Committee Charters

Academic Affairs Committee
Audit & Finance Committee
Campus Development Committee
Governance & Nominating Committee
Human Resources & Compensation Committee

Academic Affairs Committee Charter

Mission:

The purpose of the Academic Affairs Committee is to advise the Board of Mount Royal University regarding relevant matters bearing on the quality and reputation of the institution’s academic programs and research activities, educational expectations and challenges faced by the University, strategic direction, academic plans and budgets, and faculty positions and personnel policies.

The Committee respects the authority of the General Faculties Council to make decisions with respect to academic policies and academic matters, but may be required to endorse such decisions, if subject to Board approval.

Authority:

The Committee has the authority to advise and make recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Membership:

The Academic Affairs Committee shall consist of:

• At least four (4) Board members
• Chair of the Board as Ex Officio 
• President as Ex Officio.

Term of Office:

The term of office for all members of the committee shall be one year, ending on the date of the Board’s first regular meeting in the academic year.

Quorum:

The quorum shall consist of a simple majority of members.

Meetings:

The Committee shall meet at the call of the chair and strive to operate by consensus rather than by majority rule. The Committee may establish procedures and policies for the conduct of its meetings, including preparation of agendas and recording of minutes as determined by the Committee from time to time.

Expected Activities:

The principal responsibility of the Academic Affairs Committee is to advise and make recommendations to the Board of Governors on matters which pertain to academic affairs that fall within the purview of the Board, including but not limited to:

• Future issues in post-secondary education and their impact on Mount Royal;
• Periodic review of Mount Royal’s mission and mandate; 
• Present and future program directions in the context of Mount Royal’s long range plans for development;
• Proposals and recommendations of GFC concerning the establishment, continuation and re-organization of faculties, schools, and departments; 
• Faculty positions and personnel policies;
• Funding of new and existing programs (including termination of funding);
• Recommendations of the Faculty Tenure Committee with respect to tenure and recommend the award of tenure, an additional period of probationary appointment, or denial of tenure to the Board of Governors.
• Reports from General Faculties Council on new faculty positions and advise the Board on funding of new positions;
• Other recommendations from General Faculties Council to the Board;
• Specific matters which may be referred to the Committee by the Board.

The Academic Affairs Committee will consider recommendations from the General Faculties Council prior to making a recommendation to the Board on the following matters:

• Establishing procedures for and policies concerning the qualifications of members of academic staff within Mount Royal with respect to appointments, promotions, and tenure;
• Establishing new permanent positions for academic staff;
• Establishing relationships for affiliations or collaborative degrees;
• Establishing or changing the organization of academic units;
• Awarding of honourary appointments.

Resources:

The Executive/Board Support office will provide administrative support. The Executive Assistant to the President shall serve as a resource and the Board Secretary will serve as recording secretary for this Committee. Budget to cover meeting expenses, photocopying and other related activities will be housed in the Executive/Board Support office.

Records:

The records of the Committee’s decisions shall be maintained by the Executive/Board Support office in the form of correspondence related to those decisions, legal documents, and/or minutes of meetings as appropriate.

Timeframe:

This is a standing committee of the Board of Governors.