The Senate is responsible for the University’s academic policy. Its broad powers include regulating standards for admission, determining the contents and curricula of all courses of study, establishing requirements for graduation, conducting examinations and appointing examiners, and conferring degrees. There are up to 169 elected and ex-officio members of Senate who are representative of the University community. Much of its business is carried out through committees which report to the Senate at regular meetings.
Meetings
Senate meetings take place normally on the fourth Thursday of each month from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. The agendas and synopses for the current governance year, and for the past five years, are posted below.
- 2023-2024 Senate agenda packages and meeting synopses
- Archived Senate agendas, minutes and meeting synopses (past 5 years)
Senate meetings may be held in-person, through video conferencing or a hybrid of the two modes. The Senate Executive Committee determines the mode of delivery for a meeting, with the option selected stated on the agenda. When Senate convenes in-person or has an in-person option, the meetings are held in the Dr. Robert Everett Senate Chamber, N940 Ross Building, Keele Campus. Virtual meetings are delivered through Zoom. Meetings of Senate held in-person or in hybrid mode are open to members of the University community, subject to the availability of physical space; these meetings will not be livestreamed. Meetings of Senate held exclusively in virtual mode will normally be restricted to Senators to ensure the integrity of voting. Virtual meetings will be livestreamed for members of the University community to observe the proceedings; the livestream link is posted on the Senate website in advance of the meeting.
| Senate Meeting Dates | Meeting Mode |
| September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 April 2024 June 2024 | In-person in the Dr Robert Everett Senate Chamber, with accommodation provided for Senators needing to participate virtually. |
| December 2023 (if meeting needed) January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 May 2024 | Wholly virtual; with livestreaming of the meeting for the University community |
Members
Committees
Standing committees and sub-committees of Senate have been established to assist Senate in carrying out its mandate, as follows:
- Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee (APPRC)
- Academic Standards, Curriculum and Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)
- APPRC/ASCP Joint Sub-Committee on Quality Assurance
- Appeals (SAC)
- Awards
- Executive
- Sub-Committee on Honorary Degrees & Ceremonials
- Tenure and Promotions (T&P)
- Tenure and Promotion Appeals (STAPAC)