Bicameral Governance Model

Governance is how groups of people execute the legal powers of an organization. It's how they organize themselves and make decisions related to the organization using the powers vested in those groups.

Like most universities in Canada, Waterloo has a bicameral governance structure comprised of 2 collegial governance bodies, the Board of governors and the Senate.

In general, the Board of Governors is responsible for decisions related to Waterloo's overall business and affairs, including its finances, properties, and buildings.

The Board of Governors also has several committees engaged in its work.

Governors include community leaders, staff, faculty, students, and alumni.

Governors also include a handful of citizens of Ontario, appointed by the provincial Government.

The Senate is responsible for all university-wide academic matters and is empowered to establish the educational policies of the University.

This includes setting policy for the qualification of faculty members, setting admission standards for students, determining the conduct of exams for students, conferring degrees in all branches of learning, and the shared governance of making recommendations to the Board of Governors on academic matters, where those recommendations concern the internal allocation of resources, or the expenditure of funds.

Like the Board of Governors, the Senate also has a series of committees engaged in its work.