Toronto Metropolitan University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Toronto Metropolitan University has a bi-cameral governance structure which means that there are two governing bodies working at the university, the Board of Governors and the Senate. These two bodies are closely intertwined through the budget process, but remain quite separate from each other in terms of decision-making. TMU has a student union that acts as a governing body. Toronto Metropolitan Student Union (TMSU) empowers students and builds community on TMU’s campus by advocating for student rights, supporting student groups, events and initiatives, and providing discounted services. A platform to encourage collaboration, engagement and empowerment — TMSU are the students' trusted allies, a resource students can depend on for timely and accurate representation now and in the future.

The TMU Senate acts as a governing body through which academic staff and non-academic staff can regularly participate in the governance of the institution. The TMU senate holds academic authority, and is responsible for maintaining, communicating and implementing institutional policies pertaining to: the content and quality of all programs and courses of study; the standards for admission to the university; and, the qualifications for obtaining degrees, diplomas and certificates.  In addition to the TMU Senate, TMU has a strong history of collaborative collective bargaining and positive labour relations for non-academic staff, including staff at lower level positions. We are committed problem solvers, successfully negotiating collective agreements with all the unions on campus that include progressive changes that meet the needs of all parties.

The TMU School of Medicine is committed to ensuring community voice is heard and taken into account in all aspects of the School. The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Community Committee (EDICC) is one of the ways we will work toward achieving this goal. Community stakeholders from both inside and outside TMU provide guidance around EDI-related issues. As our work continues, we have established an EDI & Communities Committee made up entirely of local community members from outside of the TMU community. This committee provides important guidance and feedback about equity, diversity and inclusion and community needs directly to the Community, Culture and Belonging Section of the School of Medicine and to the Dean’s Advisory Council, while supporting reciprocal learning and engagement with Brampton community members and key healthcare champions.

https://www.torontomu.ca/school-of-medicine/about/advisory-councils/edi-communities-committee/