Mission and Values
The SSMU stands for the Students’ Society of McGill University! We are your student union.
Every undergraduate at McGill is a member of the SSMU. We are here to speak out for you and advocate for your interests. On the local university levels, this means being your representation to the McGill administration. We work hard for fairer academic justice processes, better quality instruction, and better services for students. On the broader level, we are also strong advocates for accessible quality public education.
Our Mission
To represent and advance the diverse needs of McGill Undergraduate students by improving the quality and accessibility of education, providing outstanding services, and promoting social, cultural, and personal opportunities.
Our Values
Service
The SSMU serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate and support the student groups that make up civic life in the McGill community, while providing services to strengthen the educational, cultural, environmental, political, and social conditions of our Members.
Representation
SSMU acts as the official voice of our Members and as a liaison between them and the University. Members are encouraged to provide feedback to all of their elected representatives, including the Executives and Senators who represent student voices on McGill’s highest governing bodies.
Leadership
The SSMU commits to demonstrating leadership in matters of human rights, social justice and environmental protection, and to groups, programs, and activities that are devoted to the well-being of disadvantaged groups. We strive to ensure that all of our endeavours are undertaken with full respect for human dignity and bodily sovereignty and without discrimination on the basis of personal characteristics that include but are not limited to race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, gender identification, age, mental or physical disability, language, sexual orientation or social class.
Sustainability
The SSMU recognizes the holistic nature of sustainability and the importance of addressing environmental, social, and economic viability. According to the SSMU Sustainability Policy, sustainability does not refer exclusively to environmental considerations, but also encompasses sustainability in regards to justice and equity. These latter aspects of sustainability are addressed by the SSMU Equity Committee, which is tasked to work and collaborate on sustainability-related issues.
SSMU’s Role at McGill
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) operates independently from McGill University. The Society is a student-run group that dedicates its time and resources to give its members services, representation, and leadership.
Although the SSMU and McGill University operate independently, students who are members of the SSMU do have decision-making positions in McGill’s governing bodies.
Service
The Society serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate and support the student groups that make up civic life in the McGill community while providing services to strengthen the educational, cultural, environmental, political, and social conditions of our Members.
See all the services we provide here.
Representation
The Society acts as the official voice of its Members and as a liaison between them and the University. The Society shall act in the best interests of its Members as a whole.
Leadership
The Society commits to demonstrating leadership in matters of human rights, social justice, and environmental protection while being mindful of the direct and indirect effects of the Society’s businesses and our constitution.
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
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.
SSMU representation in McGill Governance
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.
McGill Senate
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.
Senate Caucus
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.
Mcgill Board of Governors
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.
Contact student Senators
To send an email to all Senators, direct your message to senators@ssmu.ca. Note that since the SSMU President and VP University Affairs are also senators, emails sent to this address will also reach them. For individual Senator’s emails, please refer to the list below.
Senators
| Image | Constituency | Name | Email Address |
|---|---|---|---|
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Arts | Sophia Garofalo | artssenator1@ssmu.ca |
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Arts | Juliet Morrison | artssenator2@ssmu.ca |
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Arts and Science | Sef-Sarroub-Lesueur | artscisenator@ssmu.ca |
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Education | Matthew Diabo | educationsenator@ssmu.ca |
|
Engineering | Muhammad Qureshi | engineeringsenator@ssmu.ca |
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Law | Weeam Benrejeb | lawsenator@ssmu.ca |
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Management | Alexandra Nitu | managementsenator@ssmu.ca |
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Medicine | Mustafa Fakih | medicinesenator@ssmu.ca |
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MCSS | Vaishnavi Parey | university-affairs.mcss@mail. |
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Nursing | Naomi Pastrana Mankovitz | nursingsenator@ssmu.ca |
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Science | Grace Parrish | sciencesenator@ssmu.ca |
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University Affairs Secretary General | Joy Zhang | uasecgen@ssmu.ca |
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President | Alexandre Ashkir (he/him) | president@ssmu.ca |
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Vice-President (University Affairs) | Lalia Katchelewa (she/her) | ua@ssmu.ca |
Associate senators
| Image | Constituency | Name | Email Address |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Arts Associate Senator | Vivian Wright | associatesenator1@ssmu.ca |
|
Education | Danahé Orduna | |
|
Law | Nicholas Sterling | associatesenator4@ssmu.ca |
|
Mac Campus (MCSS) | Ariane Ly | |
|
Nursing | Sophie Zheng | associatesenator2@ssmu.ca |
|
Science | Ishita Kumar | associatesenator3@ssmu.ca |