Governance Review

Governance Review Progress

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.

M & O Policies

(M)ember and (O)rganizational policies outlined

M Policies

Membership Policies

Harassment & Discrimination
Code of Conduct
Complaints & Discipline
Division of Powers (plenary, delegated, etc)
Membership Meetings

Policies, guidelines and procedures

Check out our approved policies

O Policies

Operational Policies

Travel
Association Grievance
Grievance Support
Investment
Sponsorship
Charitable Donations
Course Buyout
Legal Opinions
Working Groups

Constitution

The Constitution is driven by the following and shapes FAUW decision-making:

Reinforce the membership-driven nature of FAUW
Streamline moving details into policy documents

Current Constitution

FAUW Constitution — Last updated April 16, 2021

New Constitution

Keep an eye out for when the new Constitution will be approved!

Timeline

Explore the Governance Review Committee's progress

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
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.