Mount Royal Faculty Association
Championing collective excellence.
GFC
General Faculties Council
Mount Royal University is established and operates under Part 2 of the Post-secondary Learning Act of Alberta (2003), Colleges and Technical Institutions. Part 2 identifies a bicameral system of governance that designates responsibilities to both a Board of Directors and an Academic Council (General Faculties Council or GFC).
At Mount Royal University, bicameral governance is accomplished with a Board of Governors defined as the governing body and, subject to the authority of the Board of Governors, a GFC which is responsible for directing and overseeing the academic affairs of the university. Thus as the primary institutional body governing Mount Royal’s academic and policy affairs, GFC plays a critical role in the day-to-day activities of the University, granting degrees and diplomas, setting the academic direction and vision, and in maintaining academic freedom.
GFC accomplishes its work via delegation to a variety of GFC Committees, as well as Faculty and School Councils, which are tasked with specific responsibilities by GFC upon which they report back at regular intervals.
Through GFC service, elected Faculty members directly impact and direct the programs MRU offers, the policies it adopts and the priorities it pursues.
Similar to all service commitments, serving as a GFC Councillor involves a time commitment – usually between 4 to 8 hours per month including meeting preparation, attendance and follow up – depending on the number of GFC subcommittees to which the Councillor is appointed.
So why is GFC is important to you, your Faculty and to your students?
Bicameral Governance only works effectively with the full participation of all members of the Academy. GFC engages in meaningful, important work that impacts on every aspect of the academic environment at MRU including the scheduling, regulations, program offerings, tenure and promotions standards, policy development and much, much more.
The GFC normally meets on the third Thursday of each month from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. from September to May.