Dalhousie University - Administration

Administration

The governance of the university is conducted through the Board of Governors and the Senate, both of which were given much of their present powers in the Unofficial Consolidation of an Act for the Regulation and Support of Dalhousie College in Chapter 24 of the Acts of 1863. This statute replaced earlier statutes from 1820, 1823, 1838, 1841 and 1848 and has since been supplemented 11 times, with the latest supplement in 1995. The Board is responsible for the university's conduct, management, and control of the university and of its property, revenues, business, and affairs. Members of the board, known as Governors of the Board include the university's chancellor, president and 25 other members. Other members of the board include people from the university community such as four approved representatives from Dalhousie Student Union, as well as those in the larger surrounding community of Dalhousie, such as the Mayor of Halifax. The Senate is responsible for the university's academics, including standards for admission into the university and qualifications for degrees, diplomas, and certificates. The Senate consists of 73 positions granted to the various faculty representatives, academic administrators and student representatives. While there are 73 positions available within the Senate, one position is currently unoccupied.

The president acts as the chief executive officer of the university responsible to the Board of Governors and to the Senate for the supervision of Dalhousie's administrative and academic works. Tom Traves is the 10th president of the university, serving the post since 1995. The office was first created in 1838, with Thomas McCulloch serving as the university's first president. John Forrest was the longest serving president of Dalhousie, holding the office from 1885 to 1911.