Student Government
What's Next
Strong, independent student government is important to Toronto Metropolitan University. We believe that students deserve a student government that demonstrates a commitment to:
- public financial accountability;
- democratic and transparent governance;
- sound human resource management; and
- timely and transparent communication with students and the university.
The process to determine the structure of an independent, representative government for full-time undergraduate and all graduate students at Toronto Metropolitan University has begun. In early March 2020, Toronto Metropolitan University’s full-time undergraduate and all graduate students will have the opportunity to vote for the structure of their representative government.
The university is pleased to announce BDO Canada’s Ian Brennan and the Fairness Advisory Services team in the role of Lead Process Officer (LPO). BDO has been a trusted advisor to many educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations on governance and best practices. BDO will provide guidance and assistance to the Student Government Selection Process Committee consisting of current Toronto Met students, Daniel Lis, Julia Spagnuolo, Katey Park, and Zainab Bokhari; and recent Toronto Met graduate, Michelle Park. The committee is supported by Lianne Newman, manager, Student Engagement and Development, Faculty of Communication and Design, who has been seconded to serve as the Process Manager in a non-voting role.
The committee and LPO have complete independence in establishing and administering the rules of the process and vote to select a student government structure. They are responsible for determining the eligibility of all groups that present themselves as candidates, ensuring that candidate groups post their campaign expenses publicly, explaining the voting procedure, and allocating the resources required to conduct the election.
The committee and LPO will be responsible for communicating the rules of eligibility, dates of the campaign period, and date of the election.
The students who put forward the successful proposal will be responsible for organizing a general election for Toronto Met students in early April 2020. The Process Manager will remain available to the new student government to support this process. The University will then negotiate a new agreement with the elected student government, rooted in the principles identified above.
Students who have questions should direct any inquiries to the committee at info@RUNextGov.ca or visit www.runextgov.ca (external link) for more information.
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Name: Lianne Newman
Role: Process Manager (non-voting role)
Lianne Newman is a seasoned student affairs professional and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Guelph and a Master of Education from the University of Toronto. Liane is experienced in policy development and governance and has most recently worked alongside the Toronto MetCommunication and Design Society as the Manager of Student Engagement and Development within the Faculty of Communication and Design. Lianne is committed to the student experience and ensuring that programs and opportunities on campus are inclusive and accessible.
Name: Daniel Lis
Program: Politics and Governance (5th year)
Daniel has been involved in many levels of student government at Toronto Metropolitan University and is the current president of the Politics and Governance Students' Association. Daniel has served as Chair (2019), Vice-President Education (2017-18) and Arts representative (2016-17) of the Toronto Met Students’ Union; the Vice-President, External of the Toronto Met Liberal Arts Society (2016-17); and as Chair of the Toronto Met Science Society, Toronto Met Engineering Students' Society and Toronto Met Communication and Design Society from 2018-19. Daniel has sat on Toronto Met Senate and numerous committees, including the Chancellor Selection Committee. He has been a part of the Toronto Met Musical Theatre Company and Oakham Community Theatre.
Name: Zainab Bokhari
Program: Biomedical Sciences (3rd year)
Zainab is the inaugural Vice-President, Academic of the Toronto Metropolitan University Science Society. She serves on Toronto Metropolitan University Senate, as a Faculty of Science Undergraduate Senator. In addition to her elected student leadership roles, Zainab volunteers her time as a Trimentor in the university’s Tri-Mentoring Program (TMP) - a program that matches first-year students with upper-year students in order to help incoming students successfully transition into university.
Name: Julia Spagnuolo
Program: Urban and Regional Planning (2nd year)
Julia is a current student member of Senate elected as an At-Large representative. Julia serves as a member on the following Senate committees: the Academic Governance and Policy Committee, the Appeals Committee, the Policy 46 Committee, and the Annual Nominating Committee.
Name: Katey Park
Program: Psychology (PhD, Year 2)
Katey is the Yeates School of Graduate Studies elected representative for Senate. She has demonstrated her investment to student wellbeing by serving on several university and departmental committees, such as the Scholarly Research and Creative Activity Committee, the Academic Governance and Policy Committee, the Psychology Peer Mentor Program, the Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, and as a CPA Graduate Student Delegate representative in Ottawa. Katey is a lecturer in the Chang School and Continuing Education. She is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment for students.
Name: Michelle Park
Program: Retail Management (‘17 Grad)
During Michelle's time as a student at Toronto Metropolitan University, she was actively involved in different communities across campus. She was a part of the Housing & Residence Life community as a Residence Advisor and Academic Link. Additionally, Michelle was a member of the Student Initiatives Fund (previously PFACS) committee. Michelle is passionate about student life and was involved with the Ted Rogers Management Conference for more than four years and held the position of Chair in 2017. She served as the Ted Rogers School of Management Director on the Toronto Met Students' Union in 2017. Michelle is a recipient of the Dennis Mock Student Leadership Award which recognizes graduating students who have made outstanding voluntary extracurricular contributions to their school.
The committee members represent a diversity of perspectives from across the Toronto Metcampus community and have all demonstrated a strong commitment to student leadership. They have significant experience as student leaders, engaged community members, or as elected student representatives.
The committee will provide support to the LPO and Process Manager in implementing the election, and make decisions related to:
- Establishing and administering the process and rules of the student government structure selection process. This includes, but will not be limited to:
- Key election format details: Dates, quorum, victory threshold, method of balloting;
- Campaigning guidelines;
- Spending limits for campaigns;
- Procedure for complaints; and
- Penalties for infractions of established rules.
- Ensuring that students have a clear and coherent choice in their selection, that allows for all students to be represented;
- Determining the eligibility of all groups that present themselves as candidates;
- Explaining the voting procedure and providing the resources required to conduct the selection process;
- Ensuring transparency and public access of all campaign expenses for candidate groups;
- Reviewing spending reports from the campaigns, and processing reimbursement for campaign expenses; and
- Hearing complaints and levying penalties for infractions of the established rules of the election.
All members must be impartial parties and refrain from voting in the selection process, supporting candidates directly or indirectly, or participating in the election in any form.
The Process Manager:
- Provides instructions as outlined by the LPO on the nomination, campaign, and voting process;
- Provides guidance to interested students on the completion of nomination submissions;
- Coordinates the distribution of information about the selection process;
- Organizes information sessions regarding the nomination and voting process;
- Explains the voting procedure and provides the resources needed to conduct the voting process;
- Ensures transparency and public access of all campaign expenses for student representative groups; and
- Maintains the list of eligible student voters.
The Lead Process Officer (LPO):
- Chairs the Selection Process Committee and provides guidance to ensure it fulfills all aspects of its mandate;
- Facilitates an information session for potential student representatives before the nomination period has concluded;
- Facilitates a mandatory information session for all student representatives after the nomination period has concluded;
- Verifies the results of online voting; and
- Reports the election results to the Toronto Met community, including the number of votes received by each proposed student government structure.
Organized groups wishing to be considered as potential candidates must consist of full-time undergraduate and/or full-time or part-time graduate students currently registered at Toronto Metropolitan University. Groups who are interested in forming a new student government will be required to submit a proposal to the LPO that includes:
- The name of the proposed government structure;
- The names of the student representatives who will campaign for the proposed government structure;
- Signed consent forms stating that student representatives will adhere to guidelines that have been established by the LPO and Committee;
- The proposed governance structure (i.e. proposed executive positions, board structure, the power of the membership, etc.);
- Specifics regarding who the proposed student government structure will represent (i.e. undergraduates, graduates, a combination, etc.);
- How the organizational structure will reflect a commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion;
- The written support of 10 currently registered Toronto Met students who endorse the proposed government structure and are signing on as prospective members; and
- Any additional requirements established by the LPO and Committee.
In addition to the above, candidate groups must commit in writing to:
- Respect the election rules as published by the LPO and the Process Selection Committee;
- Respect spending limits determined by the LPO and the Process Selection Committee;
- Refuse all types of campaign support from third parties;
- Commit to running general elections for the appointment of elected executives or officers, if chosen as the successful representative government (process to occur in March 2020 and early April 2020);
- Incorporate as a not-for-profit organization following the election, if successful; and
- Ensuring the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion are respected throughout the process.
We encourage students to begin giving a potential student government structure some initial thoughts based on the guidelines outlined above.
The Committee, LPO, and Process Manager will communicate directly with students to share rules, eligibility, and key dates of the process.
Nomination forms and details of the nomination criteria are available at www.runextgov.ca (external link) . If students have questions they can email the committee at info@runextgov.ca.
The committee, Process Manager, and LPO will support students throughout this process. Students who have questions about the nomination process are to direct all inquiries to the committee. Nomination forms and details of the nomination criteria are available at www.runextgov.ca (external link, opens in new window) . If students have questions they can email the committee at info@runextgov.ca.
Students are to submit proposals directly to the LPO and the Student Government Process Selection Committee. The committee and LPO will communicate directly with students to share rules, eligibility, and key dates of the process.
Nomination proposals are being accepted until February 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m EST. Nomination forms and details of the nomination criteria are available at www.runextgov.ca (external link, opens in new window) . If students have questions they can email the committee at info@runextgov.ca.
Nominations must be submitted to the committee and LPO by February 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m EST.
It will be the responsibility of the committee and LPO to communicate directly with students to explain the rules of eligibility and the election process.
Nomination forms and details of the nomination criteria are available at www.runextgov.ca (external link) . If students have questions they can email the committee at info@runextgov.ca.
The campaign period is slated to begin in late February. Dates will be decided by the Student Government Process Selection Committee, LPO, and Process Manager. The committee, LPO, and Process Manager will communicate directly with students to share rules, eligibility, and key dates of the process.
Students who have questions should direct any inquiries to the committee at info@RUNextGov.ca or visit www.runextgov.ca (external link) for more information.
The election to select a structure of student government is slated to be held in early March 2020. This process will be managed by the Student Government Process Selection Committee, LPO, and process manager. The committee, LPO, and Process Manager will communicate directly with students to share rules, eligibility, and key dates of the process.
Students who have questions should direct any inquiries to the committee at info@RUNextGov.ca or visit www.runextgov.ca (external link) for more information.
Yes. Any members of the TMSU who meet the eligibility requirements, including those involved in governance roles, are welcome to submit a proposal to the Student Government Selection Committee and CPO in order to put forward a student government structure to Toronto Met students. It is up to Toronto Met students to ultimately decide what student government structure best represents them.
The Student Government Selection Process Committee, Process Manager, and CPO will communicate directly with students to explain the rules of eligibility and the election process.
Students who have questions should direct any inquiries to the committee at info@RUNextGov.ca or visit www.runextgov.ca (external link) for more information.
There are many examples of student government structures across Canada. We encourage students to look to other institutions for models of reference. The Student Government Selection Process Committee will provide resources and opportunities for students to learn about various models of student governance.
The general election is slated to be held in early April 2020. It is the responsibility of the winning student government structure to organize the general election. The Process Manager will remain available to the new student government to support this process.
For questions regarding the termination of the agreement of the TMSU and continuation of services, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section in the media room. The University will continue to update this section as specific details continue to evolve. We encourage students to regularly visit that page.