Board of Governors Bylaw No. 2

The official version of this bylaw is housed with the University Secretariat. In the event of a discrepancy, the official version will prevail. Click here for a printable version of this bylaw.

Board of Governors of the University of Guelph
Bylaw No. 2: Membership

Effective Date: September 1, 2019
Original Approval Date: June 21, 2019

1. Preamble

1.1. In accordance with the power vested in the of the Board of Governors by section 11 (i) of The University of Guelph Act, 1964  (as amended), the Board of Governors makes the following Bylaw:  

2. Definitions

2.1. “Act” means The University of Guelph Act, 1964  (as amended).

2.2. “Board” means the Board of Governors of the University of Guelph.

2.3. “Board Member” means a duly appointed member of the Board.

2.4.  “Chair” means the chair of the Board.

2.5. “Chancellor” means the chancellor of the University.

2.7.  “Faculty,” means a professor, associate professor, assistant professor, librarian, associate librarian, or assistant librarian who holds a probationary or tenured appointment at the University.   

2.8.  “President” means the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University.

2.9.  “Professorial Appointment,” means a probationary or tenured appointment as a professor, associate professor, or assistant professor.

2.10. “Secretary” means the University Secretary.

2.11. “Senate” means the Senate of the University as established in section 12 of the Act.

2.12. “Staff” means regular full-time employees of the University who are not Faculty.

2.13. “Student” means a full or part-time student registered in a degree or diploma program under the jurisdiction of the Senate.

2.14.  “University” means the University of Guelph.

2.15. “Vice-Chair” means a Vice-Chair of the Board.

3. Composition

The Board’s composition of not more than 24 members shall consist of:

3.1. the President appointed by the Board,

3.2. the Chancellor elected by Senate,

3.3. four individuals appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council,

3.4. ten individuals appointed by the Board who shall be external to the University,

3.5. three members of the Faculty elected by the Senate and appointed by the Board, at least one of whom shall hold a Professorial Appointment,

3.6. two members of the Staff elected by the Staff and appointed by the Board, at least one of whom is a graduate of the University, and

3.7. three Students, one of whom shall be a graduate Student elected by the graduate Students and appointed by the Board, and two of whom shall be undergraduate Students elected by the undergraduate Students and appointed by the Board.

3.8. At least three individuals appointed to the Board pursuant to sections 3.3 or 3.4, above, shall be graduates of the University.

4. Eligibility

4.1. No individual shall be appointed to or continue to serve on the Board:
4.1.1. if the individual fails to meet statutory requirements for membership on the Board, or
4.1.2. if the Board, exercising its authority in accordance with the law, determines that the individual can not appropriately fulfill the role of Board Member.

4.2. No Student shall be appointed to or continue to serve on the Board if they are not registered in each of the Fall and Winter semesters.

4.3. No Faculty or Staff shall be appointed to or continue to serve on the Board if they cease to be Faculty or Staff.

5. Elections

5.1. The Board shall have regulations defining the manner in which Faculty, Staff, and Student Elections shall be conducted.  

5.2. Elections are advisory, and the Board shall not be bound to appoint any individual to the Board in response to an Election.

5.3. The Secretary shall administer all Elections on behalf of the Board in accordance with established regulations. The Secretary shall not vote in any Election.

6. Terms of Office

6.1. The President and the Chancellor shall be members of the Board for as long as they hold office.

6.2. Board Members who are appointed pursuant to sections 3.3 through 3.7 of this Bylaw shall normally serve terms beginning on September 1.

6.3. Board Members who are appointed pursuant to sections 3.3 through 3.6 of this Bylaw shall normally serve a term of three years (3 years) and shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional consecutive three-year (3 year) term.

6.4. Board Members who are appointed pursuant to sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this Bylaw may, in exceptional circumstances when it is deemed to be in the best interests of the Board, be reappointed for further additional consecutive terms of up to three years in length provided that they do not exceed a total of nine (9) consecutive years of service.

6.5. The Chair may exceed nine (9) consecutive years of service.

6.6. Board Members who are appointed pursuant to sections 3.5 and 3.6 of this Bylaw may be reappointed to the Board no earlier than three (3) years after they complete their second (2nd) consecutive term.

6.7. Board Members who are appointed pursuant to section 3.7 of this Bylaw shall normally serve a term of one (1) year and shall be eligible for reappointment for up to five (5) additional consecutive one-year (1 year) terms. A Board Member appointed pursuant to section 3.7 who serves six consecutive one-year (1 year) terms may be reappointed to the Board no earlier than three (3) years after they complete their sixth (6th) consecutive term.

6.8. The Board may appoint a Board Member for a term of less than three (3) years to provide for staggered terms, continuity or to fill a vacancy.

7. Resignation

7.1. A Board Member’s office is vacated if the Board Member resigns in writing to the Chair, a Vice-Chair or the Secretary.

8. Vacancies

8.1. Where a vacancy on the Board occurs before the term of office for which a Board Member has been appointed ends for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board at its earliest convenience, and the Board Member so appointed shall hold office for a term determined by the Board at the time of their appointment. 

9. Repeal

9.1. Upon the commencement of this Bylaw, Board Bylaw No. 2: Terms of Appointment of the Board of Governors of the University of Guelph enacted on June 15, 2011 and any amendments thereto are hereby repealed. 

10. Commencement

10.1. This Bylaw shall come into effect on September 1, 2019.

PASSED this the 21st day of June in the year 2019.