School Governance

School Council

As the policy making body for the School, the School Council is responsible for establishing the terms of reference of each Standing or Special Committee and receiving reports from committees and approving matters of policy relating to the School and its programs. Meetings are held at least once yearly, at the end of the Winter Term.

Membership in the School Council includes all full-time faculty, all part-time faculty who teach on a regular basis and who are appointed by the Board of Governors, professors emeriti, the Program/Graduate Coordinator, one first-year student, one second-year student, a Co-Chair of the Students' Association, and the Chair of the Associated Alumni, all of whom have one vote. A non-voting observer is appointed by the Canadian Library Association to represent the Association. The Council is chaired by the Director of the School, and the Program/Graduate Coordinator acts as Secretary.

Terms of Reference

Admissions and Scholarships Committee

The Admissions and Scholarships Committee serves as an advisory committee on matters of admission to the Master of Library and Information Studies program (including combined programs such as the MLIS/JD). The Committee provides advice on: admissions policies and practices; recruiting activities for the MLIS and combined programs; administration and awarding of scholarships.

The members of the Committee are: the MLIS Program Coordinator (Chair), The SIM Director, a representative from the Associated Alumni, a second-year student appointed by the Students' Association. The Administrative Assistant acts as Secretary.

Terms of Reference

Appointments, Promotion and Tenure Committee

The major function of the Appointments, Promotion and Tenure is indicated by its title. Meetings are held whenever particular School matters require consideration and decision.

The members of the Committee are: all full-time faculty, one part-time faculty, one student (second-year), and one representative from the Associated Alumni. The Director attends to consider appointments only.

Terms of Reference

MLIS Curriculum & Continuing Education Committee

The mandate of the MLIS Curriculum & Continuing Education Committee is to develop and evaluate the curriculum of the School and ensure that the curriculum meets the School's goals and objectives.

The members of the Committee are: two faculty, two students (one first-year and one second-year), two alumni and the Program Coordinator. The Director and a representative from the Students' Association executive are ex-officio members. One member of the faculty acts as Chair and the Program Coordinator acts as Secretary.

The Committee meets monthly, as needed, throughout the academic year.

Terms of Reference
Guidelines for Members

Petitions and Grievances Committee

This Committee is formulated as the need arises to hear individual petitions and carry out administrative and policy-making functions. It is composed of three faculty members and two other members (at least one of whom shall be a student) selected from a panel of six: two first-year students, two second-year students and two alumni.

It is expected that informal courses of action will have been explored before the formal process of petition, commencing with a Committee hearing, is undertaken. A student who feels that he/she has an eligible petition or grievance should first approach the Chair of the Committee, verbally or in writing.

Student petitions and grievances may be heard on all procedural academic matters relating to academic standards, course requirements, equivalencies, examinations and other evaluative procedures, grades, pass requirements, advancement requirements, graduation requirements, and all other requirements necessary for the obtaining of the MLIS degree. Appeals relating to other University or Faculty academic regulations may also be heard. Students with problems involving the quality of academic course work should present these to the Director.

In order to ensure a complete hearing, all hearings and deliberations of the Committee will be treated as confidential by all parties concerned.

Terms of Reference