University Secretariat

The TRU Secretariat provides services to the University in the following areas:

1. Governance. The Secretariat provides advice on governance to the Board of Governors, Senate and the Planning Council for Open Learning. In addition, it works with the Chairs of the Board and Senate to schedule meetings and to set agendas to determine which matters need to be considered by each governing body. The Secretariat is also responsible for arranging logistics of meetings of the governing bodies and overseeing maintenance of records of the governing bodies. It also oversees orientation of new members of these governing bodies.
   
2. General Counsel. The University’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary is the head of the Secretariat. In his capacity as General Counsel, he provides strategic legal advice to the governing bodies and senior administrative bodies at the University; he also retains and oversees external counsel working for the University and manages the costs of legal services provided to the University. Legal review of contracts is carried out under the supervision of the General Counsel as required in accordance with the University’s Signing Authority Policy.
   
3. Student Judicial Affairs. The Manager of Student and Judicial Affairs reports jointly the General Counsel and the Dean of Students. That position manages student discipline and works closely with the administration of adjudicative processes associated with student discipline.
   
4. Contract Administration. The Secretariat maintains a central repository of major contracts entered into by the University. It also provides advice to the University community with regard to the administration of the Signing Authority Policy. The Secretariat provides advice to the University’s Procurement Services Department including, when required, advice with regard to the administration of the University’s Purchasing Policy.
   
5. Parliamentarian to Senate. Under Senate’s Bylaws, the General Counsel acts as parliamentarian to Senate and attends all Senate meetings to provide advice on complying with proper procedure including Robert’s Rules of Order.
   
6. Standing Committees. General Counsel is on the following Committees under their terms of reference: (i) Senate Steering Committee (General Counsel’s office provides administrative support for this committee); (ii) Senate International Affairs Committee; (iii) Environmental Advisory Committee (a joint Board/Senate Committee); Information Security Committee (General Counsel is Co-Chair); and (v) Law School Advisory Committee (the General Counsel’s office provides administrative support for this committee).