The Nominee and all nominators must be members of McMaster University as defined below:

Graduate Student means a person who is proceeding toward a Master’s or a Doctor’s degree. Students registered in McMaster University degree programs in the McMaster Divinity College shall be eligible to be candidates for election as graduate students in the Faculty of Humanities.  Any graduate student, either full-time or part-time, is eligible to be elected.

Note:
Graduate students registered in joint or collaborative programs under the auspices of more than one Faculty are eligible for nomination in only one of those Faculties. Those registered in interdisciplinary programs not under the auspices of any Faculty are eligible for nomination in the Faculty of their choice.

For graduate students in joint, collaborative, or interdisciplinary programs, the seconders must be registered in either the same program or in the same Faculty in which the candidate intends to run for election.

Undergraduate Student means: a full-time undergraduate student who has not been declared ineligible to continue at the University in the preceding Session; or a part-time student, a continuing student, or a second-degree student, registered for at least six units of undergraduate work.

Graduate Students

The (3) three nominators must all be graduate students registered in the same Faculty as the Nominee. For graduate students in joint, collaborative, or interdisciplinary programs, the seconders must be registered in either the same program or in the same Faculty in which the candidate intends to run for election.

Undergraduate Students

The (3) three nominators must all be undergraduate students registered in the same Faculty as the Nominee.

All nominators must send an email from their McMaster email account to the nominee with the Nomination Email Text.

The Nominee must attach a PDF copy of all 3 nomination emails to their completed nomination form in order for their nomination to be accepted.

Nomination Email Text

I nominate <Nominee Name> as a candidate for election to the <Name of Governing Body>.  I understand that the University Secretariat may contact me to verify this nomination.

Nominator Information:
First and Last name
McMaster email address
Student ID#

The University Senate has ultimate responsibility for determining academic policy and regulating the system of education, which includes new academic programmes, changes in curriculum, standards for admission to the University, examination policy, academic regulations, the conferring of degrees, the criteria and procedures for granting tenure and promotion to faculty members and so on. The Senate recommends to the Board the establishment or termination of Faculties, Schools, Institutes and Departments. The powers of the Senate are described in Section 13 of the McMaster University Act.  The composition of Senate is described in Section 12 of the Act.

Standing Committees of the Senate

The Senate has a number of standing committees where many of the matters that come to Senate for approval are discussed in detail first. The terms of reference and the composition of these committees are described in the Senate By-Laws.

The legal responsibilities of the Board of Governors are set out in Section 9 of The McMaster University Act, 1976.  While the President and senior administrative officers exert the central influence in policy as well as providing the dominant force in management under the authority of the Board, Board members play an important role in the governance of the University, since the Board is the legal owner and the final authority for the institution whose assets and operations the Board holds in trust.  Except for such matters as are assigned by the 1976 Act to the Senate, the government, conduct, management and control of the University and of its property, revenues, business and affairs are vested in the Board. In carrying out its financial responsibilities, the Board must accept full accountability for the finances of the University, including monitoring and authorizing the annual operating budget, prudent investments, and comprehensive fund-raising activities, as well as the obligation to ensure that financial assets are appropriately managed.  The Board receives nominations from the Senate with respect to the hiring, promoting and suspending of senior administrative and teaching personnel, and delegates the appointment, promotion, suspension or removal of all other officers, agents and employees of the University to officers of the University. The Board conducts its affairs by making by-laws, resolutions and regulations to supplement the Act. The composition of the Board of Governors is described in Section 8 of the University Act.

Standing Committees of the Board of Governors

The Board of Governors has a number of standing committees where many of the matters that come to Board of Governors for approval are discussed in detail first. The terms of reference and the composition of these committees are described in the Board of Governors By-Laws.

All meetings of the Board of Governors will begin at 8:30 a.m. unless otherwise stated.

Note: The meeting dates below should be considered tentative. Exact meeting dates will be forwarded to successful candidates over the summer months.

Student representatives to the Board of Governors are expected to regularly attend Board meetings.

• Thursday, September 18, 2025 – Orientation
• Friday, September 19, 2025 – Retreat
• Thursday, October 23, 2025
• Thursday, December 11, 2025
• Thursday, March 5, 2026
• Thursday, April 16, 2026
• Thursday June 4, 2026