1. University Council
  2. Chancellor Search
  3. Terms of Reference for the Advisory Committee to the Principal Regarding the Selection of a Candidate to Serve as Queen’s University’s 16th Chancellor

Terms of Reference for the Advisory Committee to the Principal Regarding the Selection of a Candidate to Serve as Queen’s University’s 16th Chancellor

Authority

Pursuant to the Queen’s Charter, the University Council is vested with the authority to appoint the Chancellor as the highest officer of the University.

Mandate

The Honorable Murray Sinclair, Queen’s University’s 15th Chancellor began his term as Queen’s University’s 15th Chancellor on July 1, 2021. His term is scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2024.  

Under the Charter of Queen’s University, the election of a Chancellor is the responsibility of the University Council.  According to the by-laws of the Council, in the case of a vacancy, or pending vacancy, in the Office of the Chancellor, the Executive Committee shall ask the Principal to form an advisory committee to select the next Chancellor.

The Advisory Committee is an advisory body to the Principal and is established to solicit and review nominations, in confidence, and to recommend a candidate for the Office of the Chancellor to the Principal.

When the Advisory Committee has made a recommendation to the Principal, the Principal shall inform the Executive Committee and ask for its approval to bring the recommendation for appointment forward for approval by the University Council.

Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of by-law E of University Council, the Executive Committee has requested that the Principal form an Advisory Committee to the Principal Regarding the Selection of a Candidate to serve as Queen’s University’s 16th Chancellor.

Composition

Voting

  • Principal Patrick Deane (Chair), votes only in the case of a tie
  • Chair of the Board of Trustees
  • Rector
  • President of the Queen’s University Alumni Association
  • Council Trustee, as chosen by the Executive Committee on recommendation from the Nominating Committee (the Nominating Committee shall confer with the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Trustees prior to making a recommendation)
  • One University Councillor, that is not a Council Trustee, as chosen by the Executive Committee on recommendation from the Nominating Committee
  • Faculty Senator, as chosen by the Principal
  • Staff Senator, as chosen by the Principal

Non-Voting

  • Executive Director and Interim University Secretary
  • Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion)

Process

1.1    In order to respect the dignity of the Office of the Chancellor, and to preserve the honour of the University, all members of the Advisory Committee shall scrupulously and conscientiously observe the rules of confidentiality requisite for the task with which the Committee is charged. To evidence such a commitment, all members of the Committee are required to sign an undertaking regarding confidentiality, collegiality, and conflicts.

1.2    The establishment of the Committee, and its composition, is to be announced, at a minimum, in the Gazette. 

1.3    The Committee shall communicate with the University Community and with the University Council about its progress throughout the search process.

1.4    The Committee will make a recommendation to the Principal with respect to the identification of a candidate for the Office of the Chancellor.

1.5    Following presentation of its recommendation to the Executive Committee, the Committee shall be dissolved.