Council members are expected to:

• work with other members of Council to ensure through oversight and appropriate superintendence the effective management of the University
• participate in an performance evaluations of Council
• participate in a formal induction process and ongoing professional development
• regularly attend Council meetings, Strategic Planning sessions and other Council member events occurring throughout their term.

Each Council member contributes to the effective functioning of Council and the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

A Council member must act reasonably to ensure that the Council carries out its functions and exercises its powers appropriately, effectively and efficiently.

In exercising his or her responsibilities and carrying out his or her functions and duties, a Council member must:

1. act in good faith, honestly and for proper purposes consistent with the objects and interests of the University;
2. exercise reasonable skill, appropriate care and diligence; and
3. take reasonable steps to avoid all conflicts of interest unless they are declared and then follow Council’s approved procedures for a declared Conflict of Interest.

A member of the Council must not make improper use of his or her position as a Councillor, or of information acquired through his or her position as a member, to gain, directly or indirectly, an advantage for the member or for another person.

Councillors can offer significant value to the University by applying their broad experience and contributing perspectives not always available to management in day-to-day operations. However, Councillors must always carefully distinguish between their responsibility for governance (i.e. “direction and superintendence”) from the tasks of management (i.e. the operations of the University).

Staff and student Council members are Council members in accordance with the Act and subject to all duties, responsibilities and rights set out therein and at common law.

The Act includes a number of rules for membership of Council. Within those parameters Council may determine its size and composition. Current Council membership comprises 18 members (one vacancy) including:

• Chancellor
• Vice-Chancellor and President (ex-Officio)
• Chair of the Academic Board (ex-Officio)
• 6 members appointed by the Governor in Council
• 4 members appointed by the Council
• 2 members of the University’s academic staff (elected)
• 1 member of the University’s professional staff (elected)
• 2 members of the student body (elected)