The Department, under the leadership of and with the active participation of the Secretary of the University, provides essential secretarial and administrative support for the governing bodies (Senate and Board of Governors and their committees/councils) and for other University wide committees (standing and ad hoc), task forces, and entities which are not subsets of Senate or Board.
The Department also carries out special projects as required. Activities and responsibilities include:
- planning meetings; guiding committee/council/ Senate/Board tasks to completion.
- coordinating and administering various elections (the Secretary of the University serves as the University's chief electoral officer in accordance with Senate Bylaw 5 and Board Bylaw 1).
- ensuring that grievance and appeal proceedings at the University level follow the precepts of natural justice.
- supporting nominating committees (Chancellor; President; Vice-President, Academic & Provost; Vice-President, University Research; Deans).
- maintaining and distributing Board and Senate bylaws and University policies, procedures and organizational charts; issuing two publications: UW policies (periodically); and the Board of Governors Handbook (annually).
The Secretary of the University:
- has line responsibility for the Secretariat; Police and Parking Services; the Safety Office, the Conflict Management & Human Rights Office, and Records Management
- coordinates internal audit and risk management
- is the liaison with the University's legal counsel
- is a Notary Public (providing this service for UW faculty, staff and students for University-related matters)
