Welcome to the Secretariat

The Secretariat’s mission is to manage and support the University’s bicameral governance system consistent with statutory requirements, the University of Waterloo Act, the By-laws and regulations of the Board of Governors and Senate, and good governance practices.

We provide support services for the Board of Governors, the Senate and their Committees and ensure membership is duly constituted and bodies receive materials that support informed decision-making.  We ensure that decisions taken by Senate, Board and their committees are available to the university community and provide advice to senior administration and Board leadership so that the process of decision-making is clear, efficient and effective.

We also support the work of faculty, staff and student relations committees which are the primary venues for collegial employee/employer and student relations activities.  We maintain the library of institutional policies and support committees and administration in the process of development and renewal of policies.

The Secretariat ensures impartial support and guidance for the various quasi-judicial processes as outlined in institutional policies, agreements and practices related to faculty, staff and students.

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Secretariat news

Senate approved the following items:

  • Changing the name of the Department of Management Sciences to the Department of Management Science and Engineering
  • Principles and Guidelines for Digital Learning
  • Individuals to be added to the pool of honorands for recognition at future convocation ceremonies
  • Revisions to the graduate studies academic calendar (co-operative education section) to include Graduate Work-integrated Learning definitions and content
  • Undergraduate academic regulations pertaining to (1) admissions, (2) admissions fraud, and (3) English language proficiency tests

"We are pleased to announce that on June 22, 2023, the Board of Governors approved the appointment of Genevieve Gauthier-Chalifour as University Secretary, and Secretary to the Board of Governors effective 1 September 2023," write Murray Gamble, Chair of the University's Board of Governors and Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor in a memo sent to the University community this morning.