Terms of Reference

Article XI of the Senate By-laws states:

157.  There shall be an Undergraduate Council with the following membership:

Ex Officio
Chancellor
President
Provost
Vice-Provost (Teaching & Learning)
Associate Deans, Undergraduate Studies of the Faculties of Business, Engineering, Humanities, Science
and Social Sciences (or their respective delegates)
Associate Dean of Health Sciences (Undergraduate Education)
Director of the Arts and Science Program
Director of McMaster Continuing Education
University Registrar
Associate Vice-President (Students and Learning) and Dean of Students
University Librarian

Members

• Six faculty members elected from the Professors, Associate Professors, and Assistant Professors,
  comprising one member from each Faculty offering undergraduate work;
• Seven undergraduate students, one from each of the six Faculties offering undergraduate work, and one
  from the Arts and Science Program, to be appointed by the Senate on the recommendation of the Dean /
  Director.
• Twelve members of the Council, excepting the Chancellor, the President and the Provost, shall constitute a quorum.

158.  The Chair of the Undergraduate Council shall be the Vice-Provost (Teaching & Learning).

159.  The Vice-Chair of the Undergraduate Council shall be elected annually by and from the members of the
Undergraduate Council.

160.  The Secretary of the Undergraduate Council shall be the University Secretary.

161.  The faculty member elected from each Faculty offering undergraduate work shall be elected in accordance
with the requirements of clause 15. These elections shall be conducted by the University Secretary.

162.  The term of office of faculty members on the Undergraduate Council shall commence on the first day of July following their election, and shall be for three years, renewable once, subject to the proviso that faculty members who are to be absent from the University for a year or more shall resign their seats before leaving and be replaced at an ensuing election.

163.  The term of office for an undergraduate student member shall commence on the first day of July following
the appointment of such member, and shall be for one year, renewable.

164.  The powers and duties of the Undergraduate Council are:

a) to make rules and regulations for governing its proceedings;

b) to initiate and regulate matters concerning undergraduate work of concern to the University as a whole, in accordance with such directives and priorities as have been established by the Senate;

c) to act upon recommendations concerning undergraduate work from the Faculties and the Arts and Science Program;

d) to transact such business as is placed on its agenda by one or more of the Chair, the Secretary of the Undergraduate Council, an Associate Dean or Dean of a Faculty offering undergraduate work, or the Director of the Arts and Science Program;

e) to report and to make recommendations to the Senate upon such matters as may be judged necessary by the Undergraduate Council or as required by the Senate;

f) to stipulate the conditions of award of all fellowships, scholarships, medals, prizes and other awards established for undergraduate students, and to make such awards;

g) to give direction to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships on policies and procedures
respecting the acceptance of all fellowships, scholarships, medals, prizes and other awards for undergraduate students, and the administration thereof;

h) to meet at least once each academic term; and

i) to make publicly available the agenda and the minutes of its meetings.

The Undergraduate Council shall also have the power to establish committees as set forth in Schedule E. Revisions to Schedule E shall be approved by Undergraduate Council and forwarded to Senate for information.

Notwithstanding any of the above, the following matters must be referred to the Senate for decision:

• establishment of new programs;
• closure of existing programs;
• substantial revisions of admission standards;
• substantial changes in degree, diploma and certificate requirements, and/or academic regulations.

Revised: June 7, 2023