Dawson College
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Students -  Dawson Student Union - represents full-time, part-time daytime students and continuing education students. students; places students on all Major Dawson governing bodies and subcommittees.  The College’s Sustainability Advisory Committee that makes recommendations to the Office of Sustainability has a student representative and a cross section of employee groups, including external representatives, and the bi-weekly meetings between the Dawson Student Union (VP Sustainability & Equity) and the College’s Office of Sustainability are important areas for student input.

Academic Staff - Dawson Teachers Union: Populates Senate and Board, as well as other important committees at the college with uniuon representatives.

Non-Academic Staff - Association of Dawson professionals: Populates Senate and Board, as well as other important committees at the college with uniuon representatives.

Management Group - Association des cadres des colleges du Quebec: (ACCQ) Policies regarding management at the college is under the ACCQ and management is represented on all academic and non-academic committees like Senate, Board, student success, Office of Sustainability Advisory Committee, ISEP, IPEP & APC (see below). 

Update 2024: The Dawson Governing Board and Senate (academic matters) are the two main governing boards They are supported by a host of committees that are made up of faculty, professionals, support staff and student representatives. They include:

For Dawson College Senate:

ACADEMIC CALENDAR COMMITTEE: To prepare the Academic Calendar for acceptance by Senate.

ACADEMIC PLANNING COMMITTEE (APC): Within the mandate of Senate, APC will advise Senate on the following: development of new programs; revision of programs; evaluation of programs; discontinuation of programs; any other area of academic planning as requested by Senate.

ADMISSIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE : To make proposals to the Senate regarding admissions policies, and to advise the Academic Dean, as needed, on admissions matters 

INSTITUTIONAL POLICY ON THE EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS  COMMITTEE (IPEP): To advise Senate on the Institutional Policy on the Evaluation of Programs. 

INSTITUTIONAL STUDENT EVALUATION POLICY COMMITTEE (ISEP): To develop, revise, and regularly review the College’s Institutional Student Evaluation Policy for purposes of making recommendations to Senate.

 For Dawson College Board of Governors

Ombudservices Advisory Committee

Audit Advisory Committee

----

EDIA – (see goal 5 strategic plan), Develop EDIA

Equal access to employment committee 

https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/strategic-plan/

*There is also an Indigenous Table that developos and screens all initititives that involve their community and students (see goal 4 strategic plan)

https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/strategic-plan/

 Board & Senate background Information: The board of governors is the highest authority in the College with respect to its governance. In accordance with the Colleges Act, the Board is composed of 16 members, 7 of whom are members representing constituent groups of the external community served by the College, and 9 members who represent the College, comprised of students, faculty and staff, the Director General and the Academic Dean. The Board of Governors ensures that the College fulfills its legal mission and functions within the parameters set out by the Ministry of Education. The Board exercises its responsibilities through its decisions on policy, planning and direction, notably in the areas of institutional objectives and financial accountability.

Under the authority of the Board of Governors, the College Senate advises the Board on matters concerning the programs of study dispensed by the College and the evaluation of learning achievement, including the procedures for the certification of studies. In addition to the Academic Dean, the Senate is composed of 34 members. Senate advises the Board on the academic implications of policies relating to the use of multimedia, computer and instructional technology services, the selection and availability of learning resources, educational and academic research, course scheduling, the academic calendar, and pedagogical projects with institutions outside Quebec. Senate meetings are held monthly during the academic year and are open to the Dawson community.

Part of the executive council culture is to invite external groups, consultants and concerned groups to present to the board. The process goes through the Director General's Office and is then reviewed by the executive. External presentations from various stakeholders are given several times a year.

The Office of Sustainability meets with City Counsellors to debrief sustainability programs and specifically upcoming Master Landscape plans. facilities management is involved in bridging the city and Dawson's plans as well.

Elders from the indigenous community have a constant presence with the First People's Centre to help, and advise the coordinator and students.

2024 - Board of governors had 3 vacant positions to be filled 

Note: English is a minority language in Quebec and recieves special federal government support as such, but this is not considered as an underrepresented group in this report.

Gov't designated wellness committees for all support staff and professionals in the college system of QC:

Collective Agreement - support Staff - Article 2-2.07:

The national parties mandate the local parties to renew the pilot project, effective April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2028, to provide for a Workplace Health and Wellness Program for support personnel. The program aims to foster the well-being of employees and to promote healthy lifestyle habits. The program also aims to develop physical, sports or cultural activities that meet the needs of employees and to provide financial support to employees to participate in these activities from the annual amounts allocated to this pilot project.

(…)

The local parties shall establish a parity committee on occupational health and wellness for the implementation and application of the program. A report on the activities and the amounts spent is made by the committee at the end of each year.

It is also a part of the professionals collective agreement:

 Appendix Q: Agreement Letter Concerning Global Health

The negotiating parties mandate the local parties to implement a pilot project in effect from April 1, 2023, to March 30, 2028, offering to professionals a health and wellness program at work. The program seeks to foster the wellness of professionals and to promote a healthy lifestyle. The program also seeks to develop physical, sport or cultural activities that meet the needs of professionals and to offer financial support so that the professionals take part in these activities using the annual amounts granted for this pilot project.

(…)

The local parties shall establish a parity committee for health and wellness at work to implement and operate the program. The assessment of the activities and the amounts spent shall be done by the committee at the end of each year.