For Details on Membership and Current Vacancies for this Committee, please visit our Governance Portal.
Terms of Reference
Revisions approved by Senate, January 2026
I. Mandate
The Senate Committee on Scholarships and Student Aid (SCSSA) has responsibility for ensuring that the development and execution of university student financial aid aligns with Senate-approved policies and procedures. This responsibility will be primarily achieved through the development, identification, and periodic review of university-level governance policies related to student financial aid, and ensuring these policies effectively support the academic mission and services of the university.
The Committee has responsibility for ensuring that the development of fellowships, scholarships, medals, prizes, bursaries, and other forms of university student financial aid align with Senate-approved policies and procedures. This responsibility will be primarily achieved through ongoing evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of various forms of financial aid and an evaluation of whether, and to what effect, the outcomes of the policies are being achieved.
The Senate Committee on Scholarship and Student Aid (SCSSA) is a governance body. Operational authority and responsibility for the creation, awarding, and administration of all forms of student financial aid lies with the Office of the University Registrar and the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, and is executed in collaboration with various administrative units such as, but not exclusive to, the Office of Advancement.
II. Responsibilities
The Committee shall:
i) Senate Policies and Procedures
Develop, review, and recommend, as needed, Senate-approved policies and procedures governing undergraduate and graduate fellowships, scholarships, medals, prizes, bursaries and other forms of university student financial aid. Any governance policy developed or reviewed by the Committee will complement and support the corresponding administrative policies and procedures developed by staff. There will be no involvement by the Committee in the processes associated with the approval or distribution of university student financial aid.
Regularly review and discuss significant findings and any misalignment between the creation of fellowships, scholarships, medals, prizes, bursaries, and other forms of university student financial aid against related Senate policies and procedures.
Coordinate with other administrative bodies as necessary to make recommendations to, and advise Senate on, awards policies generally.
ii) Reporting to Senate
Prepare and submit an annual report to Senate detailing the Committee’s activities, including any review of award policy. Reporting may include elements such as an assessment of whether student financial aid continues to support policy parameters or stated university priorities, and any recommendations for policy or strategic priority adjustments.
Composition
Elected members
- 3 faculty members who shall demonstrate reasonable representation of the Faculties/Schools at the university
- 3 students, including at least one member of the Alma Mater Society and at least one member of the Society of Graduate and Professional Students
- 1 staff member
Ex officio members
- University Registrar or delegate
- Office of Advancement representative
- Human Rights and Equity Office representative
- School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs representative
The Committee shall be chaired by an elected member with preference given to an elected faculty member.
Support to the Committee will be provided by the Office of the University Registrar.