Chairs Emeritus/a and Trustees Emeritus/a

Approved by the Board of Trustees May 2013

By-Law No. 1 of the Board of Trustees provides for conferral of the honorary title of trustee emeritus/a upon retired trustees and chair emeritus/a upon retired Chairs of the Board.

Nominations.Nominations for conferral of the title of trustee emeritus/a or chair emeritus/a shall be made to the Governance and Nominating Committee by the Principal following consultation with the current Board Chair.  The Governance and Nominating Committee may also originate nominations following consultation with the Principal and the current Board Chair.

Appointments. Following nomination in accordance with this policy, persons may be appointed to the honorary title of trustee emeritus/a or chair emeritus/a by the Board of Trustees on recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee.  Such appointments shall normally take effect at least one year following the conclusion of the subject chair's or trustee's term of appointment on the Board, although this criterion may be waived in exceptional circumstances. Consideration of appointments will normally come forward at the first meeting of the Board in the fall of the year.

Trustee Emeritus/a Criteria. In making recommendations to the Board for conferring of the honorary title of trustee emeritus/a or chair emeritus/a, the Governance and Nominating Committee shall give consideration to a former trustee's/chair's:

  1. Exemplary service to the Board and the University during their term as trustee or chair;
  2. Ability and willingness to further the University's external relationships including willingness to serve as an advocate on behalf of the University and for its priorities; and
  3. Demonstrated capacity and willingness to continue to add value to the University or the Board on a continual basis in the future.

Exemplary service shall have been demonstrated by:

  1. A retired trustee's/chair's active participation and engagement when serving as a member of the board or chair, as the case may be;
  2. Consistent philanthropic support; and
  3. Demonstrated interest in and service to the institution, beyond the role of trustee/chair.

Individuals will not normally be appointed to both the role of trustee emeritus/a and the role of chair emeritus/a. Trustees emeritus/a will have no voting rights at meetings of the Board, nor the right to attend closed sessions of the Board.

Term. The term for an appointment under this policy is for the life of the individual, unless otherwise specified in the resolution of the Board establishing the appointment.