6.1 Officers
The Officers of the University are appointed by the Board, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall include the following:
- (a) the President;
- (b) the Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs;
- (c) the Vice-President, Research;
- (d) the Vice-President, Finance and Administration;
- (e) the Vice-President, External Relations;
- (f) the Secretary-General.
6.2 Other Officers
The Board may appoint Officers (other than those referred to in section 6.1 of this By-law) as the Board may deem necessary or advisable, upon recommendation of the President. Such other Officer shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board. All such other Officers shall be appointed to serve at the pleasure of the Board, with such limited or indefinite terms as the Board may determine at the time of the appointment.
6.3 Appointment procedure
The Board may, from time to time, establish procedures for the appointment (and any extension or renewal of appointment) of the President, the Vice-Presidents and the Secretary-General and any other Officer.
6.4 Qualifications
No Officer, except the President, may be a member of the Board, but any Officer may, upon invitation of the President or the Board, attend any meeting of the Board.
6.5 President
The President,
- (a) is the chief executive officer and vice-chancellor of the University;
- (b) is the chair of the Senate, presiding at all meetings of the Senate;
- (c) is responsible for the supervision over and direction of the academic work and general administration of the University, of the Officers, of the Academic Staff, Officers, Administrative Staff and Students; and
- (d) has such other powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to him or her by the Board.
6.5.1 President’s power in an emergency
In the event of an emergency and should a duly convened meeting of the Executive Committee fail to produce a quorum, then, after consultation with the members of the Executive Committee present, or, should it not in the opinion of the President, due to the urgency of the matter, be practical to convene a meeting of the Executive Committee or of the Board, then the President, after consultation with the Chair of the Board, if he or she is available, may take any action or do any act or execute any document on behalf of the University as he or she may deem advisable and may thus bind the University, provided however that,
- (a) a meeting of the Executive Committee or the Board shall be convened by the President at the earliest practical opportunity and a full report on the matter shall be placed before such meeting; and
- (b) all actions taken and decisions made by the President in respect of such matters shall be in accordance with the University of Ottawa Act, the University’s then approved budget and staffing complement, agreements to which the University is a party and any resolution of the Board or of the Senate.
6.5.2 Term of office
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President holds office during the pleasure of the Board.An individual holding the office of the President is eligible to serve additional terms upon being so appointed by the Board. The Board shall be entitled to extend a term, with the agreement of the individual holding the office of President, for a limited period of time to avoid a vacancy in the office occurring prior to the arrival of such individual’s successor, or for any other reason determined by the Board to be in the best interest of the University.
6.5.3 Temporary inaccessibility or vacancy
Where the President is inaccessible for a short period of time, the Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs shall be the acting President during such short period. In cases of absence of both the President and the Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs, the President shall appoint another Vice-President.
Where the President has resigned, has been removed by the Board or is deceased prior to the expiry of his or her term or is otherwise is inaccessible or unable to exercise his or her powers and duties for a long or an indefinite period of time, the Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs, and in the absence or inaccessibility of both of them, another Vice-President appointed by the Chair, as the case may be, shall be the acting President on an interim basis. If a vacancy arises in the office of the President prior to the expiry of the individual’s term of office (due to resignation, death or removal of the individual holding the office of President or for any other reason), and the Board determines, having regard to the length of the unexpired term of such office, to fill such vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled in such manner as the Board determines is in the best interests of the University. The Board may, pending the appointment of a President, make such provision for the exercise of the power and discharge of the duties of the President as it may deem advisable.
6.6 Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs
The Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs shall be the most senior Officer after the President and shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred upon him or her by the Board on the recommendation of the President.
6.7 Other Vice-Presidents
The Vice-President, Research, the Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and the Vice-President, External Relations and any such other Vice-President as the Board may appoint shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred upon him or her by the Board, on the recommendation of the President.
6.8 Secretary-General
The Secretary-General shall:
- (a) be the secretary of the Board and of the Senate;
- (b) maintain and keep the register or roll of graduates of the University and of those individuals who receive honorary degrees;
- (c) sign all University diplomas after the President; and
- (d) perform such other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the President or by the Board, including issuing or causing to be issued notices for all meetings of the Board and Committees of the Board.
6.9 Additional powers and duties
In addition to powers and duties as may be conferred upon him or her by the University of Ottawa Act, the Board or this By-law, the powers and duties of the Vice-Presidents, the Secretary-General and any other Officer appointed by the Board shall be such as the terms of their engagement call for or as the Board, a Committee or the President requires of them or as may be stated in this By-law, other University by-law, policy or procedure.
6.10 Temporary inaccessibility or vacancy
Where the individual holding the position of Vice-President, Secretary-General or other Officer is inaccessible, has resigned, has been removed by the Board or is deceased prior to the expiry of his or her term or is otherwise unable to exercise his or her powers and duties, the Board, on recommendation of the President, shall appoint an individual to hold such office on an interim basis and having regard to the length of the unexpired term of such office, shall fill such vacancy in such a manner as the Board determines is in the best interests of the University. The President may, pending the appointment of the Officer, make such provision for the exercise of the power and discharge of the duties of the Officer as he or she may deem advisable.
6.11 Removal of Officers
Officers shall be subject to removal by the Board and such removal shall take into consideration the terms and conditions of employment of such Officer and applicable employment law as may be in effect and amended from time to time.
6.12 Remuneration of Officers
The Board may, by resolution, fix the reasonable remuneration of the Officers in accordance with such compensation framework as may be established by the Board from time to time and provided that no Officer, who is also a Board Member, shall be entitled to receive remuneration for acting as a Board Member. Officers may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the University in their capacity as Officer and in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures as may be amended from time to time.