action relating to educational policies and procedures which fall within the Senate's responsibilities as established by paragraph 19 of The Wilfrid Laurier University Act, 1973.

1.6 Terms of Reference for the Senate (Regulation)

Those recommendations considered in the above will be made directly to the Senate from their sources without referral to the Senate Governance Committee. Should any such recommendation appear to affect the structural organization and internal actions of the Senate, the matter might well be referred to the Senate Governance Committee for its recommendations, but Senate actions on educational policies do not in themselves fall within the terms of reference of this committee.

1.7 Definitions of Senator at Large and Faculty-at-Large (Regulation)

"Senator at large" is used without hyphens or capitalization of "large". The term "Senator at large" means any senator.

"Faculty-at-large members on the Senate" which is defined in section 3.3 (c) of these by-laws, is never abbreviated and always appears with hyphens and upper-case F.

2. Officers of the Senate

2.1 Chair of the Senate 

Pursuant to the WLU Act (s. 17.1), the President of the University shall Chair the Senate unless otherwise provided by both the Senate and the Board of Governors. The President shall Chair Senate throughout the duration of their term.

2.2 Vice-Chair of the Senate

The Vice‑Chair shall be a Faculty member or Academic Librarian Member of the Senate elected for a maximum of a three‑year term pursuant to the procedure outlined in section 6.1.1 of these by‑laws. A member of the Senate who is designated as an ex‑officio member under the Act or in the by‑laws is not eligible for election as Vice‑Chair.

2.3 Secretary of the Senate

There shall be a Secretary of the Senate who shall be elected by Senate for a maximum of a three-year term from among the faculty members and the academic librarian member of Senate (as defined in the Wilfrid Laurier University Act 1973 as amended 2001). The Secretary shall have such powers and duties as are provided for herein, or as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Senate.

2.4 Other Officers

Subject to the provision of the Act, the Chair of the Senate may, upon motion of the Senate, appoint such other officers as may be necessary, and the Chair shall have control over their terms of employment, remuneration, and removal from office.

2.5 Vacancies

Except where otherwise provided in the Act, in the event of a vacancy in any office of the Senate for any reason, the Chair of the Senate shall, by motion of the Senate, appoint a successor to hold office for the balance of the term of the person whose office so falls vacant.

2.6 Ceremonial Officers

There shall be a University Bedel, a University Marshal, a Vice-Marshal and a Convocation Convenor, each of whom shall be appointed by internal processes. 

3. Members of the Senate

3.1 Manner of Elections

Elections are to be held by various constituent groups as determined by the Senate By-Laws. Each body is encouraged to conduct elections utilizing secret ballot via electronic means where appropriate.

3.2 Student Membership

Section 15, subsection 1 (b) 2 of The Wilfrid Laurier University Act stipulates that there be eight (8) members of the Senate "elected by the students from among the students". Of the eight (8) student members one (1) shall be elected by the graduate students from among the graduate students, six (6) by the undergraduate students from among the undergraduate students on the Waterloo campus, and one (1) by the undergraduate students from among the undergraduate students on the Brantford Campus. These eight (8) student members will be elected in the following manner:

Vacancies

3.2.a. Elections to fill vacancies will take place each year for undergraduate and graduate student senators, preferably before the first meeting of the Senate session. Note: the Senate Session is for the period of July 1 to June 30.

3.2.b. The undergraduate and graduate slates will, respectively, fill: 1) normal two-year term(s), 2) any unexpired term(s) then vacant, 3) the position of alternates who will fill any student Senate membership which might fall vacant before the next election.

Supervision

3.2.c. Supervision and management of all elections in subsections (a) and (b) is to be conducted by the WLU Students’ Union and the WLU Graduate Students’ Association in consultation with the University Secretariat and in accordance with the provisions of this by-law.

Eligibility

3.2.d. All students as defined in the Act and Senate by-law section 1.2 shall be eligible for nomination for the position of student senator and shall be eligible to vote in all such elections, subject to stipulations in this by-law with respect to undergraduate and graduate students and campus affiliation. Registration at another university by letter of permission shall not, in itself, render a student ineligible to serve as a student senator.

Nominations, Campaigns, and Elections

3.2.e. All students shall be given opportunities to nominate candidates and to vote for those nominated. Nominations will be open for a minimum of one (1) week prior to the start of campaigning; the campaign period will be a minimum of one (1) week prior to the election; and there will be a minimum of eight (8) hours for voting. Appeals must be submitted in accordance with the WLU Students’ Union or WLU Graduate Students’ Association’s appeals processes.

Notification

3.2.f. The results of the election shall be given by all reasonable means of communication to the students within three (3) days of the election, excluding University holidays but including Saturdays and Sundays.

3.3 Two Members Representing the Secondary School System of Ontario

Section 15, subsection 1 (b) 3 of The Wilfrid Laurier University Act stipulates that the Senate will appoint "two members ... to represent the secondary school system of Ontario".

3.3.a. When there is a vacancy in these positions on the Senate, the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy will bring a nomination or nominations to the Senate Governance Committee to recommend to the Senate to fill said vacancy.

3.3.b. The Senate will vote to fill the vacancy.

3.4 Faculty Membership

Section 15, subsection 1(b)7 of the Wilfrid Laurier University Act, 1973, as Amended, 2001 stipulates that there will be elected to Senate "members of faculty and the academic librarian together equal in number to one more than the total number of all other members of the Senate."

Faculty members of the Senate shall be elected in the following manner:

1. Faculty senators shall be allotted to each Senate representational department based on its share of the full-time faculty complement and elected by the regular members of faculty of the Senate representational department, in a manner to be determined by the academic unit, subject to the following constraint:

i. No Senate representational department shall have less than the representation of a federated or affiliated college, i.e., two (2) faculty Senators.

2. The distribution of faculty senators by Senate representational department shall be evaluated bi-annually by the Governance Committee, using the formula in procedure 9.3. The results – and any recommended change to the distribution of faculty representation – shall be reported to the Senate.

In case of vacancies which occur before the expiry of a term of office, the above electoral by-laws will be implemented upon request of the Chair of the Senate or by a signed petition to this effect by at least ten (10) of the faculty members on the Senate.

3.5 Ex-Officio Members of the Senate (Regulation)

Ex-officio members on the Senate hold their membership by virtue of their office. Membership on and obligation to Senate are assumed by whoever occupies the office, whether in an acting or permanent status. As per Section 15, subsection (1)(a) of the Act, the following shall be ex-officio members of the Senate: the Chancellor, the President, the Chair of the Board of Governors, the head of each federated or affiliated college, each Vice-President, the Dean of each faculty of the University, the University Librarian, and the Registrar.

3.6 Other Ex-Officio Members of the Senate

3.6.a. Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives

The Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives shall be an ex-officio member of the Senate.

3.6.b. Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion shall be an ex-officio member of the Senate.

3.6.c. Associate Vice-President, Academic

The Associate Vice-President, Academic shall be an ex-officio member of the Senate.

3.7 Librarian Membership

Section 15, subsection (1)(b)5 of the Wilfrid Laurier University Act, 1973, as Amended, 2001 stipulates that the composition of Senate shall include "one member elected by the academic librarians from among the academic librarians." The academic librarian will be elected in a manner to be determined by the Library Council.

3.8 Administrative Staff

Section 15, subsection (1)(b)6 of the Wilfrid Laurier University Act, 1973, as Amended, 2001 stipulates that the composition of Senate shall include "One member elected by the administrative staff of the University from among the administrative staff."

3.8.a. The University Secretariat shall conduct the election for the administrative staff representative to the Senate.

3.8.b. Sufficient notice of nomination and election periods must be given.

3.8.c. Every member of the constituency must be given an adequate opportunity to nominate and vote for the representative.

3.8.d. All elections must be held by secret ballot utilizing electronic or other means.

4. Meetings of the Senate

4.1 Regular Meetings

The Senate session shall be that twelve (12) month period which has been established as the membership year by the Board of Governors, from time to time. The May meeting shall be the annual meeting and at such annual meeting the Senate shall, by resolution, for the forthcoming Senate session, appoint a day or days in any month for regular meetings at an hour to be named in such resolution. Notice of annual and regular meetings of Senate shall be sent to members at least seven (7) days prior to meeting.

Notice of all meetings and agendas shall be posted to Wilfrid Laurier University’s public website.

4.2 Number of Regular Senate Meetings (Regulation)

The Senate shall hold not fewer than seven (7) regular meetings during the membership year, including at least three (3) meetings in each of the fall and winter terms. The Secretary will be required to establish the dates for these seven (7) meetings and present them for Senate approval at its annual meeting.

4.3 Special Meetings

4.3.a. Special meetings may be called and held at any time at the call of the Chair, or in the case of their absence or illness, at the call of the Vice-Chair, or in the case of the absence or illness of both, at the call of the presiding officer of the Senate.

4.3.b. On the requisition in writing to the Secretary of the Senate of not fewer than fifteen (15) members of the Senate, special meetings shall be called and held at the date and time set out in such requisition.

4.3.c. The call for a special meeting shall state the nature of the business to be transacted and shall be given to each member of the Senate, at least two clear days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays, prior to the day appointed for the meeting. Only such items of business for which the special meeting has been called shall be dealt with at said meeting.

4.4 Place of Meetings

Unless otherwise directed by the presiding officer, all meetings of the Senate shall be held on a campus of the University or by electronic means.

4.5 Quorum

Quorum for all regular and special meetings of Senate shall be a majority of all the members of Senate, as specified in article 18 (2) of the Act. A duly called meeting, which starts with a quorum present shall be deemed to have a continuing quorum notwithstanding the departure of voting members, unless the quorum is challenged by a voting member. In the event of a challenge the remaining members may choose either to adjourn the meeting or to continue the meeting. In the latter case, the minutes shall record that all further business was transacted without a quorum being present. The actions taken after the loss of quorum would then be subject to a ratification vote at the next meeting of Senate.

4.6 Defective Notice

The accidental failure to give notice of a regular or special meeting to any member of the Senate or any accidental irregularity in connection with the giving of notice will not invalidate the proceedings at the meeting.

4.7 Agenda

4.7.a. The agenda for a meeting shall be prepared by the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy and shall be approved by the Chair.

4.7.a.i. The reports from Senate Committees shall be sent to the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy for inclusion in the next Senate agenda.

4.7.a.ii. Additional agenda items requested by Senators for inclusion in a Senate agenda shall be sent to the Assistant Vice President: Governance and Policy (see Section 4.8.a). Where such items lie within Senate’s mandate, in consultation with the Chair of Senate, they will be considered at the next meeting of the Senate Executive and Finance Committee. The Assistant Vice President: Governance and Policy may seek the advice of the Senate Executive and Finance Committee about additional agenda items as appropriate. The final decision regarding inclusion of such items lies with The Chair.

4.7.b. The business of a meeting shall be confined to the agenda and no new matter, other than that of privilege or petition, shall be dealt with unless the introduction of such new matter shall be approved by a majority of members present. The Chair shall be notified before the meeting of new items submitted for inclusion on the agenda and, at the commencement of the meeting, they shall request a motion concerning the disposition of such items.

4.8 Agenda Items and Supporting Materials 

4.8.a. All matters and materials for inclusion on the agenda for regular meetings of the Senate must be in the hands of the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy not less than ten (10) business days before the day of the meeting at which they are to be presented, and only those matters which have been placed in the hands of the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy shall be included in the agenda. Items of business shall normally be placed on the agenda and presented to the Senate by any member of the Senate.

4.8.b. Unless granted an exemption by the University Secretariat, materials for inclusion on the agenda shall be summarized in a briefing note as provided by the Secretariat for that purpose, together with relevant supporting documents where necessary or advisable.

4.8.c. For the assistance of members, the University Secretariat will forward copies of the agenda and supporting materials to members at least two (2) days prior to meetings. 

4.9 Senate Action

Save and except where it is otherwise herein provided, the action of the Senate upon any matter coming before it shall be evidenced by either by-law, regulation, or resolution, and the entry thereof in the minutes of the Senate shall be prima facie evidence of the action taken.

4.10 Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of all meetings of the Senate shall be kept by the University Secretariat, who shall also obtain and keep on file minutes of all meetings of Senate committees. Council minutes are to be kept and filed by the department/faculty responsible for the administration of said Council.

The minutes of every public Senate meeting shall be distributed to the members of the Senate. Approved copies of all minutes of meetings of Senate and of committees and councils thereof shall be deposited in the University Library and Archives by the responsible office/department/faculty.

Minutes of the Senate, its Committees and Councils are to be posted publicly by the responsible office/department/faculty and to be made available to the University Community.   

4.11 "In Camera" Minutes (Regulation)

4.11.a A meeting of Senate or any of its committees may consider a matter in a closed or in camera session when discussion or consideration of the matter:

i. would constitute an unjustified invasion of the personal privacy of an individual;

ii. would reveal information supplied in confidence either explicitly or implicitly;

iii. could reasonably be expected to prejudice the conduct of relations between the University and federal or provincial government authorities or other agencies; or

iv. could reasonably be expected to prejudice the economic or financial interests or the competitive position of the University.

4.11.b When the Senate or any of its committees declare a meeting or part of a meeting in camera, reasons for so declaring will be clearly stated and minutes of the in camera session will be kept separate but consistent with the normal procedures of the group in question.

4.11.c "In camera" minutes shall be approved at the next "in camera" session. In the case of Senate such approval must occur no later than at the next annual meeting. 

4.11.d Access to "in camera" minutes is restricted unless permission is granted by the Senate Executive and Finance Committee. Permission will normally be granted to those present at a meeting.

4.11.e. Attendance at "in camera" meetings is restricted to the members of the committee or council, and any other individuals as approved by the committee or council.

4.12 Embargoed Supporting Materials

4.12.a. When Senate or any of its committees or councils will be considering supporting materials that impact the strategic or competitive position of the University it may consider treating all materials relating to the agenda item as embargoed. During embargo, access to embargoed materials will be restricted to members of the Senate and its committees and councils.

4.12.b. Material pertaining to cyclical reviews and new programs may be automatically embargoed, and the embargo will end upon a final decision by Senate. All other matters to be embargoed must be approved by Senate.

4.12.c. When Senate or any of its committees or councils requests that supporting materials be embargoed, an end date for the embargo and the reasons for so declaring will be clearly stated.

4.12.d. Agendas and minutes relating to embargoed supporting materials will be publicly posted. Only the supporting materials shall be embargoed and confidentially retained by Senate and its committees and councils.

4.13 Proxies (Regulation)

No member shall be represented by proxy. This statement applies equally to Senate and to Senate committees. Ex-officio members may send someone as observers to a committee meeting or to the Senate, but such persons are not members of the committee or Senate for that meeting.

4.14 General Rules of Procedure at Senate Meetings

The Chair of the meeting shall conduct the proceedings in a spirit of collegiality and conformity with the by-laws of the Senate, and if not provided for therein, in accordance with the rules of procedures as specified in Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition

4.15 Openness of Meetings and the Right of Non-Members to be Heard

4.15.a. Regular and special meetings of the Senate and its committees shall be open to the public and no person shall be excluded therefrom except for improper conduct, or except as provided for under the Act. Non-members of the Senate or its committees may be heard if recognized by the Chair of the Senate at meetings of Senate, or by the chair of a committee of Senate at such committee meetings or by a one-third vote of the members present, except when the meeting reconvenes "in camera" as provided for under section 24 (2) of the Act. 

4.15.b The University Secretariat shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Senate, including "in camera" sessions except in a case of conflict of interest, and shall have voice but not vote.

5. Committees and Councils of the Senate

General Provisions

5.1 Committees

Committees of the Senate shall perform the functions specified below together with such other duties as are from time to time assigned.

All Senate committees, unless otherwise decided by the Senate, shall reflect as far as possible the composition of the Senate as established by the Act. Where committee membership stipulates "faculty" it shall be understood to mean "full-time teaching faculty". Except where otherwise specified, committee members, other than students, shall be elected by the Senate for up to a three-year term, in a manner which shall provide a one-third rotation of membership each year; student members shall be elected for a one-year term. Ex-officio members of Senate committees, unless otherwise decided by the Senate, shall have a vote. Except where otherwise specified, the committee members shall elect their chair from among those members who have been elected to the committee.

Vacancies on Senate committees may be created, and shall be filled, in the same manner as provided for under the by-laws and the Act for vacancies on the Senate.

5.2 Senators' Participation on the Committees of Senate (Resolution)

Whereas the Senate, under the Act, is the governing body for the academic policies and regulations of the University, and

Whereas the Senate and its committees are essential for the academic functions of the University, and

Whereas Senators have a particular responsibility for the academic affairs of the University and for the effective functioning of the Senate,

The Senate expects its members to fulfil their obligations by serving on one or more committees of the Senate (see Section 6.1.1), or other committees and working groups as designated by the Senate from time to time.

In addition, the Senate instructs the University Secretariat to circulate this resolution to each member of the Senate when it seeks nominees for vacant positions on Senate committees.

5.3 Eligibility for Committee Membership (Regulation)

Where Senate committees require faculty members of a particular status, such as rank, tenure or otherwise, eligibility for election shall be determined according to the status as of July 1 in consultation with Faculty Relations. The Committee member elect will begin their term July 1. In the unlikely event that a Senate committee is unable to function because of the above provision, the Executive and Finance Committee of Senate shall, having regard for the required composition of the committee, appoint an interim member to serve until July 1.

Where a faculty member's status changes during the committee year, the faculty member shall, except as provided for above, retain their membership until the end of the committee year.

5.4 Leaves of Absence (Regulation)

When an employee of the University who is on paid or unpaid leave for a period of more than 60 consecutive days, not including sabbaticals, the member’s position shall become vacant upon the commencement of the period for which leave has been granted. For members who go on sabbatical, they are actively at work and so may choose to continue to participate as a member of the Senate during that time or to voluntarily vacate their position on the Senate (see Section 5.5).

When a student of the University who is on an exchange for a period of more than 60 consecutive days, the student’s position shall become vacant upon the commencement of the period for which the exchange or placement begins.

5.5 Leaves of Absence (Regulation)

When a faculty member on a Senate committee is granted a leave of absence without pay (including public service leave without pay), the faculty member's position on the committee shall become vacant upon the commencement of the period for which leave has been granted.

When a faculty member of the Senate or a faculty member of a Senate committee is granted a sabbatical leave commencing before the expiry of the member's term of office, the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy shall write to the faculty member requesting that they inform the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy whether they intend to resign from the Senate and/or Senate committees. This notification shall advise the faculty member to review plans for the leave, and shall state that continued service in office carries with it the expectation that the faculty member will be able and willing to undertake the full obligations of Senate membership and/or membership on its committees. The letter shall also inform the faculty member that notice in writing of their resignation or willingness to continue in office shall be sent to the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy no later than March 1 for a leave commencing July 1 and no later than October 1 for a leave commencing January 1.

With respect to the Promotion and Tenure Committee, a faculty member who has been granted leave of absence without pay for any portion of the forthcoming winter and spring terms shall not be eligible for election. The position of a Promotion and Tenure Committee member granted leave for any portion of the forth-coming winter and spring terms shall become vacant on September 1 preceding these terms.

The Nominating Committee of the body responsible for the election of the faculty member to whom leave has been granted shall, at the time of committee elections for that body, report their status to the body which will elect a committee member to serve the unexpired portion of the term of the member to whom leave has been granted.

5.6 Quorum of Senate Committees

Quorum for the Senate Promotion and Tenure Committee shall be as stated in the Collective Agreement. Quorum for University Faculty Council shall be 10% of eligible membership, as defined in article 5.7. Unless otherwise stipulated by Senate, quorum for all other committees shall be a simple majority (greater than 50%).

5.7 Student Eligibility on Senate Committees (Regulation)

All students as defined in the Wilfrid Laurier University Act, section 2, sub section (p) are eligible for those positions on Senate committees which are identified simply as "student”. Only undergraduate students as defined in section 1.2 of the By laws and Regulations are eligible for those positions identified as "undergraduate student". Only graduate students as defined in 1.2 are eligible for those positions identified as "graduate student".

5.8 University Faculty Council

The University Faculty Council shall consist of all full-time faculty of the University, the University Librarian and all librarian members of the Bargaining Unit as defined by the Ontario Labour Relations Board Certificate, number 0477-88-R, dated October 3, 1988, and all part-time contract academic staff of the Bargaining Unit as defined by the certificate of the Labour Relations Board, number 2704-00-R dated January 10, 2001. The Provost and Vice-President: Academic shall be the presiding officer. The University Faculty Council shall elect members to the Senate Promotion and Tenure Committee and other committees so specified in the Collective Agreement. This faculty council shall also serve as a forum for the discussion of University-wide issues and may send recommendations to Senate.

5.9 Divisional Faculty Councils

The Senate shall create divisional Faculty councils with divisional Deans as chairs. Unless otherwise approved by Senate, the divisional Faculty councils shall consist of all full-time faculty in each division and at least one (1) student representative of each academic administrative department having a program within that division. Normally, all recommendations, including recommendations for changes in the curriculum, shall come from the divisional Faculty councils before approval by Senate.

5.10 Other Councils and Committees

The Senate may create such other councils and committees from time to time and the Senate may delegate other duties to and shall seek the recommendations of the various University councils. The various University councils and committees may also prepare recommendations for Senate on matters of interest to the councils and committees. These councils and committees are to keep minutes and records of decisions made and may report and make recommendations to the Senate as necessary. The meeting of these councils and committees shall follow the same procedure as used in the Senate and its committees.

5.11 Sub-Committees

All councils and committees of Senate may establish such sub-committees as may be required to carry out the responsibilities of such councils and committees.

6. Senate Standing Committees

6.0 Elections

At the close of the nominations procedure for any standing committee, the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy shall conduct elections.

6.1 Governance Committee

Responsibilities: The Governance Committee shall consider and make recommendations to the Senate for the proper functioning of the Senate, including but not limited to, revisions and updates to the Senate By-Laws and regulations as noted in sections 1.4-1.6 of the Senate By-Laws. The committee also has overall responsibility for recommending to Senate improvements to governance structures and practices of the Senate, committee memberships, evaluation of Senate performance, and senators’ education.

Membership: The Governance Committee shall consist of ten (10) members of the Senate: the Secretary of Senate, five (5) faculty senators, at least one (1) from each of the Brantford and Waterloo Campuses; one (1) Alumni Association member of Senate; one (1) student senator; one (1) administrative staff member of Senate; and one (1) ex-officio member of Senate. The chair of the committee shall be elected from among those members who have been elected to the committee as specified in section 5.1 of the By-Laws. 

Administrative Support: University Secretariat.

6.1.1 Nominating Procedure (Regulation)

Senate will accept nominations from the floor in addition to the list prepared by the Governance Committee, without the prior consent of the nominee, and whether or not the nominee is present. Should nominations be made from the floor and the nominee is not present, the Secretary of the Senate shall determine the eligibility of those so nominated and seek the written consent of all such nominees. Such written consent shall be received within five (5) working days of the meeting of Senate. The Secretary of the Senate shall convey all information regarding eligibility and consent to the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy. If any nominee is not eligible or does not provide written consent, the nominee's name shall not be included on the ballot. The election shall then proceed by an e-vote.

6.2 Executive and Finance Committee

Responsibilities: It shall be the duty of the Executive and Finance Committee to care for any matters committed to it by Senate, to function in place of the Senate between meetings of the Senate, to consider matters pertinent to Senate, including policies and protocol relating to university Convocations and functions. Actions taken by the Executive and Finance Committee on behalf of Senate will be reported to Senate at its next regular meeting. The Executive and Finance Committee also considers the financial position of the University. It makes recommendations to Senate on budget planning as well as on the details of the annual University operating budget as prepared for presentation to Senate and the Board. The recommendations of Senate on that budget are forwarded to the Board of Governors, the body with ultimate fiduciary responsibility for the University.

Membership: The Executive and Finance Committee shall consist of twenty-five (25) members: the President; the Provost and Vice‑President: Academic; the Vice-President: Finance and Administration; the Vice-President: Research; three (3) of the academic Deans and University Librarian chosen by themselves; head of the Martin Luther University College; two (2) student members of Senate; one (1) undergraduate student and one (1) graduate student) elected by the student members of Senate; one (1) Alumni Association member of Senate; one (1) academic librarian member of Senate; twelve (12) faculty members of Senate; one (1) administrative staff member of Senate. Of the twelve (12) faculty members, one (1) shall be representative of each of the Faculties of Arts, Education, Music, Science, Social Work, Human and Social Sciences, Liberal Arts, and the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. Of the remaining four (4), one (1) shall be the Vice-Chair of the Senate. The students, Alumnus/a, and faculty members of the Senate Executive and Finance Committee shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Senate from among its members. The presiding officer at Executive and Finance Committee meetings will be the Chair of the Senate, or, the Provost and Vice‑President: Academic when the Chair of the Senate is unable to attend, or, the Vice-Chair of the Senate when both the Chair of the Senate and Provost and Vice‑President: Academic are unable to attend. 

Administrative Support: University Secretariat.

6.3 Academic Planning Committee

Responsibilities: The Senate Academic Planning Committee makes recommendations to Senate on all matters related to the overall direction of academic programs at Laurier. This includes: adapting and modifying the overall university plan as required; responding to specific requests (from the Board of Governors or from the Ministry) to articulate a Laurier niche or position relative to a current situation or need; responding to requests from Faculties and units to initiate new programs, modify current programs, or cancel them; considering the financial implications of maintaining all academic programs; and dealing with questions of policy that govern scholarships, bursaries and awards.

As part of this broad mandate, SAPC oversees the program review and approval process run by the University under the Ontario Universities’ Council on Quality Assurance, managed by the Ontario Council of Academic Vice‑Presidents.

In general, its role is to offer to Senate a considered conceptualization of where the University is, in what direction it should be heading, and what needs to be undertaken to accomplish this.

Membership: The Senate Academic Planning Committee shall consist of fifteen (15) members: the Provost and Vice‑President: Academic; three (3) ex-officio members of Senate (selected by the following officers from among their number: the academic Deans, the Dean of the Martin Luther University College, and the University Librarian); one (1) graduate student chosen by the WLU Graduate Students' Association; one (1) undergraduate student selected from among their number by the student members of Senate; one (1) faculty  member elected by the Martin Luther University College who is a senator; eight (8) faculty members (one (1) from each of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science, the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Social Work, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Liberal Arts) elected by the University Faculty Council, two (2) of whom must be senators. Two (2) of the ex‑officio members of Senate shall be Deans of Faculties with undergraduate programs. The Provost and Vice‑President: Academic shall chair the committee.

Administrative Support: University Secretariat.

6.4 Promotion and Tenure Committee

Responsibilities: The Promotion and Tenure Committee shall, in accordance with the policies and procedures governing its operations, make recommendations to the President on specific applications for promotion and tenure.

Membership: As stated in article 15.5.2 of the Collective Agreement. The Senate Promotion and Tenure Committee shall consist of seven (7) voting members and the Vice-President: Research as a non-voting member. The voting members are: the Provost and Vice‑President: Academic, who shall chair the committee; the Dean of the Member’s academic unit; five (5) tenured faculty members to be elected for two‑year terms by the University Faculty Council. An academic unit shall have no more than one (1) elected faculty member on the Committee. In addition, the University Faculty Council shall elect, on the same basis as the elected members, five (5) tenured faculty members as alternates, to serve for the remainder of the academic year, in the event that an elected faculty member is unable to carry out required committee responsibilities. No faculty member shall be a member of the Senate Promotion and Tenure Committee during the academic year in which they are to be considered for promotion.

Pursuant to 22.3.3 (b), the committee shall also include one (1) non voting member as an employment equity representative.

When the Provost and Vice President: Academic is unable to carry out committee responsibilities, the President shall designate a replacement. When the Vice-President: Research is unable to carry out the required committee responsibilities, the Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies shall serve as an alternate.

Administrative Support: University Secretariat

6.5 Research and Publications Committee

Responsibilities: The Research and Publications Committee shall review and examine policies on research as they affect the academic life of the University, and, where appropriate, make recommendations to Senate. Its mandate shall include receiving annual reports from the Animal Care Committee and the Research Ethics Board, and annually approving the distribution of funds within the University's internal research grants program. It shall also advise the Vice-President: Research on matters that pertain to research and its effective promotion and dissemination, and shall consult with the Director of the WLU Press on issues concerning scholarly publications.

Membership: The Research and Publications Committee shall consist of thirteen (13) members: the Vice-President: Research; the Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies; the University Librarian; two (2) graduate students; eight (8) faculty members, not more than one (1) from the same Faculty and including at least two (2) senators. The chair of the committee shall be elected from among those members who have been elected to the committee as specified in article 5.1.

Administrative Support: Office of Research Services.

6.6 Honorary Degree Committee

Responsibilities: Senate Honorary Degree Committee shall make policies regarding Honorary Degrees that will be subject to the approval of Senate. It shall also be responsible for inviting, receiving and in general overseeing the nomination of candidates for Honorary Degrees and Order of Wilfrid Laurier and for advising Senate Executive and Finance Committee on the awarding and revocation of Honorary Degrees.

Membership: The Honorary Degree Committee shall consist of fifteen (15) members: the President; the Chancellor; the Provost and Vice-President: Academic; one (1) senator from the Martin Luther University College; one (1) Alumni Association member of Senate; eight (8) faculty members (no more than one member from each faculty), including at least two (2) senators and at least one (1) faculty member from each of the Brantford and Waterloo campuses”; one (1) student senator; one (1) administrative staff member. The President shall be chair of the committee.

Administrative Support: University Secretariat.

6.7 Student Appeals Committee

Responsibilities: The mandate of the Student Appeals Committee derives from one of the powers of Senate, as per the WLU Act: to “hear and determine appeals from the decisions of the faculty councils on applications and examinations by students.” Students may appeal decisions of the faculty petitions committee (as outlined in the Graduate Student Appeals and Faculty Petitions Procedures in the graduate and undergraduate academic calendars, respectively) which impact their academic standing. Such decisions include, but are not limited to: grades, assessments, and applications for consideration under a university policy or process. The Student Appeals Committee operates under delegated authority from Senate in the hearing and determination of such appeals. The Committee is further responsible for final appeals as per  Policy 12.2 Student Code of Conduct: Academic Misconduct. The Committee is responsible for establishing rules and procedures for the hearing and determination of appeals; the establishment or revision of such procedures is subject to the approval of Senate. The Associate Vice‑President: Academic shall be chair of the committee.

Membership: 

The Student Appeals Committee shall consist of fourteen (14) voting members: the Associate Vice‑President: Academic who shall be chair; three (3) undergraduate student members of Senate; two (2) graduate students; and, eight (8) faculty members (one (1) of whom must be from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Human & Social Sciences, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social Work, and the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics).  In addition, the Senate shall elect eight (8) faculty members as alternates, in the event that an elected faculty member is unable to carry out required committee responsibilities.  The Dean(s) of Students (or their delegate)  shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the committee.

As outlined in the Procedures for Considering a Student Appeal, hearings shall be conducted by panels consisting of five (5) members: the Associate Vice-President: Academic (chair), three (3) faculty members, and (1) student member. The Dean of Students (or delegate) shall participate as a non-voting member.

Resources: The Committee is empowered to draw on the expertise of relevant departments across the university. Without limiting this broad authority, the following resources are named as those most regularly engaged in the consideration of appeals. Enrolment Services, Legal Services & Fair Practices, Accessible Learning, and Academic Advising.

Administrative Support: Office of the Vice President: Academic.

7. Joint Committees

7.1 Establishment of Joint Committees

The Senate may establish joint committees with the Board of Governors or with such other constituent bodies of the University as it may from time to time deem to be in the best interests of the University.

8. Recommendations to the Board of Governors

8.1 Senate Recommendations to the Board

In making recommendations to the Board of Governors, the Senate shall observe the following procedure:

8.1.a. Proposed recommendations shall be considered in a properly constituted regular or special meeting of the Senate or, in exceptional circumstances by the Executive and Finance Committee of Senate.

8.1.b. Upon the resolution of Senate, or upon resolution of the Executive and Finance Committee of Senate as provided for herein, the Assistant Vice-President: Governance and Policy shall ensure said recommendation will be presented to the Board of Governors.

8.1.c. The recommendation shall be in writing and shall be presented to the Board of Governors, or its Executive Committee, at its next regular or special meeting.

9. Procedures

9.1 Procedures for Senate Advice in the Selection of University Officers (Procedure)

In the appointment of the President the Senate shall receive a report from the search committee and, meeting “in camera” as a committee of the whole, the Senate shall determine its advice which shall be transmitted to the Board.

In the appointment of the Provost and Vice-President: Academic, the Vice-President: Finance and Administration, the Vice-President: Advancement and External Relations, the Vice-President: Research, the Vice-President: Student Affairs, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the Dean of the Faculty of Science, the Dean of the Faculty of Music, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Work, the Dean of the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, the Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, the Dean of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, the Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, the University Librarian, the Registrar, or the Vice-Provost: Teaching and Learning, the Senate shall elect one faculty member of Senate to serve on the relevant search committee. This member shall be a full member of the committee. The member elected by the Senate will be ineligible for election from other constituencies. In the case of the appointment of the Vice-Presidents, the University Librarian, the Registrar, or the Vice-Provost: Teaching and Learning, any faculty member of Senate is eligible to serve as a Senate representative.

For committees appointed to search for a Dean of the Faculty of Arts, a Dean of the Faculty of Science, a Dean of the Faculty of Music, a Dean of the Faculty of Social Work, a Dean of the Faculty of Education, a Dean of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, a Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, or a Dean of the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, the one elected faculty member must be from a Faculty other than the one for which the Dean is being sought. In the case of an Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the faculty member elected may not be the Associate Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

The faculty members elected by Senate referred to in these procedures exclude the President, Vice-Presidents, Vice-Provost: Teaching and Learning, Deans, University Librarian, and the Registrar, including an individual appointed in an acting capacity to serve temporarily in one of these offices, or one of these officers on an administrative leave that falls within a term of an office, or between two consecutive terms of office. The faculty members elected by the Senate referred to in these procedures also exclude Martin Luther University College faculty.

When a search committee has completed its deliberations, it will submit a report to the Senate. Senate will meet “in camera” as a committee of the whole, and shall provide advice to the Board of Governors on the process. This will include determining its endorsement of the process and therefore recommending the results be forwarded to the Board of Governors.

These procedures will apply to all search committees which hold their initial meeting after these procedures have been adopted by the Senate.

9.2 Procedures for Electing the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) Academic Colleague

In accordance with the procedures established by clauses 6 and 6.1, the Senate will elect a Council of Ontario Universities Academic Colleague and an alternate to that position. The term of service will be three (3) years. No individual may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in either of these two (2) positions. That limit does not include time spent filling a vacancy which has occurred before the expiration of a term of office. To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a member of the Senate.

9.3 Procedures for Determining the Apportionment of Faculty Senators

Principles

Faculty seats on the Senate are to be apportioned to Senate representational departments (SRDs, such as Arts, Science, etc.) according to their numbers of full-time faculty in the previous academic year using the Hamilton method, with the stipulation that each SRD is to have a minimum of two (2) faculty senators. As per the Act (section 15(1)(b)7), “Members of faculty and academic librarian together [shall be] equal to one more than the total number of all other members of the Senate…”

The number of full-time faculty in each SRD is determined by consulting the report the University provides to WLUFA under Section 6.3 of the Collective Agreement. The numbers of faculty (and the total) and the number of faculty senators are the parameters of the apportionment problem.

Detailed Procedure

Step 1: For each SRD, calculate the target by multiplying the number of faculty in the SRD by a fraction obtained by dividing the required number of faculty senators by the total number of faculty.

Step 2: Identify all SRDs with target not greater than 2.00. Assign 2 faculty senators to each of these SRDs.

Step 3: Determine the parameters of the apportionment problem for non-minimal SRDs.

Step 4: Recalculate targets, now called adjusted targets, for each remaining SRD.

Step 5: Determine the initial assignment of senators by rounding down the adjusted target of each remaining SRD.

Step 6: Determine each remaining SRD’s fractional part, which is the difference between its adjusted target and the number of senators it was assigned in Step 5.

Step 7: Order the remaining SRDs in decreasing order of fractional part. Beginning with the remaining SRD with the largest fractional part, assign one additional faculty senator to each remaining SRD until the required number of faculty senators has been assigned.

10. References to the By-laws

10.1 New By-laws and Amendments to Existing By-laws

New by-laws and amendments to existing by-laws will be approved upon receiving affirmative votes from at least two-thirds of those voting, provided that the number of affirmative votes constitutes a majority of the total membership of Senate.

10.2 Interpretation of the By-laws

In all by-laws of the Senate where the context so requires, or permits, the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular and the word "person" shall include all firms and corporations.

10.3 Matters not Provided for Herein

In regulating all matters not provided for in this, and in any other by-laws of the Senate, the practice and procedure shall be regulated by the analogy thereto.

10.4 Repeal of Former By-laws

Any by-laws governing the Senate heretofore passed are hereby repealed.

10.5 Procedures for Senate Committees and Councils

Unless otherwise provided for herein, all committees and councils of Senate shall operate and shall be governed in accordance with the by-laws of Senate and with the Act.

10.6 Effective Date of this By-law

This by-law (No. 1) shall come into force on May 15, 2024.