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Human Resources Committee

Members

Member (as of July 1, 2024)

End of Term

Ms. Maryse Bertrand, Chair of the Board of Governors, ex officio

Prof. Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor, ex officio

Mr. Fred Headon

[06/30/2025]

Mr. Arun Bajaj

[06/30/2026]

Mr. Bertrand Cesvet

[06/30/2027]

Ms. Debbie Fischer

[06/30/2026]

Ms. Inez Jabalpurwala

[06/30/2027]

Ms. Diletta Prando, Chair

[06/30/2026]

Special Advisor

Professor Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic)

Meeting Schedule


Terms of Reference of Human Resources Committee

Enacting Provisions

The Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) is established under the authority of, and is accountable to, the Board of Governors (the “Board”) of McGill University (the “University”). It shall function as stipulated in these terms of reference and in the Regulations of the Committees of the Board of Governors of McGill University (the “Regulations”). In accordance with the Regulations, meetings of Board Committees shall be held in closed session unless the Committee resolves to carry out a meeting or part of a meeting in open session.

Notwithstanding the provisions set out below, the Committee does not have the authority to appoint, reappoint, or dismiss any employee of the University.

1. Composition

  1. Other than the ex-officio members, appointments to the Committee are approved by the Board, normally on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics Committee.

    1. The Committee shall consist of five to eight members, exclusive of ex officio members, selected, as indicated below, from among the following membership categories:

      • At least three from At-large members of the Board, Alumni Association members of the Board and Governors Emeriti, one of whom must be an At-large member of the Board;

      • At least one member of the general public.

    2. University students, employees, and individuals holding a personal service contract with the University, except for the President, are not eligible for appointment to the Committee.

  2. The Chair of the Board and the President and Vice-Chancellor ("President") shall serve as ex officio members of the Committee

  3. The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board, normally on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics Committee.

  4. The Committee may recommend the appointment of a Vice-Chair of the Committee, who shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics Committee.

  5. The Vice-President, Administration and Finance shall serve as the Senior Steward to the Committee.

  6. The Secretary-General or delegate shall serve as Secretary and as governance advisor to the Committee.

  7. For human resources matters identified by the Senior Steward or the Secretary, the Provost and Executive Vice-President, Academic, shall serve as special advisor to the Committee, and shall attend meetings for particular items.

  8. Where necessary or appropriate to facilitate and support the business of the Committee, the Senior Steward or Secretary may invite University staff to serve as resource persons for particular items of business before the Committee.

2. Mandate

The Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities with respect to human resources matters for University employees, including overseeing the management of human capital to support the realization of the University’s strategic priorities and objectives.

The Committee may consider other matters delegated to it by the Board, the President, the Vice-President (Administration and Finance) or the Provost and Executive Vice-President, Academic.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall:

2.1 Functions delegated by the Board of Governors

  1. review and approve the annual salary policy for academic staff, taking into account: recommendations from the Provost and Executive Vice-President, Academic, the Committee on Academic Staff Compensation (CASC) as may be applicable, University budget projections and trends at other Universities and relevant sectors, as appropriate;

  2. review and approve the annual salary policies for staff in the Management, Professional and Excluded ("MPEX") and Executive categories (non-unionized), taking into account recommendations from the Vice-President, Administration and Finance, University budget projections, trends at other universities and relevant sectors;

  3. review and approve mandates for the negotiation of collective agreements with certified bargaining units;

  4. annually review and approve the employee benefit plan coverage and benefit rate renewal, taking into account current market trends, recommendations from the Vice-President, Administration and Finance, and the Staff Benefits Advisory Committee (SBAC), as may be applicable;

  5. authorize the framework for expenditures of such sums as may be required for the payment of gratuities, retirement allowances, pensions, life insurance or other insurance (including health insurance) for the benefit of employees, when not so determined by approved policies, group plans, or collective agreements;

  6. regarding matters of executive compensation:

    1. monitor trends for the compensation of senior administrators with reference to other universities and relevant sectors, and review and approve the frameworks and policies, and the submission of reports concerning for the remuneration, compensation, retirement and superannuation of the President and Vice-Chancellor, Provost and Executive Vice-President, Academic, Deputy Provost, associate-provosts, vice-presidents, associate and assistant vice-presidents, deans and other members of the senior administration;

    2. review and approve the employment contract and any modifications thereto of the President;

    3. receive and review the Chair of the Board’s annual review on the performance of the President, and annually review and approve the President’s remuneration at an in-camera session of the Committee, during which the President shall absent him or herself from the deliberations and decision;

    4. approve significant anomalies in the terms and conditions of appointment, compensation and significant benefits of officers reporting directly to the President, such as mortgage subsidies and bridging loans, or as may be recommended by the President;

  7. regularly review risks related to Human Resources matters, and among other items, review and approve plans and reports concerning for recruitment and changes in overall staffing levels of the University;

  8. periodically review the University’s policies, programs and practices related to recruitment, performance and talent management, and succession planning, as related to academic, MPEX and Executive categories (non-unionized) of staff.

  9. provide general oversight of policies and processes that ensure the University’s compliance with occupational and environmental health and safety legislation, relevant regulations, standards and codes of practice;

  10. receive and review the annual report on health and safety matters, and any periodic reports that may be referred to it.

  11. Oversee institutional progress on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within the workforce, notably in relation to employment and safe and inclusive working conditions and climate.

  12. Receive and review reports on matters related to employment equity, harassment and discrimination and sexual violence, and oversee and assess the University’s progress on strategic priorities in these areas insofar as they affect the University’s workforce.

2.2 Functions subject to the authority of the Board of Governors

  1. review and recommend to the Board material policies governing the University’s human resources, and any amendments thereto;

  2. receive and consider reports and recommendations from the Pension Administration Committee and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the design of the McGill University Pension Plan (MUPP) and such other pension matters within the authority of the Board;

3. General provisions

  1. The Committee shall meet at least three times during the year. The Committee shall have a calendar of business, maintained by the Secretary-General or delegate, for the purpose of ensuring that each meeting agenda addresses responsibilities as outlined in these terms of reference.

  2. The Committee shall report to the Board on a regular basis, and within a reasonable time following a Committee meeting.

  3. The Committee shall review its terms of reference at least once every five years and recommend any changes to the Board’s Nominating, Governance and Ethics Committee.


Last revised
Board of Governors: May 18, 2023

Previous amendments
Executive Committee: September 24, 2007
Board of Governors: December 7, 2009
Executive Committee January 25, 2010
Board of Governors: September 27, 2012
Board of Governors: October 8, 2015
Board of Governors: April 21, 2016

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