Equity and Social Justice Committee

Mandate

  1. There shall be an OCUFA Equity and Social Justice Committee which shall be a standing committee of the OCUFA Board of Directors that reports to the Board and carries out its activities subject to the approval of the Board.
  2. The Committee shall build upon the work of OCUFA’s previous Status of Women Committee and act as a centre and source of information regarding issues of concern to women and other equity-seeking academic staff members at Ontario universities, such as those related to gender, ethnicity, race, indigeneity, disability, sexuality, religion, or age. The Committee shall:
    1. Serve as a resource for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information regarding issues of concern to women and other equity-seeking academic staff members encountered at Ontario universities;
    2. In coordination with the OCUFA Executive Director and staff, provide committee members with information and advice about provincial legislation and government policies that have implications for terms and conditions of employment for women and other equity-seeking academic staff members;
    3. At committee meetings, serve as a forum where faculty association status of women and/or equity representatives or their designates can exchange information on issues and trends that have significance for women and other equity-seeking academic staff members;
    4. Through its meetings, presentations by invited guests, workshops and other means assist members with issues relevant to their role as faculty association status of women and/or equity representatives;
    5. Act as an advisory committee to local faculty association status of women and/or equity representatives seeking information and/or advice on issues relevant to their role within their association;
    6. Initiate and, with the assistance of OCUFA professional staff, carry out such research studies as may from time to time seem desirable, on subjects directly related to issues of concern to women and other equity-seeking academic staff members;
    7. Make recommendations to the OCUFA Board of Directors on policy matters relating to issues of particular concern to women and other equity-seeking academic staff members;
    8. Submit a report to the Board of OCUFA prior to each Board meeting, on the activities of the Committee: this report may include recommendations regarding the composition and terms of reference of the Committee.
  3. The Committee shall consist of one representative from each Member in OCUFA. The representative shall normally be the Chair of the association’s status of women and/or equity committee, OR member of the association’s Executive responsible for status of women and/or equity concerns, OR otherwise elected officer of the association responsible for status of women and/or equity issues.
  4. The Committee shall elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair annually, at the last meeting of the fiscal year, from among its members. Those elected will serve in that capacity at the next meeting of the Committee. The maximum number of consecutive terms that a Chair or Vice-Chair may serve in any one position is three consecutive one-year terms. The Chair of the Committee, or designate of the Chair, shall report to the Board at its regular meetings.
  5. The Chair of the Committee, or designate of the Chair, shall have voice but not vote at Board. The Chair, or designate of the Chair, shall be entitled to move and/or second motions.
  6. The budget of the Equity and Social Justice Committee shall be established annually by the Board of Directors.
  7. An OCUFA staff member shall act as Secretary to the Committee.