The University of Guelph Senate was established through the University of Guelph Act, 1964 and is responsible for academic programs, regulations and policies.

Comprised of a membership that is representative of the University community, with both elected and ex-officio members, responsibilities of Senate include:

• electing the Chancellor;
• to control, regulate and determine the educational policy of the University;
• to determine the courses of study and standards of admission to the University and continued membership therein, and qualifications for degrees and diplomas;
• to conduct examinations and appoint examiners;
• to deal with all matters arising in connection with the awarding of fellowships, scholarships, bursaries, medals, prizes and other awards;
• to confer the degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctor and all other degrees and diplomas in all branches of learning that may appropriately be conferred by a University;
• to confer honorary degrees in any department of learning;
• to create faculty councils or committees and committees generally to exercise its powers.
   

The President & Vice-Chancellor of the University is ex-officio Chair of Senate. The current Chair of Senate is Dr. Rene Van Acker [7]. A list of past Presidents is available below. 

Past Presidents & Vice-Chancellors

John D. MacLachlan

1964 - 1967

William (Bill) Winegard

1967 - 1975

Donald F. Forster

1975 - 1983

Burton C. Matthews

1984 - 1988

Brian Segal

1988 - 1992

Mordechai (Mort) Rozanski

1993 - 2003

Alastair Summerlee

2003 - 2014

Franco Vaccarino

2014-2020

Charlotte Yates

2020-2024