University of Ottawa - Administration

Administration

Governance is conducted through the Board of Governors and the Senate, whose roles were established by the University of Ottawa Act, 1965. The Act describes their membership and powers, as well as their principal officers. The Board provides overall governance and management and management, including financial decisions and the implementation of policies and procedures. The Board consists of an executive committee which includes the Chair of the Board and the Vice-Chair and Chair of the Executive Committee. As stipulated by the Act, the Board comprises no more than 32 members, appointed or elected by the various parts of the University community. While not stipulated in the Act, the Board's membership includes elected undergraduate and graduate student representatives. The Board includes one honorary member, the current chancellor.

The Senate sets educational policies and the management of academic issues. Such powers include the ability to create and abolish faculties, departments, schools and institutes, academic regulations, admission standards, degree and diploma requirements. It confers certificates, degrees at all levels and with the approval of the Board, honorary doctorates. The Senate consists of 72 members including president, who acts as its Chair. Other members of the Senate, as mentioned in the Act, include the Chancellor, the President, Vice-Presidents and the dean of each faculty, including those of federated universities. While not outlined in the Act, the Senate includes students from each faculty.

As stipulated in the Act, the Chancellor is the University's titular head and is accorded a place of honour at commencement exercises and other functions and may preside at examinations. The Chancellor is appointed by the Board with the concurrence of the Senate and holds the office for one or more four-year terms. As of 2012, the Chancellor was Michaëlle Jean, appointed on 1 February 2012. The President is the chief executive officer and chairman of the Senate with the responsibility of managing the direction of academic work and general administration, teaching staff, officers, servants and students. The President is appointed by the Board and continues until the Board votes otherwise. The office was first referred to as Superior until the University received a pontifical charter, when the name changed to Rector in 1889. In 2004, the English title of Rector was replaced with President.