The Secretary to the Senate Engagement Working Group is Ashley Day.
Membership 2025-2026
| Name | Membership/Title |
|---|---|
| Appointed - Senate Executive Committee | |
| Laura Deakin [Co-chair] | Faculty Senator (Science) |
| Marcus Shantz [Co-chair] | President, Conrad Grebel University |
| Carol Ann MacGregor | AFIW Faculty |
| Damian Mikhail | Undergraduate Student Association President |
| Appointed - Senate | |
| David Clausi | Faculty Senator (Engineering) |
| Martin Cooke | Faculty Senator (Health) |
| Hans De Sterck | Faculty Senator (Mathematics) |
| Rob Gorbet | Faculty Senator (Environment) |
| Alex Pawelko | Undergraduate Student Senator |
| Jessica Rindlisbacher | Graduate Student Senator |
| James Skidmore | Faculty Senator (Arts) |
| Stan Woo | Faculty Senator (Science) |
Terms of Reference
1. Mandate
To provide recommendations that enhance senator engagement with senate governance, structures, and processes as identified within the terms of reference. The ad hoc working group will report regularly to the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) on progress. Final proposals to be brought forward to Senate for consideration, on recommendation of the SEC.
2. Responsibilities
- Review existing governance frameworks and processes as outlined in the work plan, including but not limited to:
- Nominations and Elections:Review current practices and make recommendations as appropriate to increase participation from among a diversity of UW community members, with a view to bolstering Senate and committee/council discussions through a wider range of perspectives.
- Senator Roles and Responsibilities:Review current practices and make recommendations as appropriate to provide clarity of roles and responsibilities for individual senators, the chair, and committee/council chairs.
- Rules of Order:Review current practices and make recommendations as determined appropriate regarding expectations for participation in Senate processes, discussions, and committees/councils.
- Senate Effectiveness: Review senate effectiveness survey results over the past three years and make recommendations to address senator feedback, as determined appropriate, and with a view to leading practices in academic and bicameral governance.
- Consult with senators and stakeholders to gather input, as applicable to the working groups mandate,
- Draft documents, reports, and recommendations for consideration
- Monitor trends, identify leading practices and emerging governance issues relevant to Senate
3. Meetings
Meetings will be held regularly, virtually or in-person as the direction of the co-chairs. See section 1.3. for proposed meeting cadence.
4. Membership
Appointed by SEC
- Co-Chairs (2):
- Faculty Senator
- Ex-Officio member of Senate
- 2 members of SEC
Appointed by Senate
- 6 faculty Senators
- 1 Undergraduate Student Senator
- 1 Graduate Student Senator
Non-voting Resources
- Associate University Secretary (secretary to the working group)
- Governance Office
- University Secretary