Memorial University (MUN) teaches and conducts research in the arts, humanities, science, engineering, health and other areas and enrolls over 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students in six faculties and nine schools. MUN consists of three campuses: St. John’s Campus and the Marine Institute in St. John’s, and Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook. The Board of Regents is vested with power under the Memorial University Act to exercise the powers conferred upon MUN as a corporation, including the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the university. The responsibilities and mandate of the Board are outlined in the Memorial University Act (Sections 33 and 34). Broadly speaking, the Board is concerned with the governance of the university (i.e., it establishes policy and provides a structure and means for policy implementation). The day-to-day administration and management of the university is the responsibility of the President. In addition, the President provides guidance to the Board with respect to policy development and all other matters which fall under the jurisdiction of the Board.
For additional information on the role of the Board please visit http://www.mun.ca/regents
The Memorial University Act (Section 22) states that the Board of Regents shall consist of 30 members:
In accordance with the Memorial University Act, Section 22(2)(d)(ii), the Board of Regents recommends the four student representatives to the LGIC for appointment following the recommendation to the Board of one candidate each from the following student unions:
The Board is properly constituted with a minimum of eight members (Memorial University Act, Section 25) and seven members of the Board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business (Memorial University Act, Section 24).
Individual Regents assist through service on one or more of the following nine standing committees:
Those who make up the Board of Regents should collectively possess the following core competencies:
Members of the Board of Regents should possess the following personal attributes:
Members of the Board of Regents should be available to meet six times per year at a location to be determined by the chair of the Board. The Joint MUN/CNA LGIC appointees should also be available to meet six times per year for meetings of CNA’s Board of Governors. The meeting schedule for the committees of the Board of Regents normally is determined by the Board; however, meetings occur during daytime hours. Board members may also be expected to spend additional time to review materials and prepare for Board and Committee meetings.
Appointed and elected members serve three-year terms, with the exception of student representatives who serve two-year terms (Section 26 of the Memorial University Act). There is no limit on the number of terms for appointed Board of Regents members. Elected members are eligible for re-election, but cannot hold office for more than six consecutive years (Section 27 of the Memorial University Act).
A Board of Regents member’s term is definite as there is no provision in the Memorial University Act to permit a member to serve on the Board until reappointed, or until a new person is appointed as their replacement.
Where a Board member has resigned before the expiry of their appointment, Section 30(3) of the Memorial University Act restricts the new appointee to serving out the remainder of the original appointees’ term.
The Act does not provide for retroactive appointments and all appointments or reappointments must be prospective from the date of appointment or reappointment (i.e., the date of the issuance of the OC).
