Date and Instance of Approval:
December 5, 2011
Senate
Amendments:
October 20, 2025
Responsible Service: Office of the Secretary General
The Senate is responsible for the University of Ottawa’s educational policy. The University is committed to engaging all members of its community, including students, in the pursuit of its educational mission. Students play a central role in this mission and in contributing to the development and regulation of educational policy.
To promote meaningful and constructive student involvement, the Senate seeks to enhance opportunities for student participation. This participation is primarily facilitated through the election of student representatives who express and advocate for the interests and perspectives of the student body.
Term of Office
1. Student members of Senate shall be elected for a one-year term, from May 1 to April 30.
Conduct of Elections
2. Subject to this Regulation and to any applicable Senate policy, by-law, regulation or resolution, the administration of student Senate elections shall be carried out by:
(a) the Chief Electoral Officer appointed by the student association recognized by the University as the exclusive representative of undergraduate students (the University of Ottawa Student Union “UOSU”); and
(b) the Chief Electoral Officer appointed by the student association recognized by the University as the exclusive representative of graduate students (the Graduate Student’s Association “GSAÉD”).
(c) Each Chief Electoral Officer shall administer the elections in accordance with the rules and regulations established by their respective student association.
3. Student members of Senate are elected by the student members of their respective academic units. They do not represent the student associations themselves. The role of the student associations and their Chief Electoral Officers in the election process is strictly administrative.
4. Regular elections for all student Senate seats shall be held during the winter semester.
5. If an undergraduate student Senate seat is not filled or becomes vacant due to resignation or other reasons, on or before September 1st, the UOSU shall organize a by-election during the autumn semester to fill the position for the remainder of the term.
6. If a graduate student Senate seat is not filled or becomes vacant due to resignation or other reasons, on or before September 1st, the GSAÉD shall organize a by-election during the autumn semester to fill the position for the remainder of the term.
7. Any appeal related to the election of student members of the Senate shall be handled by the Chief Electoral Officer of the respective student association (UOSU or GSAÉD), in accordance with the rules and regulations established by that student association.
8. By September 15 of each year or as soon as practicable, student associations shall submit to the Office of the Secretary-General, a copy of the Rules and Regulations governing the upcoming student election cycle, highlighting any amendments. Should any modifications to the Rules and Regulations occur during the year, an updated version shall be duly communicated to the Office of the Secretary-General.
Election Expenses
9. Each candidate for election as a student member of Senate shall adhere to the campaign spending limits established by the UOSU and GSAÉD, as set out in their respective rules and regulations. Enforcement of these limits shall be the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officers.