SSMU’s Role at McGill University

The Memorandum of Agreement (the “MOA”) between McGill University and The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) was drafted to cooperatively work together in order to meet our missions.

Definition: A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is a written document describing a cooperative relationship between two parties wishing to work together on a project or to meet an agreed-upon objective.

Led by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill’s senior administrative officers create a vision and direction for the University.

McGill’s Senior Administration and governing bodies – the Board of Governors and Senate – provide strategic guidance and oversight, ensuring accountability through a system of formal decision-making and reporting.

To see McGill’s University’s full organization chart click here.

Both the board of governors and Senate have seats for undergraduate representatives in which elected members of the SSMU represent you.

Powers

The McGill Senate is the highest governing body of the University tasked with general control and supervision over academic matters.

Membership and Voting

There are 13 Student Senators representing the undergraduate student body on the McGill University Senate. Each Senator is elected for a one-year term by their respective constituents, typically the undergraduate students in a specific Faculty or School. They all hold voting rights.

The McGill Senate is composed of 111 voting members broadly representative of the University’s constituencies (faculty, staff, students, administrators, Board members and alumni).

Click here to see the full membership list.

To learn more about Senate and their meetings click here.

A caucus  is a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same group or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy. Senate caucus is a meeting where the thirteen (13) student senators who represent the undergraduate student body meet  to strategize and discuss the state of their various advocacy efforts, committee meetings, and constituency projects.

More detailed aspects of the McGill Senate’s work take place in various committees of the McGill Senate and other University-level committees. To see a list of all committees with undergraduate representation, please click here.

Meetings

These meetings are open to all SSMU members: any student can attend to observe or to raise a topic concerning student life. If you wish to attend, please notify the University Affairs Secretary General at uasecgen@ssmu.ca.

Reports

Student Senators publish bi-weekly reports of the work they do in various committees, the Senate itself, as well as any projects that they undertake. The reports are posted on the University Affairs website.

Powers

The SSMU President holds the sole undergraduate seat on the McGill University Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is the University’s highest governing body, and unlike Senate, it is more focused on issues relevant to McGill as a corporation. Board members (called “Governors”) must sit on a committee of the Board.

Membership and Voting

The SSMU President holds the sole undergraduate seat on the McGill University Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is the University’s highest governing body, and unlike Senate, it is more focused on issues relevant to McGill as a corporation. Board members (called “Governors”) must sit on a committee of the Board.

The Board of Governors comprises twenty-five (25) voting members and two (2) non-voting student observers. Some former members of the Board of Governors are appointed as governors emeriti. To see the full list of members, click here.

To learn more about the Board of Governors and their meetings, click here.