Terms of Reference

Presidential Advisory Committee on the Status of Women

 

Terms of Reference

July 28, 1993. (Amended January 31, 1996; October 25, 2000, January 27, 2004, January 30, 2007 and February 6, 2011)

 

Purpose of the Committee

 

This committee is advisory to the President regarding matters pertaining to the status of women on campus.

 

Functions of the Committee

 

  • To improve the status of women in their various roles within the Laurentian community: students, staff, administration, faculty and alumni.
  • To enhance and support the working and learning environment of the women of the Laurentian community and to carry out research related to the Status of Women at Laurentian University.
  • To raise community awareness of women=s issues in general, specifically within the Sudbury community in order to support, participate and to take a leadership role when appropriate.
  • To communicate the activities and accomplishments of the committee both within and outside of the University.
  • To provide input in the development of pertinent policies. 
  • To advise and advocate on issues of women equity.
  • To serve on committees with relevance to women’s issues such as security, Walkhome, Human Rights office, Status of Women subcommittees, Education and Equity, and Women’s Research Committees, etc. 
  • To oversee staff and budgets related to the office of the Status of Women.

Membership

 

Membership shall be exclusively female and consist of the following:

 

Voting Members

 

(I) Employee Group Constituency Representatives

LUSU (Laurentian University Staff Union)

LUFA (Laurentian University Faculty Association)

LUAPSA (Laurentian University Administration and Professional Staff Association)

Federated Universities (one person will represent all of the universities)

Community Rights Advisor

 

(II) Student Constituency Representatives

SGA (Students' General Association)

AEF (Association des étudiant(e)s francophones)

LAMPS (Laurentian Association for Mature and Part-time Students)

NSA (Native Students' Association) [amended October 25, 2000]

GSA (Graduate Students' Association)

L.U. Women's Centre

 

Non-Voting Members

 

(III) Others integrally associated with women=s issues whose expertise is deemed appropriate by the committee. This will include but not be limited to:

Employment & Education Equity

Midwifery Education Program

Women's Studies Program

Security Department/ Parking

Lambda

L'Orignal Déchaîné

NOMS (Northen Ontario Medical School)

USWA (United Steel Workers of America) – local 5294

 

(IV) The Chair of the Committee – non-voting member except in circumstances of a tie

The Past Chair of the Committee – voting member

The Assistant to the Chair of the Committee – voting member

(Please see below Section 4: Structure of the Committee)

 

Members from groups (I) and (II) will be appointed by their constituency. Representatives from (I) will normally be appointed for a two year term and from (II) for a one year term.

 

A voting member who does not attend three consecutive meetings without cause will be considered non-active and the Chair will notify their constituency and request the name of a new representative.

 

The Chair will appoint members from group (III) whose expertise the committee deems appropriate to designated subcommittee and will designate which of these members will be voting members on a needs basis.

 

In a situation that requires a formal vote, only voting members of the committee are allowed to vote. A formal vote requires quorum which, for the purposes of this committee, shall be considered half of the membership, (5 voting members). In case of a tie vote, the Chair will cast the deciding ballot.

 

Membership of the whole committee will be reviewed on an annual basis.

 

Structure of the Committee

 

(I) The Chair

Any active voting member will be eligible to become Chair. Elections for the Chair will be held in April. This will enable the incoming chair to set goals for the upcoming year.

 

Nominations for the Chair will be submitted to the current Chair in writing one month prior to the date of the election. The nomination shall be in written form and signed by the nominator, the seconder and the nominee. The vote will be held by secret ballot and will be determined by majority. The current Chair will take the name of the successful nominee by voting members forward to the President for approval before publicly announcing the name of the new chair. 

 

Normally, the term of the Chair will begin on July 1 for a three-year period.

 

In the case of the resignation or leave of absence of the Chair, an Acting Chair will be appointed until elections may be held in April. The Chair with the approval of the President will appoint the Acting Chair.

 

(II) Assistant to the Chair

The assistant to the Chair will be chosen by the Chair for a one year period and will perform such duties as requested by the Chair and will be a paid part-time student employee from one of the student constituencies. 

 

(III) Past Chair

Normally, the Past Chair will remain a member of the committee, with voting privileges, for a three year period.

 

Mailing List

 

In addition to the members of the committee, a mailing list of people interested in the activities of the committee will be kept. The list shall include but not be limited to: Senior Women Administrators, Women Members of the Board of Governors, Presidents of LUAPSA, LUSU and LUFA.

 

Meetings

 

Meetings will normally be held on a monthly basis. Members will be given a schedule of meetings at the beginning of the academic year. For any unscheduled meetings, members will normally receive ten days notice.

 

Unless otherwise posted, meetings of the committee are open to all members of the university community.

 

Minutes

 

The Chair will ensure that the minutes of all the meetings are kept in a Minutes Book, along with the Meeting Agendas. This book will be carried forward to each new Chair as appointed.
 
 
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