University of Calgary

General Faculties Council

THE ROLE OF
GENERAL FACULTIES COUNCIL

The Post-Secondary Learning Act (PSLA), proclaimed on March 17, 2004, stipulates that General Faculties Council (GFC) is responsible for the academic affairs of the University, subject to the authority of the Board of Governors.

General Faculties Council should be an effective voice of the academic community, approving academic policy and priorities, and offering its advice to other decision-makers on issues touching upon the academic work of the University.

The final Gibbins Committee report (see GFC Minute 402.7, April 20, 1995) included the following:

  • GFC must provide a forum of shared governance which gives effective voice to the various interests and constituencies within the University, and which provides for the effective dissemination of information concerning institutional objectives and priorities.

  • GFC must provide a clear and vigourous articulation of institutional goals and priorities, thereby creating a policy framework within which Departmental and Faculty planning can occur.

  • GFC must respond in a facilitative manner to proposals originating elsewhere within the University.

  • GFC must ensure that decisions respecting proposals originating from Departments, Faculties and GFC committees are taken within the context of institutional priorities and with clear understanding of the potentially adverse impact on, and tradeoffs for, other units.

  • If shared governance is to serve the University well in a period of growing institutional stress, it must be able to respond in an effective and timely fashion to environmental change.


General Faculties Council must ensure that it maintains a broad perspective on issues within the framework of the University’s mandate and established priorities. It is expected to provide vision and leadership to the academic community.

 

THE MEMBERSHIP OF
GENERAL FACULTIES COUNCIL

GFC consists of 98 voting members who meet six times per year to perform their duties, according to the Post-Secondary Learning Act and the needs of the university.

The 98 voting members comprise:

  • the President, as Chair

  • the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), as Vice-Chair

  • members by virtue of office, including the Deans, Vice-Presidents, Registrar, and Directors of Information Resources and Continuing Education

  • members elected from Faculties

  • student members

  • appointed members

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
GENERAL FACULTIES COUNCIL

GFC provides institutional leadership on the issues of institutional policy and priorities, and has responsibility for the academic affairs of the University, including:

  • consider and make decisions on recommendations of the faculty councils as to programs of study, and to determine all programs of study that are to be offered by the university for credit toward the requirements for any degree or diploma

  • determine the date for the beginning and end of lectures, the beginning and end of each university term, and the timetables for examinations

  • consider and make decisions on recommendations of faculty councils as to the appointment of examiners and the conduct and results of examinations in the faculties

  • provide for the granting and conferring of degrees other than honorary degrees

  • provide for the preparation and publication of the university calendar

  • hear and determine appeals from the decisions of faculty councils

  • consider all matters reported to it by any faculty council and communicate its opinion or action on those matters to the faculty council concerned

  • make rules and regulations for the management and operation of libraries

  • make rules and regulations respecting academic awards

  • determine standards and policies respecting the admission of persons to the university as students

  • authorize lecturing and teaching on the university premises by persons other than members of the staff of the university

  • authorize a school to have a school council of the same nature and with the same powers, duties and functions as a faculty council and, in its discretion, revoke any authority so given

  • exercise any power of a faculty council that GFC considers desirable to exercise

The Post-Secondary Learning Act states that GFC may make recommendations to the Board of Governors on several other issues [see PSLA Section 26(1)(l) and 26(1)(o)].

The President connects the two governing bodies, as Chair of GFC and as a voting member of the Board. Recommendations from GFC to the Board are transmitted through the President.