The Carleton University Board of Governors (BoG) is urging undergraduate and graduate students run for two student governor positions for the 2016-2017 board year as the Board proposes new bylaws which could change who is eligble to serve on the board.
Students will vote for one undergraduate and graduate student between April 4 and 5 to fill both board positions.
The board will officially ratify the vote through the board on June 28, and the term will last from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
Student governors have the same role as any other governor on the board, general counsel Steven Levitt said in an email.
All governors on the board are responsible for managing administrative and corporate university affairs, he said.
“Governors are required by their fiduciary duty to make careful good faith decisions in the best interests of Carleton,” he added.
Levitt said student governors bring a unique perspective to discussions and issues, but they do not represent student interests, since governors act in the best interest of Carleton as a whole.
Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) president Fahd Alhattab said some other changes include a more formal “Board 101” meeting for potential candidates, as well as the later than ususal election date.
The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) released a statement on March 16 criticizing the BoG for recent bylaw proposals which could affect who is eligible to serve on the board.
The BoG will put the bylaws to a vote on March 21. The GSA said the bylaws would cause problems on the BoG because student and faculty members would be outnumbered by appointed “community” members.
“This lack of balance means decisions are not made by those who actually work and study at Carleton,” the release said.
There are currently 32 members on the board, including 18 community members, four students, and two faculty members.
The bylaws would also prevent student unions, such as the GSA, from having full control over their elections. GSA president Michael Bueckert said he finds this “troubling.”
“Under university-run elections, the university has full authority over determining eligibility, campaigning guidelines, voting procedures, and disqualifications, and students are not given the ability to appeal any decision,” the release said.
