Campaigns for Governing Council elections are now in motion

The U of T Governing Council has begun elections, with a multitude of students competing for merely eight seats. The web-based voting period started on February 8, and it will continue to run until February 19 at 5:00 pm. Election results will be announced on February 23 at 10:00 am.

The Governing Council runs and manages the university, handling academic, financial, business, and policy affairs. Examples of governing tasks include proposing new academic units and programs, altering policies on admissions, and adjusting students’ tuition fees. 

The council reserves two seats for graduate students, four seats for full-time undergraduate students, and two seats for part-time undergraduate students, from U of T’s three campuses. The Governing Council has 50 members in total, 30 of whom are elected administrative staff, teaching staff, students, and alumni. 

The four seats for undergraduate students are split into two constituencies, with constituency I representing students from the Faculty of Arts & Science and constituency II representing students from other faculties. 

Out of the full-time undergraduate students, 32 are campaigning for the two constituency I seats; 10 are campaigning for the two constituency II seats. 

The graduate student seats are similarly partitioned into two constituencies, with constituency I representing students in the humanities and social sciences, and constituency II representing those in the physical and life sciences. 

Seven graduate students are vying for the constituency I seat. Meanwhile, one graduate student has already filled the constituency II seat, meaning that an election for the science division is not required.

Finally, two students have already filled the two available part-time undergraduate seats.

Seats for a number of teaching and administrative staff are also going to be filled following the upcoming election. 

With only eight seats out of a total of 50, students make up a relatively small portion of the Governing Council. Some critics have suggested that additional student seats may enable students to create more lasting change. 

Various committees that report to the Governing Council are also carrying out elections during this same time. Committees include the Academic Board, the UTM Campus Council and its bodies, and the UTSC Campus Council and its bodies, where other students and teaching and administrative staff are campaigning for seats.