Board officer role descriptions

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The 5 roles within the Board of Directors:

Duties of FAUW directors

In general, Boards of Directors are focused on the overall mission of the organization, long-term viability, stakeholder trust and confidence, and financial stewardship.

Directors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of FAUW as an organization.

Board officers have additional duties and responsibilities.

Find more information: Being a Board member

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Eligibility

All voting members of the Faculty Association are eligible to run for this elected position. 
Role

The President is a visible leader who, along with the Board, represents the interests of faculty members and works to improve their terms and conditions of employment. The President is a champion for academic freedom, collegial governance and equity, and works with the University’s administration to promote FAUW’s objectives.

The President is supported by staff and Board members who collectively carry out the mission of the Association.

Expected duties

President

In addition to all Directors’ expected duties, the President is also expected to:

  • Represent FAUW at the University and in the broader community
  • Provide general management and supervision of the Association’s affairs and operations
  • Co-Chair and set the agenda for the University’s Faculty Relations Committee along with the Provost
  • Be the direct report supervisor of the Executive Manager, who supervises staff
  • Liaise with HR as required on matters involving FAUW staff
  • Keep the Executive Manager apprised of all issues and progress
  • Be the direct liaison between FAUW and the University’s Provost and President
  • Assign tasks to Board members
  • Assign tasks to FAUW volunteers
  • Assign tasks to FAUW staff through the Executive Manager
  • Use the fauwpres@uwaterloo.ca email for all FAUW-related communications for consistency and continuity in record-keeping
  • Serve ex officio on the University Senate and Senate Executive Committee
  • Participate in advocacy at the provincial and national levels through the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) and the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), including attendance at all CAUT Council meetings on behalf of FAUW
  • Propose to the Board a list of Directors to form FAUW’s Executive Committee, including a Vice President and a Treasurer
  • Lead the FAUW Executive Committee
  • Select the members of the Faculty Relations Committee from among the members of the FAUW Executive Committee
  • Have signing authority on FAUW bank accounts
  • Approve documents submitted to FAUW’s financial auditors
  • Approve documents submitted to FAUW’s Directors’ and Officers’ insurers
  • Resolve disputes on the Board of Directors
  • Ensure all Board members are in compliance with their fiduciary duty, duty of care, duty of obedience, FAUW Code of Conduct, and FAUW Anti-Harassment Policy
  • Convene FAUW Ad Hoc Working Groups as needed
  • Nominate and/or appoint members to various University committees and working groups where faculty representation is required, with input from FAUW’s Nominations and Elections Committee for such appointments
  • Write Service performance review letters for all Board members to their Chairs/Directors
  • Participate in the annual New Faculty Orientation events, as needed
  • Participate in the annual Centre for Teaching Excellence Teaching and Learning Conference, as needed
  • Introduce the annual Hagey Lecture speaker and participate in related activities, as needed
  • Oversee the hiring process for the Executive Manager’s position
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Eligibility

The President appoints the Vice president from among the elected Directors. This appointment is ratified by the Board.
Role

The role of the Vice president is to support the President in their role, including acting as President should the President be unavailable. The specific division of general responsibilities between the President and Vice President is left to the two persons who occupy these positions.

Expected duties

Vice president

In addition to all Directors’ expected duties, the Vice president is also expected to:

  • Be a member of the FAUW Executive Committee and attend Executive Committee meetings
  • Be a member of the Faculty Relations Committee
  • Be FAUW’s direct liaison to the Associate Vice-President, Faculty Planning and Policy
  • Serve as Acting President in the President’s absence
  • Represent FAUW at the University and in the broader community, as requested by the President
  • Other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Manager
  • Assist the President in the administrative tasks required of the President’s role
  • In collaboration with the Executive Manager, write the Service performance review letter for the President addressed to their Chair/Director
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Eligibility

The role of Past president is normally filled by the outgoing President. The President invites the outgoing President to serve as Past president. If the most recent President is unavailable or unable to serve, the President may nominate to the role any previous President, who must be ratified by the Board.
Role

The role of the Past president is to support the President and Executive Committee in their roles, including acting as temporary Vice president should the Vice president be acting as President in a short-term capacity.

Expected duties

Past president

In addition to all Directors’ expected duties, the Past president is also expected to:

  • Advise the President, the Executive Committee, and the Board
  • Provide knowledge transfer to the President
  • Represent FAUW at the University and in the broader community as requested by the President
  • Other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Manager
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Eligibility

The President appoints the Treasurer from among the elected Directors. This appointment is ratified by the Board.
Role

The role of the Treasurer is to make recommendations to the Board and to the membership on the use of FAUW funds for all expenditures. The Treasurer may make specific decisions on Board-approved purchases as requested in accordance with FAUW policies.

Expected duties

Treasurer

In addition to all Directors’ expected duties, the Treasurer is also expected to:

  • Sit on FAUW’s Executive Committee and attend Executive Committee meetings
  • Prepare quarterly Reports to the Board on expenditures and revenue in collaboration with the Executive Manager
  • Prepare an Annual Budget proposal to present to the membership at the April General Meeting in collaboration with the Executive Manager
  • Present the audited Annual report at the December General Meeting
  • Bring to the Board any major expense proposals
  • Approve routine expenses submitted by the Executive Manager
  • Have signing authority on FAUW bank accounts
  • Other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Manager
  • Oversee the execution of financial commitments approved by the Board
  • Ensure that expenditures are in line with FAUW’s financial policies
  • Make recommendations to, and decisions with, the FAUW Board on monetary policies that are decided by the Board
  • Make recommendations to the FAUW membership on monetary policies that are decided by the membership
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Eligibility

All voting members of the Faculty Association are eligible to run for these elected positions. 
Role

As a FAUW Director, you will contribute to and consider matters before the FAUW Board of Directors, to support the Board in collective decision-making – directors are decision contributors and decision supporters. The Board oversees all FAUW functions, including policy development, salary negotiations, the protection of member rights, and events and services for members. Directors have a duty to act in the best interests of FAUW as an organization and of the membership it represents.

Board members must always be aware of their responsibilities as representatives of FAUW in their communications and actions, and do not individually make decisions on behalf of FAUW.

Expected duties

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  • Duty of care: Directors must make thoughtful, informed decisions and act responsibly to protect the organization’s best interests.
  • Fiduciary duty: Directors must always put the organization’s and membership’s interests ahead of their own personal interests, including in financial decision-making.
  • Duty of obedience: Directors must ensure the organization follows its own rules and decisions, its mission, and the law, and individually act and communicate accordingly. Attend bi-weekly Board meetings on alternating Thursday afternoons from September through June, and any additional Board meetings in July and August.
  • Attendance at Board meetings and General Meetings is mandatory. Board members must advise the Executive Manager in advance if they cannot attend a meeting.
  • Monitor Board communications (email and other platforms) between meetings.
  • Come prepared to Board Meetings having read all materials in advance.
  • Stay current on issues before the Board.
  • Attend other events where FAUW presence is important for relations and visibility.
  • Assume a leadership role on a particular matter within the Board mandate that is of interest and/or as assigned.
  • Undertake other duties as assigned by the President (or delegate).
  • Keep all non-public information confidential, including individual comments made by Board members and how Board members vote.
  • Keep the Board informed of pertinent discussion at any committee on which they are representing FAUW and/or appointed on the recommendation of the FAUW President.
  • Keep the Board informed about FAUW-relevant news from their constituency (as applicable).
  • Declare any conflicts of interest (perceived or actual) and recuse oneself from discussion and/or voting when such conflicts arise.
  • Assist with recruitment for various FAUW volunteer roles