Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 51.59
Liaison Maria Mendes
Submission Date Aug. 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

Red River College Polytechnic
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.25 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Shared governance bodies

Does the institution have formal participatory or shared governance bodies through which the following stakeholders can regularly participate in the governance of the institution?:
Yes or No
Students Yes
Academic staff Yes
Non-academic staff Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal participatory or shared governance bodies:
STAFF AND FACULTY

Board of Governors: As required by The Red River College Act, the Board of Governors consists of one employee selected by RRC Polytech employees; one student selected by the Students’ Association; and at least 9 but not more than 15 members recommended by the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration. The Employee Member is an RRC Polytech staff member (academic or non-academic) elected annually by their peers.

Senior Academic Council (SAC): The SAC provides strategic leadership in implementing the Academic Mission of the College. It serves as a forum for discussion and decision-making on issues of academic policy and practice, and is a medium for the sharing of program information

Labour Management Committee: This Committee is comprised of no more than three representatives of the Employer and three representatives of the Union with additional attendance of others to provide advice and information where required on a particular agenda item. The purpose of this Committee is to recognize the community of interest in the efficient and economic operation of the College, with a belief that the basis of good labour relations is dependent on effective communication and co-operation within the organization, management and the union.

Academic Recovery Team (ART): Although created as part of the College’s COVID-19 response, the ART continues to provide a forum for Academic and Non-Academic members to gather information to either make decisions in a timely fashion based on the issue at hand, or forward information to other decision-making groups as required. The group’s format allows for direct connections between academic and non-academic groups to quickly identify and resolve problems, as well as help to “futureproof” the College moving forward.

Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (“MGEU”): Most staff and faculty not in leadership positions are members of MGEU Local 73, the RRC Polytech union and can share concerns, vote on collective bargaining offers, or become a local representative.

STUDENTS

Board of Governors: As required by The Red River College Act, the Board of Governors consists of one employee selected by RRC Polytech employees; one student selected by the Students’ Association; and at least 9 but not more than 15 members recommended by the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration. The Employee Member is an RRC Polytech staff member (academic or non-academic) elected annually by their peers.

Students’ Association Board (SAB): The SAB is the governing Board that determines objectives and sets the general direction of the Students’ Association. Membership consists of 15 seats filled by no less than 12 Members as appointed by Elections, Appointment and Referenda Committee of the SA; plus, ex-officio members.

Part 2. Campus stakeholder representation in governance

Total number of individuals on the institution’s highest governing body:
9

Number of students representing their peers as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
1

Number of academic staff representing their peers as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
1

Number of non-academic staff representing their peers as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
1

Part 3. Gender equity in governance

Number of women serving as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
6

Percentage of official members of the highest governing body that are women:
66.67

Website URL where information about the institution’s highest governing body may be found:

Part 4. Community engagement bodies

Does the institution host or support one or more formal bodies through which external stakeholders have a regular voice in institutional decisions that affect them?:
No

A brief description of the campus-community council or equivalent body that gives external stakeholders a regular voice in institutional decisions that affect them:
---

Optional Fields 

Number of people from underrepresented groups serving as official members of the institution’s highest governing body.:
---

Website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
There is only one RRC Polytech employee on the Board of Governors at a time, however they are elected by all and represent all employees (staff and faculty).

Other ways community stakeholders participate in the governance of the institution:

PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEES:
RRC Polytech's Program Advisory Committees policy states that all diploma and certificate programs must have an advisory committee that reports to administration. The committees advise on planning and evaluating of their programs and helps to ensure they stay relevant to both students and employers. Our program advisory committees provide a vital link between the community at large and RRC Polytech administration, faculty and students.

Each Program Advisory Committee is comprised of voting members, normally made from the following sectors:
- Current and prospective employers
- Business and industry
- Government agencies
- Professional associations
- At least one student from each current year of the program
- Program graduates
- Program partners
- Other educational institutions as appropriate

Ex-officio members from RRC Polytech include:
- Dean of the division in which the program falls
- Chair of the department responsible for the program
- At least one instructor from the program and not more than three
- Where appropriate, representatives of Continuing Education, Distance Education, Regional Campuses, and/or International Education
- Wherever possible, members should be employers or prospective employers of program graduates.

https://www.rrc.ca/legal/policies/program-advisory-committees/

KNOWLEDGE KEEPER COUNCIL:
The Knowledge Keeper Council advise senior leadership on strategic initiatives as the College responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action. The formation of the Council aligns with the Commission’s principal number seven to support reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, which states the perspectives and understanding of Indigenous Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers of the ethics, concepts and practices of reconciliation are vital to long-term reconciliation. The members include RRC Polytech’s Elders-in-Residence as well as Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers from the community.

https://www.rrc.ca/staff/institutional-priorities/truth-and-reconciliation/knowledge-keepers-council/

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.