Governance in Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto

1. Governance in Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto October 31, 2013 Emma ThackerGovernance & Policy Coordinator

2. Louis Charpentier’spresentation “Understanding the University: Governance, Administration and Decision Making.” Also offered by ODLC:Next session: Tuesday, November 5, 2013 9 am–12 pmwww.odlc.utoronto.ca

3. Topics • What is Governance? • Parts of Governance • Governance—Roles • Graduate Governance • Quality Assurance • Consultation • Accountability & Transparency • Best Practices • Policies & Guidelines • Contacts • References

4. What is Governance? • Shared purpose consistent with the institution’s mission. • Process and practice through which an entity organizes itself to achieve its mandate. • Concerned with the structures and procedures for decision-making, accountability, control, and codes of conduct. • Expressed through legislation, policies and by-laws, and informal norms. • Goal to achieve peak performance

5. Parts of Governance Effective governance has: • Structure: e.g., Unicameral Structure, Faculty Council, Delegated Committee systems • Instruments: e.g., University of Toronto Act (1971); UTQAP (2011); Policy, Regulations, Frameworks • Process: e.g., Consultative process (also a Principle of Governance)

6. Governance—Roles • Roles in the Faculty • Faculty members, Chairs/Directors • Faculty Council, standing committees • Chair of Council, Members, Secretary • Roles at SGS • Graduate Education Council • Dean, School of Graduate Studies/ Vice-Provost Graduate Education (dual role) • Vice-Dean, Programs • Director, Quality Assurance & Governance • Coordinator &Officer, Governance & Policy

7. Graduate Governance • Policy, regulations, guidelines • SGS Calendar • New programs • Major modifications • Minor modifications • Program reviews • Collaborative programs • Graduate degree programs

8. Principlesof Governance • Governing Council—October 2010 • Good governance begins with appropriate disclosure, transparency, and clear lines of accountability between governance and administration. • Aspects of this framework include: • Membership, Role, Nature of Meetings, Expectations and Attributes, Identification and Selection, Orientation and Education, Evaluation

9. Quality Assurance • What is Quality Assurance (QA)? • Why is it important? • Changing landscape in higher education • Graduate studies is dynamic • QA increases accountability • Protection of students and the University reputation • Tool that allows for autonomy, academic freedom • How is QA linked to Governance? • Governance is a shared process by which QA functions

10. Consultation • Consultation allows for broad and diverse representation. • It enriches decision-making by bringing all stakeholders to the table. • Stakeholder consensus and participation is an important principle—consensus is reached through consultation. • Examples: working groups, advisory committees, steering committees, process for approval of program modification/new program (UTQAP).

11. Accountability & Transparency • The University is made accountable through transparency, appropriate disclosure of its actions, and communication to both internal and external stakeholders. Governance processes are clear and communicated. • An example of transparency: Faculty Constitutions and by-laws that clearly lay out the process for all decision-making within the Faculty. • Another example is the GCT, which hosts all modifications for programs, making change apparent. Lastly, the SGS Calendar has several functions, but is also a tool to ensure transparency for students.

12. Accountability & Transparency Good governance records will: • Clearly identify the item to be discussed/approved • Provide the item’s jurisdictional information • Indicate the governance path of the proposal • Share any relevant background on the proposal item, including the previous actions taken; e.g., consultation process, proposal proponents • Specify what is the recommendation sought by the Council/committee

13. Best Practices • Application of the principles of good governance. • Minute-taking—ODLC offers tutorials. • Online/web access to (non-confidential) governance documents (agendas, minutes, proposals for consideration, etc.). • Understanding governance—orientation of governance processes and roles to those involved. E.g., A & S—Intro to Faculty Governance document—plain language. • Engage in good governance record-keeping.

14. Policies & Guidelines Where to find them: • Relevant to graduate studies: www.sgs.utoronto.ca/facultyandstaff/Pages/Policies-and-Guidelines.aspx • Others available from Governing Council: www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Governing_Council/Policies.htm

15. Contacts Emma Thacker em.thacker@sgs.utoronto.ca Governance &Policy Coordinator Erin McMahon erin.mcmahon@sgs.utoronto.ca Governance &Policy Officer Jane Alderdice jane.alderdice@sgs.utoronto.ca Director, Office of Quality Assurance &Governance www.sgs.utoronto.ca

16. References • Principles of Good Governance, U of T Governing Council 2010 • Mandate of Governance, U of T Governing Council, 2010 • University of Alberta, Governance FAQ, 2010 • Chait, Holland and Taylor, “Improving the Performance of Governing Boards,” 1996. • Shattock, M. “Managing Good Governance in Higher Education,” 2006. • Principles of Institutional QA in Canadian Higher Education, AUCC 2013. • Gayle, Tewarie, White, “Governance in the Twenty-First Century University,” 2011. • Oxford Dictionary—Definition of QA.