Governance Review

The FAUW Governance Review Committee has been working diligently since 2023 to review the governance framework with the goal of formalizing policies, committee terms of reference, role descriptions, procedures, and more. 

Transparency & Governance

FAUW is committed to transparency and ensuring our members are provided the necessary information on our policies and our FAUW decision-making.

In the spirit of making our operations as transparent and accessible as possible, find below our guiding policies, Constitution, timelines, and documents to explore the progress of the Governance Review framework.

Committee Materials

Shared Packages 

Background Material

M & O Policies

A new policy framework is being proposed that includes the Constitution, Class M Policies, and Class O Policies. 

  • The M Policies will be policies that are companion pieces to the Constitution.  These are policies that directly affect the membership or involve significant fiscal commitments. Creation or amendment of Class M Policies shall require approval by a simple majority (50%+1) of the votes cast in a referendum.
  • O Policies are Operational policies governing internal operations and administration. Creation or amendment of Class O Policies shall require approval by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.

All policies will be accessible to all members online.  All polices will include a version control.  All policies will be reviewed every five (5) years to ensure their continued relevance and consistency with this Constitution.

Policies are formal statements that establish principles, rules, or expectations governing the organization’s activities.

Procedures are detailed processes or steps to implement those policies. The Board is empowered to create procedures for operational purposes.

Class M Policies

Membership Policies

  • Affiliate and Associate Membership — drafted for approval

  • Committee & Working Group 

  • Divisions of Powers — drafted for approval

  • Elections and Voting — drafted for approval

  • Meetings of the Membership — drafted for approval

  • Code of Conduct — drafted for approval

  • Anti-Harrassment — drafted for approval

  • Investment

Class O Policies

Operational Policies

Planned Policies

Review planned policies in depth in the Governance Review - 1st Package

Policies, guidelines and procedures

Check out our approved policies

FAUW-decision-making

Timeline

Explore the Governance Review Committee's progress

  1. 2025
    1. Dec
      1. Fall General Meeting - Governance Review Report

        Completed:

        • Role descriptions & Committee Terms of Reference

        In Progress: 

        • Several O-Policies going through Board review/revision
        • New M-Policies drafted
        • Constitution remains 
        • January - February 2026: review by CAUT, OCUFA, and internal

  2. 2026
    1. Apr
      1. Spring General Meeting

        In Progress: 

        • New Constitution started
        • Policies (Class M, Class O), Code of Conduct, Procedures, Guidelines
        • Package sent to members
          • Town Hall for general feedback scheduled for April 22, 2026

      2. Governance Review - Town Hall - Membership Feedback

        In Progress:

        • New tiered document structure, shifting details to Policy and Procedures on the advice of parliamentarian
          • Constitution - requires 2/3 Membership to alter
          • Member (M) Polciies - require majority Membership to alter
          • Operational (O) Policies - require majority Board to alter
          • Procedures
        • Updating & clarifying role descriptions
          • Clear role descriptions for Officers and Directors
          • Introduction of a Chair role
        • Committees
          • Standardizing Terms of Reference, new policy on Committees, Council of Representatives under review
        • Code of Conduct, Harassment, Complaints Procedure
          • It is currently unclear that P33 applies in cases of FAUW business (in arbitration)
          • In the absence of an arbitration decision, what happens with intra-FAUW disputes is unclear
          • Good to set expectations (Code of Conduct)
        • Voting
          • Two-phase nomination system, to reduce acclamations
          • Approval voting: vote for any number of candidates
          • For President: run-off if no candidate receives simple majority
          • For matters of major policy or strategic significance, referendum following motion at GM
        • Duty of Obedience: GONE
          • New text: "all committees, committee members, and external representatives shall not act contrary to Board decisions, policies, or resolutions, and shall implement any directives issued by the Board within the scope of their delegated responsibilities."
            • Duty to members proposed
        • 2nd reading Town Hall scheduled for May 20, 2026

    2. May
      1. Governance Review - Town Hall - Purpose & Guiding Principles

        Completed:

        • Membership request: side-by-side Constitution versions shared
        • Incorporated some technical changes proposed by colleagues and CAUT (Complaints Procedure & on the Constitution itself)

        In Progress: 

        • Worked on the Purpose & Guiding Principles
        • More feedback to be incorporated

        Goals: 

        • Streamlining 
          • Details to more-easily-changeable "Class M" policies, especially definitions of standing committees

    3. Jun
      1. Governance Review - Town Hall - Complaints Procedure

        More information to come.

    4. Sep
      1. Board consideration of new Constitution

        More information to come. 

    5. Oct
      1. Special General Meeting & Ratification Vote

        More information to come.