The British Columbia Universities Act of March 1963, which created Simon Fraser University, required the establishment of a University Senate for the management of curriculum, instruction and education. The Act, and its subsequent amendments over the years, specified the membership, duties and powers of the Senate. As of May 2003 Senate is made up of 60 elected and appointed members chosen from faculty, students, staff, convocation, and the community. Senate is responsible for such academic matters as determining requirements for admission; providing for and granting degrees including honorary degrees; recommending to the Board of Governors the establishment or discontinuation of any faculty, department, or course of instruction; awarding fellowships and bursaries; making rules for the management of the library; and providing for the publication of the University calendar.

The President of the University is the chair of the Senate. Senate elects a Vice-Chair annually. The Registrar is the Secretary of Senate according to the University Act, and has delegated to the Director, University Secretariat, the responsibilities for the management of Senate and its committees.

Senate usually meets once a month in open and closed sessions except for August when no meeting is held. Matters for decision are normally brought to Senate through the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules.

The first meeting of the SFU Senate was held November 29, 1965. In 1967, Senate voted to allow three student representatives--a move hailed as a first for a Canadian university. In 1968, in another precedent-setting decision, Senate admitted observers to its open sessions.

For further information on Senate membership, committees, duties, powers, and rules, see the appendix to this finding aid which contains a print out from the Senate web page, or consult the web page itself for the most current information at http://www.reg.sfu.ca/Senate/