Governance Committee

Governance

Committee

BY ADAM ELYOUSEF

The Governance Committee plays a pivotal role in ensuring the Guild operates according to its policies and procedures. Most importantly, it oversees that its Departments and Committees are fulfilling their obligations to the objectives of our organisation. The committee works to write and review rules, and discuss by-laws before implementation.

A primary goal of the Governance Committee this year has been updating the Guild Standing Orders, which ensures Guild Council can operate smoothly and with accountability for Councillors. Practices to make elections for casual vacancies more transparent have been instated as well. Changes such as allowing candidates to speak and be asked questions before voting occurs, are ones which help Councillors vote with candidates putting their case forward, on a fair basis and with limited bias.

The Societies Council and Public Affairs Council rules were also due for review this year and have passed through Guild Council after consulting with the Governance Committee. The main changes include misconduct in Club Committees and transparent processes for Department Elections. Candidates for Department positions must now have had experience being on a Guild affiliated Club, which is essential to ensure the students leading the Departments which overlook Clubs, already have Club experience and are familiar with Club culture. The Governance Committee was requested to conduct a review of the Pride Department and the Alumni Engagement Committee Rules. This review of the Pride Department Rules aims to instil greater trust in the election of the Pride Officers and Committee. Our draft and new version of the Alumni Engagement Committee Terms of Reference creates structure within the Committee and establishes stronger, more reliable procedures for action items and initiatives, such as the Alumni forum, for each year to support the continuation of the Committee from year to year.

Several other Guild Department rules were up for review this year, and they have been changed to become more inclusive and, in most cases, considerate for appeals in the case any are to be raised, especially Committee Member dismissals. These Departments include Sports, Access, Residential Students’, Welfare, and the Postgraduate Students’ Association. The rules for each of these respective Departments have been updated, consulted with Governance and passed in Guild Council.

2021 was a year of success for the Governance Committee. Multiple projects were achieved which now facilitate the Guild to operate on a higher level than in previous years, most notably the operations of Guild Departments and roles of Student Representatives. The Governance Committee has been receptive to new suggestions this year, and members of this Committee have worked hard to meet deadlines and deliver on their tasks.