Joint Faculty

The Universities Act, 1963, c. 52, s. 25 provided for the "Faculties in joint meeting" to determine the number and manner of election of faculty to the Faculty Council. Joint Faculty determined that there should be 6 faculty representatives (2 elected from each of the original faculties of Arts, Science, and Education). In its initial meetings, Joint Faculty discussed such issues as admission requirements, teaching loads and the establishment of a faculty lounge. University President, Patrick McTaggart-Cowan, was elected Chairman of the Joint Faculty; the Registrar acted as secretary. Following the censure of SFU by the Canadian Association of University Teachers, the Joint Faculty expressed a lack of confidence in President McTaggart-Cowan, who resigned his position in May 1968.

Also in that year, an interim council of Joint Faculty was established consisting of five members from Joint Faculty. The Interim Council was empowered to examine a set of declarations including the democratic selection of academic administrators, the establishment of an exclusively academic Senate, and the elimination of the Board of Governors "interference in academic affairs." Under the terms of reference of the Interim Council, the Student Society was invited to choose a committee to work with the Council on the implementation of these principles and the principle of student participation in university government. The Council made recommendations to Joint Faculty, which, in turn, made recommendations to Senate. The basic provisions for electing chairs, and the ability to recall chairs and deans originated with the work of the Interim Council.