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Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules

Last updated: July 08, 2024

Standing Committee (Reporting Category "A")

Members Conditions Term Expiry Date Name
President Chair, Ex-officio     Joy Johnson
Vice-Chair of Senate Ex-officio. Elected by and from Senate 1 year May 31, 2025 Abhishek Parmar
Vice-President, Academic Ex-officio     Dilson Rassier
Registrar and Secretary of Senate
(or designate)
Secretary, Ex-officio (non-voting)     Tom Nault
Senator Elected by and from Senate 2 years May 31, 2026 Dan Laitsch
Senator 2 years May 31, 2025 Jill Sutherland
Senator 2 years May 31, 2026 Thecla Schiphorst
Student Senator 2 years May 31, 2025  
Student Senator (Alternate) 2 years May 31, 2026  
Senate Assistant  Recording Secretary, Ex-officio (non-voting)     Steven Noel

NOTE: In general an "alternate" member is invited to attend meetings when a regular member is not available. Please confirm the role of the alternate member on this committee with the committee secretary.

Terms of Reference

1. To advise the Chair in determining the items for the Open and Closed Agendas of Senate.

2. To recommend to Senate rules and procedures for the conduct of its business.

3. To periodically review the structure and terms of reference of the various standing committees of Senate, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.

4. To consider and take action on behalf of the Senate by referring to the appropriate Senate Committee or Senate all matters that may be referred to Senate by the Board (See Univ. Act, Section 37(q)).

Quorum

Four members.

2024 Meeting Schedule

Meets at 12:30 pm in Room 3101 - Strand Hall. SCAR reviews and sets the agenda for each Senate meeting.

Date of Meeting Material Deadline – noon Distribution Date
January 23, 2024 January 18, 2024 January 19, 2024
February 20, 2024 February 15, 2024 February 16, 2024
March 26, 2024 March 21, 2024 March 22, 2024
May 7, 2024 May 2, 2024 May 3, 2024
May 28, 2024 May 23, 2024 May 24, 2024
June 25, 2024 June 20, 2024 June 21, 2024
August 27, 2024 August 22, 2024 August 23, 2024
September 24, 2024 September 19, 2024 September 20, 2024
October 22, 2024 October 17, 2024 October 18, 2024
November 19, 2024 November 14, 2024 November 15, 2024
December 17, 2024 December 12, 2024 December 13, 2024

2025 Meeting Schedule

Meets at 12:30 pm in Room 3101 - Strand Hall. SCAR reviews and sets the agenda for each Senate meeting.

Date of Meeting Material Deadline – noon Distribution Date
January 21, 2025 January 16, 2025 January 17, 2025
February 18, 2025 February 13, 2025 February 14, 2025
March 25, 2025 March 20, 2025 March 21, 2025
May 6, 2025 May 1, 2025 May 2, 2025
May 27, 2025 May 22, 2025 May 23, 2025
June 24, 2025 June 19, 2025 June 20, 2025
August 26, 2025 August 21, 2025 August 22, 2025
September 23, 2025 September 18, 2025 September 19, 2025
October 21, 2025 October 16, 2025 October 17, 2025
November 18, 2025 November 13, 2025 November 14, 2025
December 16, 2025 December 11, 2025 December 12, 2025

Guidelines

SCAR determined that its objective should be to ensure that items falling under the business of Senate, as determined by The University Act and the Rules of Senate, reach the agenda in a timely and appropriate manner. The following guidelines will be followed by SCAR in its consideration of potential agenda items.

1. The agenda for each meeting of Senate shall include a statement as to the deadline for receipt of potential agenda items for the next meeting of Senate. Committees or individual Senators who wish SCAR to consider the placement of an item on the Senate agenda must submit the item, in writing, to the Secretary of the Senate prior to the deadline date.

2. SCAR will receive and consider the disposition of all such requests.

If it is the decision of SCAR that the item falls under the jurisdiction of Senate as defined by the University Act, and the item is in the proper form for transmission to Senate, the item will appear on the agenda for the next Senate meeting under "Other Business". SCAR may require that additional documentation be provided as a condition of the item going forward on a Senate agenda.

It should be noted that some items such as changes to the Rules of Senate, require that they first appear on the agenda of one meeting as Notices of Motion with discussion and debate to follow at the subsequent meeting.

If it is the decision of SCAR that the item falls appropriately under the terms of reference of one of the standing committees of Senate, SCAR will forward the item to that committee for consideration and subsequent report to SCAR. The individual bringing the item forward shall be informed of the action taken by SCAR and the subsequent disposition of the item by the standing committee. Those items that require further action by Senate or which are "For Information" would come forward to Senate under "Report of Committees".

If it is the decision of SCAR that the item does not fall under the business of Senate as defined by the University Act, the committee or individual proposing the item will be so informed. SCAR will report to Senate on any items declined from the agenda in this manner.

3. To receive, in a timely manner, all proposed new University Policies and all proposed revisions to existing policies (excluding those policies negotiated with employee groups), and to determine which policies should be forwarded to Senate. Senate consideration will take one of the following forms:

Approval
For those proposed policies and policy revisions which SCAR determines to fall within Senate's jurisdiction as defined by the University Act.

Advice
For those proposed policies and policy revisions which SCAR determines to be of direct interest to Senate and which should be discussed at Senate.

Information
For those proposed policies and policy revisions which SCAR determines should be circulated to Senate for information.

Committee meetings normally are scheduled at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays thirteen days in advance of regular Senate meetings.

Note: Motion approved by Senate November 6, 1995 (S.95-62) - Addition to the Rules of Senate Committees:

If in the opinion of a committee chair, a member of the committee fails to attend meetings of that committee on a regular basis, the Chair should discuss his/her concern with the member. If there is no resolution through regular attendance, reasons that are acceptable in the short-term, or the resignation of the member, the Chair may submit, through the Secretary of Senate, a written request to SCAR that the member be removed and a replacement sought. SCAR will advise the member of the request and provide the member with the opportunity to respond. SCAR will decide on the action to be taken and so advise the chair and the member. SCAR will report to Senate annually on such matters in summary form.