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For a detailed list of all members, including their biographies, photos, and contact information please visit our . 

^{Senate Member Composition}

Ex officio are full voting members with all the same rights and responsibilities as elected members

A summary of the historical development of the Senate, The Evolution of Composition and Function of the Senate, 1842-1995, by Margaret Hooey, former Secretary of the Senate.

(approved by Senate April 28, 2011, amended January 31, 2017)

Central Function:

1. Under the jurisdiction of the Royal Charter of 1841, Senate determines all matters of an academic character that affect the University as a whole, and is concerned with all matters that affect the general welfare of the University and its constituents. Senate shall serve as a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas among the members of the University community.

Academic Planning and Educational Environment Functions:

Senate will

2. participate in strategic planning for the University, including but not limited to the budgetary process and campus planning and development.

3. assume a shared responsibility, along with the Board of Trustees and the Administration of Queen's, for a living and learning environment that promotes the well-being of students.

4. commit through policies and programs to an environment at the University that recognizes equity and diversity as being vital to, and in harmony with, its educational purposes and standards of excellence as an institution.

Legislative Functions:

Senate has the authority to

5. approve the establishment or closure of any academic unit, centre or institute, subject to ratification by the Board of Trustees.

6. approve the establishment or closure of named and funded chairs and professorships, subject to ratification by the Board of Trustees.

7. approve the establishment or closure, on the recommendation of Faculty Boards and Schools, of all programs of study leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate, and review all such programs cyclically.

8. approve university-level policies relating to the academic mission and academic services including but not limited to policies related to admissions, calendars, examinations, student financial aid, and annual enrolment planning.

9. grant all honorary degrees and grant on the recommendation of Faculty Boards and Schools all earned degrees, diplomas, and certificates awarded by the University.

10. approve policies and procedures regarding student academic matters, and to discipline students with respect to departures from academic integrity, including the power to require a student to withdraw from the university. Senate maintains a concern for matters of student non-academic misconduct and participates in the Board of Trustee’s governance of non-academic misconduct discipline structures.

11. approve the Academic Plan and the Strategic Research Plan.

Appointment/Selection Functions:

Senate will

12. share with the Board of Trustees the responsibility for the selection of the Principal through a committee composed equally of members of the Senate and the Board.

13. establish the procedures to be followed in the appointments of Deans and academic Vice-Principals.

14. appoint, establish terms of reference, and have responsibility for committees that fulfill the functions of Senate. 

Queen’s Senate is one of the three governing bodies of the university, together with the Board of Trustees and University Council, all of which are administered by the University Secretariat.  The Senate is chaired by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and its membership includes faculty, students, staff, and university administrators.

Along with the Board, the creation of Senate is described in Queen’s Royal Charter from 1841: “…so soon as there shall be a Principal and one Professor in the said College, the Board of Trustees shall have the authority to constitute…a Court to be called ‘The College Senate’, for the exercise of Academical superintendence …” (Royal Charter, s. 23).

In the present day, the Senate is the university’s highest academic governing body.  It is governed by its Rules of Procedure, which exist in concert with the Royal Charter and other applicable governance documents.  The Senate has 68 members: 12 ex-officio and 56 elected.

Senators’ Responsibilities

It is the expectation that senators will act in good faith in the best interests of the university as a whole, regardless of the constituency from which they were elected, when discussing and voting on matters before them. This necessitates a level of advance preparation that, at a minimum, would include reviewing relevant information included in the Senate agenda package, but also asking questions where any portion of a proposal is unclear, including how it will impact the future development of the University and the achievement of its strategic goals.

i) Meetings:  As a senator, engagement in the work of the Senate is integral to a successful experience.  Senate meetings normally occur three times in the fall term and four times in the winter term for approximately one and a half to two hours at a time.  Senators can expect to see items such as, but not limited to, program modifications or creations, cyclical program reviews, reports from administration, committee reports, COU reports, proposed Honorary Degree recipients, and questions posed in advance by senators.  Questions may also be asked of any item during Senate meetings.

Comprehensive orientation sessions are offered early in the fall term for new and returning senators, and an is always available on the Secretariat’s website.  Accommodations to attend meetings are available in coordination with the Secretariat.

It is critical that all senators feel comfortable participating fully in a Senate meeting and that debate takes place in an atmosphere of respect, trust, inclusion, collegiality, and fairness.  Senators should be committed to actively generating an environment of inclusion for the full participation of everyone.

Senators should consider that all members interact as equals during meetings and must feel welcome to freely express their thoughts and opinions on matters under debate.

ii) Agenda Packages: Senate agenda packages are published one week in advance of Senate meetings and range in size depending on the items being brought to the Senate for its review.  Senators should stay informed and devote time to being well-prepared for meetings to ensure effective decision-making processes.

While senators are encouraged to review the entire package, this may not always be possible.  Items coming to the Senate from committees typically include an executive summary.  Reviewing these should be considered the minimum level of preparedness to be completed by senators in advance of each meeting.

All agenda packages are available to the public on .

iii) Committees:  The Senate is supported by 10 standing committees, which conduct a variety of work related to academic development and program review, the Senate’s governance, scholarships and student aid, libraries, research, educational equity, and student orientation.  Committee meetings usually take place two to four times in each of the fall and winter terms.  Each committee chair provides a short, written report to the Senate after committee meetings to ensure that senators are aware of the business being conducted by Senate committees.

All senators are strongly encouraged to serve on at least one Senate committee during their term on Senate as it will enrich your understanding and appreciation of the work performed through the committee structure and enhance your knowledge of the University’s governance and administrative decision-making structures.  Senators are welcome to reach out to the Secretariat to discuss committees in the context of the diversity of their qualifications, skills, expertise, and knowledge.

iv) Time Commitment:  Based on meeting schedules and other duties, senators can expect an average monthly time commitment from September to May of four to six hours.

v) Board-Senate Retreat:  A joint retreat for the Senate and Board of Trustees takes place in March each year and usually occurs on a Saturday afternoon.  The retreat provides an opportunity for senators and trustees to discuss current matters of strategic interest to both governing bodies, and fosters greater collaboration in shaping the future direction of the university.  It also provides an opportunity to foster a positive culture of shared governance based on collegiality, inclusion, and dialogue.

The retreat is organized around a theme and participants identify and prioritize matters to be recommended for study and implementation by the university’s administration.

vi) Receptions: In addition to meetings and the Retreat, senators are invited to attend an annual social Senate Reception in the fall term.  Student senators and student observers are also invited to attend an annual lunch with the Principal in late March/early April.

vii) Surveys: To assist with ongoing improvements to Senate’s effectiveness and senator engagement, senators are asked to complete a short annual Senate effectiveness survey administered in the winter term.  In addition, if they have not already completed it as part of their faculty, student, or staff role, senators are also asked to complete a brief equity census in the fall term to assist with efforts related to Senate’s Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.  Results from both surveys are reported to the Senate.

The Senate undertakes, in conjunction with the Human Rights and Equity Office, an annual Equity Census. Reports are presented to Senate and are used by the Senate Governance and Nominating Committee to ensure that Senate remains a fully inclusive body, representative of the Queen's community.

Census Report 2023/24

Census Report 2020/21

Census Report 2019/20