Advisory Committees

The Statutes require that an advisory committee be established when considering the appointment or reappointment of:

  • The President;
  • The Provost, Deputy Provost and Vice-President; and
  • The Deans.

Advisory Committees provide recommendations to the President for the appointments of the Provost, Deputy Provost, Vice-President, and Deans as well as recommendations to the Board of Governors for the appointment of the President. A list of Advisory Committees currently in place may be accessed from the list on the left.

COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Appointment of the President

The Board of Governors is responsible for appointing and reappointing the President. Before doing so the Board must consult an advisory committee with the following composition:

  • Chair of the Board of Governors (or other member designated by the Board of Governors) as chair of the Advisory Committee;
  • The Chancellor;
  • Two members appointed by the Board of Governors;
  • Two members appointed by Senate;
  • One member appointed by the Students’ Society of McGill University;
  • One member appointed by the Post-Graduate Students’ Society;
  • Two members appointed by the Council of the McGill Association of University Teachers;
  • Two members appointed by the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association; and
  • Two members elected by the administrative and support staff.
[Source: Statutes, section 1.3.4.1]

Appointment of other senior administrators

The President is responsible for recommending to the Board of Governors the appointment or reappointment of the Provost, Deputy Provost, Vice-President, and Deans. Before doing so, the President must consult advisory committees constituted in accordance with the Statutes.

For the appointment or reappointment of the Provost, Deputy Provost, and Vice-President, the advisory committee is composed of:

  • Four representatives of the Board of Governors;
  • Four representatives of Senate; and
  • Two students.
[Source: Statutes, Article 3.4.1]

For the appointment or reappointment of the Dean of a large faculty*, the advisory committee is composed of:

  • Four members nominated by the faculty immediately concerned;
  • Four members not necessarily members of the faculty concerned, nor of Senate, appointed by Senate;
  • Two members appointed by the Board of Governors; and
  • Three student members.

*Any faculty having fifty or more full-time members of faculty, exclusive of joint appointments with other faculties, is deemed to be a large faculty.

For the appointment or reappointment of the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the advisory committee is composed of:

  • Eight members of faculties offering graduate programs, appointed by Senate;
  • Two members appointed by the Board of Governors; and
  • Three student members.
[Source: Statutes, Article 3.4.2]

For the appointment or reappointment of the Dean of a small faculty*, the advisory committee is composed of:

  • Two members nominated by the faculty immediately concerned;
  • Two members, not necessarily members of the faculty concerned, nor of Senate, appointed by Senate;
  • One member appointed by the Board of Governors; and
  • Two student members.

*Any faculty having fewer than fifty full-time members, exclusive of joint appointments with other faculties, is deemed a small faculty.

[Source: Statutes, Article 3.4.2]

General Procedures

The procedures adopted by advisories are not defined in either the Statutes or regulations of the University; although certain practices have evolved over time. In the normal course, an advisory committee is usually struck about one year prior to the end of the incumbent’s term. The President usually chairs advisory committees for the appointment or reappointment of the provost or vice-principals. The Provost usually chairs the advisory committees for the appointment or reappointment of the deputy provost or deans.

Board Appointments to Advisory Committee

When nominations are made for members of the Board of Governors to serve on advisory committees, the Nominating, Governance, and Ethics (NGE) Committee proposes names of “members” as well as “alternates”. The number of alternates approved by the Board, on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, is usually half the number of members required for the committee. Alternates may be called upon to permanently replace a member if the member is unable to serve. However, a member will not be replaced on an advisory committee if the committee has already begun substantive discussions related to its mandate. Alternate members attend meetings of the advisory committee only if they have been called upon to permanently replace a member.

Advisory Committee

Members are expected to attend the vast majority of meetings of the advisory committee in order to be able to participate meaningfully in discussions and decisions. All deliberations and recommendations of advisory committees are confidential.

Over the course of the meetings that follow, the advisory committee will pursue the mandate that has been conferred upon it by the President. At the end of its deliberations, the committee will make a recommendation to the President who will, in turn, bring her or his own recommendation to the Board for approval.

Back to top