University of Calgary
PA-3: Participatory Governance

The University of Calgary Students' Union(SU), Students’ Legislative Council (SLC) is the SU's highest governing body. Its authority comes from Section 95 of the Post-Secondary Learning Act, S.A. 2003 c.P-195. This Act authorizes the SLC to make bylaws and policies regarding membership, elections, governance structure, meetings, membership fees, the acquisition, management and disposition of property, appointments to committees and any other matters important to students. The SU represents over 25,000 undergraduates and is governed by elected officials who have successfully run in an annual SU Election. These elected officials sit on the SLC and their primary purpose is to represent your interests and address your concerns. Graduate students are represented by The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA). A not-for-profit organization governed by UofC graduate students, the GSA is charged with the social, academic and practical well-being and growth of graduate students on campus. The GSA is governed by a five-person Executive board of full-time graduate students – who are then, in turn, responsible to the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) as a governing and policy-developing body. Over time, the GSA has worked to become a key member of the University of Calgary community via ongoing communication and dialogue with university administrators on pertinent issues. Regarding the University of Calgary's highest Governing Body, Clause 3 of the University of Calgary Board of Governors Bylaws states that two elected undergraduate students and one elected graduate student elected will have a seat in the BoG, the highest governing body of the University. Under the Post-secondary Learning Act Section 23(c) 3, students are also elected to the General Faculties Council (GFC); the highest governing body for academic affairs, approving academic policy and priorities and offering its advice to other decision-makers on issues touching upon the academic work of the University. Additional undergraduate and graduate student seats are provided at standing committees to the Board of Governors and on General Faculty Councils.

Non-supervisory Staff are allotted spots at the Board level under the Board's bylaws. Elected representatives from the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and The University of Calgary Faculty Association are also offered seats on the Board of Governors and its standing committees. Support staff at the university AUPE (Alberta Union of Provincial Employees), Local 052 (University of Calgary) - in total 5000 staff. The mission of AUPE Local 52 is to play a leadership role at the University of Calgary by: negotiating for conditions, wages and benefits that promote a fair, safe, and rewarding work environment. defending the negotiated rights of its members building community through the principals of democracy, open communication and advocacy. recognizing that the interests of its members are interwoven with those of the University. The Management and Professional Staff (MaPS) group is represented by the MaPS Executive Committee. This Committee is comprised of nine members elected by MaPS staff. Members of the committee represent the MaPS group on many University of Calgary committees and volunteer for activities related to the MaPS group. The role of MaPS Executive is to work collaboratively to represent MaPS employees, to foster a culture of partnership in the leadership of the institution, and to promote a positive and productive work environment for MaPS employees.

General Faculties Council (GFC) has elected representatives from the various University faculties and is a voice of the academic community, approving academic policy and priorities, and offering its advice to other decision-makers on issues touching upon the academic work of the University. The GFC was created under the Post-secondary Learning Act, the government ordinance which gives each province in Canada control over its own educational system. The University of Calgary's Board of Governor's also has a position for an elected representative from GFC. In 2017, this position is held by Dr. Robert Thompson, Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy. The Faculty Association of the University of Calgary is the association of academic staff members at the University of Calgary. Membership includes over 2,300 academic staff members. The Association is established under Alberta’s Post-Secondary Learning Act. It is a democratic organization governed by by-laws instituted through membership referenda. All academic staff members of the University of Calgary are members of the Faculty Association and eligible to receive its services. It is the exclusive bargaining agent for the members of the academic staff.

Long Range Development Plan Campus Forward Consultation Framework

The Board of Governors bylaws allocate 7 spots for the general public which can include local private sector organizations, community members and representatives from local NGOs and NPOs. These spaces are filled through an open call by the provincial government. One seat is given to a University of Calgary senate member and one is given to an alumni, both of whom are members of the public.