The Archives of Senate of Dalhousie University: A Guide
Collection Number: UA-5Fonds-level description created and electronic version prepared by Laurena Fredette, August 2006
Collection Level Description
Title: Senate of Dalhousie University fonds
Dates: 1945-2006
Extent: Approx. 40 m of textual records
The Senate is one of Dalhousie University’s two governing bodies, receiving its authority to internally regulate the university in 1863 with the passing of an “Act for the Regulation and Support of Dalhousie College.” The Senate continues in this function today and is responsible for the university’s programs, departments, students, and faculty. The Senate approves new programs, conducts departmental reviews, creates academic policy, manages and promotes faculty, and handles student disciplinary matters. Although the Senate is responsible for the internal regulation of the university, its decisions receive final approval of the Board of Governors.
Senate works in partnership with the Board of Governors and President. While the University Senate is responsible for the internal management of the university, the Board of Governors is responsible for the overarching management and direction of the university, including its assets, fulfilling its mission, and mediating between the university and outside agencies. Both the Senate and Board work with the university President who implements university policy.
Although the responsibilities of the Senate have not changed since 1863, various changes have been made to its membership and structure. Some of the significant changes include the Six and Six group which was created under the 1935 Dalhousie Act. This group included six members from the Board of Governors, six members from the Senate, and the President. Its annual meetings were intended to create a closer relationship between the three parties responsible for the university and allow the Senate to become more informed and involved with the management of the university. This group continues to meet annually.
The Dalhousie Senate is comprised of approximately seventy elected faculty, elected students, and ex-officio administrators. Ex-officio members include the president, VP Academic, and VP Research. Officers of the Senate include the University Librarian, Faculty Deans, and Dean of the College of Continuing Education. The President of the University of King’s College and the President of Nova Scotia Agricultural College are also affiliated institutional members of the Senate.
The Senate has three Executive Officers who are responsible for the Senate and Senate Office: the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. Thirteen internal committees address specific elements of the Senate’s responsibility including academic administration, academic appeals, budget, technology, and the environment.
The President of Dalhousie presided over Senate meetings as Chair until 1980 when President W.A. MacKay declined his nomination to the position. Know persons to have held the position of Chair include Thomas McCullogh (1838-1843); James Ross (1863-1885); Rev. John Forrest (1885-1911); A. Stanley MacKenzie (1911-1945); Alexander E. Kerr (1945-1963); Henry D. Hicks (1963-1980); A. M. Sinclair (1980-1984); W.E. Jones (1984-1989); Patricia Lane (1989-1992); Kenneth A. Dunn (1992-1996); Colin Stuttard (1996-2002); and Mohamed El-Hawary (2002-).
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Senior Administration. n.d. Dalhousie University. 13 June 2006 <http://senioradministration.dal.ca/sr_admin_1100.html>.
Waite, Peter B.The Lives of Dalhousie University. 2 vols. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1994, 1998.
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Fonds donated to the Archives by the Senate in several accessions since the 1970s.
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Further accruals are expected.
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This fonds consists of a range of documents related to the Senate’s sphere of responsibility, including correspondence; memos; meeting minutes and agendas; policies, regulations, and guidelines; Senate constitutional handbooks; reports; motions; proposals for the creation, suspension, and the termination of programs, departments, faculties, centres, and institutes submitted to the Senate for consideration; architectural drawings; newsletters and mail outs; the curriculum vitas of Senate members; and appeal cases.
Finding aid available onsite.
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[Identification of item], Senate of Dalhousie University fonds, UA-5, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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