Home > Constitution

MAUT - APBM Constitution

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the Association is the McGill Association of University Teachers. The official abbreviation of the name is MAUT.

The French name of the Association is Association des professeur(e)s et bibliothécaires de McGill. The abbreviation of the French name is APBM.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association is to promote collegial governance and academic freedom through policies, procedures and working conditions that are conducive to the teaching, research and other pursuits of the academic staff of McGill University.

ARTICLE III - FULL MEMBERS, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, AND RETIRED MEMBERS

For purposes of this article an academic appointment is defined to be a remunerated appointment at McGill University, with an academic classification as determined by McGill University Regulations.
  1. FULL MEMBER
    • A person holding a full-time or part-time academic appointment at McGill University, with duties equal to or greater than half of a regular full-time appointment, is eligible to be a Full Member.
    • A member of the clinical staff in a McGill teaching hospital having an academic appointment at McGill University associated with remuneration equal to or greater than half of the minimal salary for that academic classification is eligible to be a Full Member.
    • A Full Member is entitled to services as provided by by-law, as amended from time to time.
    • A Full Member ceases to be a Full Member of MAUT upon resignation in writing addressed to the Vice-President (Finance), upon failure to pay Full Membership dues, or upon ceasing to be eligible for Full Membership. Such a person automatically forfeits all rights, claims and interests arising from or associated with Full Membership in MAUT.
  2. ASSOCIATE MEMBER
    • A person holding an academic appointment at McGill University, who is not eligible to be a Full Member, is eligible to be an Associate Member.
    • An Associate Member is entitled to services as provided by by-law, as amended from time to time.
    • An Associate Member ceases to be an Associate Member of MAUT upon resignation in writing to the Vice-President (Finance), upon failure to pay Associate Membership dues, or upon ceasing to be eligible for Associate Membership. Such a person automatically forfeits all rights, claims and interests arising from or associated with Associate Membership in MAUT.
  3. RETIRED MEMBER
    • All members of the University who, at the time of their official retirement, are eligible to be a member of MAUT may on or after the date of their official retirement become a retired member of MAUT. A subsequent post-retirement appointment will not affect their MAUT membership.
    • A Retired Member is entitled to services as provided by by-law, as amended from time to time.
    • A Retired Member ceases to be a Retired Member of MAUT upon resignation in writing to the Vice-President (Finance), or upon failure to pay retired membership dues. Such a person automatically forfeits all rights, claims and interests arising from or associated with Retired Membership in MAUT.
  4. RULING BY COUNCIL
    In cases of doubt or dispute as to either eligibility for membership or benefits of membership, the Council makes the ruling.
  5. INELIGIBILITY
    Full-time students and persons holding full-time non-academic appointments at McGill University are not eligible for Full Membership, Associate Membership or Retired Membership.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

  1. The PRESIDENT is the Chairman of the Council and Executive Committee. The President presides at general meetings and has prime responsibility for the affairs and operation of the Association.
  2. The PRESIDENT-ELECT acts for the President in the absence of the President and performs such other duties as may be assigned by the President or Executive Committee.
  3. The VICE-PRESIDENT (INTERNAL) is generally responsible for MAUT participation in the internal affairs of the University.
  4. The VICE-PRESIDENT (EXTERNAL) is responsible for relations between MAUT and any local, provincial or international association with which MAUT is affiliated, and is the principal delegate of MAUT at any meeting of such an association.
  5. The VICE-PRESIDENT (COMMUNICATIONS) has primary responsibility for contact between the association and its members, and is the editor of the Newsletter of the Association and of content presented in the Association's internet site. Officers of the Association and Committee Chairs of the Association are required to write regular reports to be included in the Newsletter of the Association.
  6. The VICE-PRESIDENT (FINANCE) maintains and safeguards the financial and membership records of the Association, presents the annual audit of the Association's financial records to the Autumn General Meeting, oversees the gathering of financial information for the Association, and is responsible for ensuring that the minutes of all General Meetings, Council Meetings, Executive Meetings, the non-financial records of the Association and other documents of record are maintained and safeguarded.
  7. All MAUT Officers must be Full Members of the Association.
  8. The President, President-Elect and Vice-President (Finance) are the authorized signing officers of the Association. In the event that one or more of these positions is temporarily vacant or the incumbent unable to act, Council may designate alternative authorized signing officers. Cheques shall be signed by any two of the authorized signing officers.

ARTICLE V - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  1. The Executive Committee consists of the officers of the Association together with the immediate Past President.
  2. The Executive Committee meets at the call of the President to determine the best means for implementing the actions of Council and general meetings, and otherwise promoting the purpose of the Association.
  3. At least twice a year, the Executive Committee must send to each Full Member, Associate Member and Retired member of the Association a report of Council activities.

ARTICLE VI - THE COUNCIL

  1. The Council consists of:
    1. the members of the Executive Committee,
    2. ten Full Members elected by Full Members of the Association for two-year terms, with five Full Members being elected each year,
    3. not more than three co-opted Full Members appointed by Council each year,
    4. the Chairperson of the Librarians' Section. If no Librarian is elected by and from the Librarians' Section, then a Librarian will be co-opted by Council as part of the group of three (or fewer) Full Members described in c),
    5. if there are more than fifty Associate Members, then an Associate Member elected, for a two-year term, by and from the Associate Members of MAUT. If there are more than 100 Associate Members, including at least 50 Contract Academic Staff who are course instructors/course lecturers (as defined in 7.1.1, McGill’s Regulations Relating to the Employment of Contract Academic Staff), a second Associate Member shall be elected, for a two-year term, by and from the course instructors/course lecturers who are Associate Members of MAUT.
    6. if there are more than fifty Retired Members, then a Retired Member, elected for a two-year term, by and from the Retired Members of MAUT.
    7. Counts of members mentioned in e) and f) shall be made on a date to be determined by the executive, and shall be made once per calendar year.
  2. Council may invite others to attend Council meetings as observers or advisers.
  3. The Council must meet at least once each month from September through May inclusive. The President is responsible for arranging meetings of Council including the distribution of the agenda at least one week in advance.
  4. Upon receipt of a petition from at least five Council members, the President must arrange a special Council meeting to be held within ten days of receipt of the petition and must issue a notice and agenda for said meeting to all Council members.
  5. A quorum of Council consists of half its members (including any co-opted members) of which at least five must be elected members other than members of the Executive Committee.
  6. The Council appoints all committees and receives their reports. The membership and terms of reference of all standing committees are reviewed by Council annually.
  7. The Council may authorize an Officer of the Association to communicate with any person or group, or the general public, in the name of the Association.
  8. The Council establishes the policies of the Association in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. When matters of basic policy arise, Council may consult the membership at a general meeting.
  9. Meetings of Council are open to all Full Members, Associate Members, and Retired Members, unless Council votes to close a meeting because of the confidentiality of some matter before Council. Association members who attend Council meetings as guests may be recognized with voice by the President, but do not have a vote.
  10. The financial records of the Association shall be audited annually by a chartered accountant. The chartered accountant shall be chosen by Council, on the advice of the Vice-President (Finance). The auditor's report must be presented at the Autumn General Meeting and must be made available to any Full Member, Associate Member and Retired Member upon request.

ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MEETING

  1. The President must call at least two general meetings each year, one in the Autumn before December 15 and one in the Spring before the last day of April. The President may call additional general meetings as required.
  2. Any ten Full Members may petition the President to call a general meeting which must be held within three weeks of the date of receipt of the petition. The specific purpose of the meeting must be given in the notice of the meeting.
  3. Notice of a general meeting must be given at least one week before the meeting and must include an agenda.
  4. In order for resolutions passed at a general meeting to be binding at least one hundred Full Members must be present; the number of members present for each vote will be counted along with the number of positives, negatives and abstentions. If a vote is to be deemed binding, then both of the following conditions must be fulfilled:
    1. the number of members present for the vote must be at least 100
    2. this number must be reported in the minutes.
    5. A count of members may be omitted only if the total number of positives, negatives and abstentions exceeds 100. In that case, this total must be reported in the minutes.

    Properly called meetings may be held with fewer than one hundred Full Members present, but motions passed will not bind the Association to any Policy or course of action.
  5. Full Members may speak, make motions and vote at general meetings.
  6. Associate Members may speak, but neither vote nor make motions at general meetings.
  7. Retired Members may speak, but neither vote nor make motions at general meetings.

ARTICLE VIII - ELECTIONS

  1. The immediate Past President is the Chair of the Nominating Committee. If the immediate Past President is not available, Council appoints another Past President in the place of the immediate Past President. Council appoints additional members of the Nominating Committee as required.
  2. The Nominating Committee solicits nominations for all vacant Council seats and all offices except that of President. The President-Elect automatically replaces the outgoing President. If the President-Elect is unable to serve as President, the Nominating Committee also solicits nominations for this office.
  3. Nominations for Council seats and offices must be signed by two Full members and the candidate. Only Full members may be candidates. In the case of nominations for a position as Associate Member or Retired Member, where permitted under VI-1-e/f, nominations may be signed by Associate Members or Retired Members respectively.
  4. The Nominating Committee may nominate additional candidates if they feel it is appropriate. There must be at least one candidate for each office. The number of candidates for Council must be greater than the number of vacancies.
  5. The election is held by mail or electronic ballot distributed among all Full Members. In the case of positions as Associate Member or Retired Member, a separate ballot will be held of members in the appropriate category.
  6. The election is held after March 1, and the result of the balloting is announced at the Spring General Meeting. The term of office of the newly elected officers and Council members begins at the end of this general meeting. The list of the new officers and Council members, including co-opted members, is sent to all members some time before the Autumn General Meeting.
  7. A Council member who is elected to a position with the Executive, other than in the last year of his or her term on Council, shall be deemed to resign the position on Council with effect from the date at which the new Executive takes charge.
  8. In the event of a vacancy on Council of up to six months, Council may co-opt a temporary replacement. If the vacancy is for an elected member, the replacement will count as an elected member for purposes of quorum. For a vacancy of longer than six months, the Association will conduct an election to fill the position. The elected replacement will serve only for the remaining part of the original term.
  9. If a position of officer remains vacant after the Spring General Meeting, the Council shall elect, before the Autumn General Meeting, a Full Member from among its members or, failing that possibility, another Full Member of MAUT nominated by the Nominating Committee, to fill the vacant Executive Office.
  10. Ballots are counted by the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE IX - LIBRARIANS' SECTION

The Full Members, Associate Members, and Retired Members of MAUT who hold or held a librarian appointment at McGill University shall form the Librarians' Section of MAUT. The Librarian Section may act in a manner that is not inconsistent with the MAUT Constitution. The Librarians' Section may propose by-laws under Article XII to provide guidance in the operation of this Section. A Librarian elected, each year, by and from the Librarians' Section, is the Chairperson of the Librarians' Section.

ARTICLE X - CAUT

  1. The MAUT is a member of the CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS (CAUT).
  2. Official delegates, in addition to the Vice-President External, to CAUT meetings, are named by Council from among the members of MAUT.

ARTICLE XI - FQPPU

  1. The MAUT is a member of the FÉDÉRATION QUEBECOISE DES PROFESSEURES ET PROFESSEURS D'UNIVERSITÉ (FQPPU).
  2. Official delegates, in addition to the Vice-President External, to FQPPU meetings are named by Council from among the members of MAUT.

ARTICLE XII - DUES AND FEES

  1. Full Members, Associate Members and Retired Members will pay dues and fees to MAUT to support the activities of the Association. The schedule of dues and fees shall be drawn up by Council and presented for discussion at a general meeting before final approval by Council.
  2. The Librarians' Section may levy additional charges on Full Members, Associate Members, and Retired Members of the Librarians' Section, to cover the expenses of the Librarians' Section.

ARTICLE XIII - BY-LAWS

Council may establish by-laws not inconsistent with this Constitution to provide guidance in the operations of the Association.

ARTICLE XIV - CONSTITUTION

  1. Amendments to this Constitution must be presented at a general meeting. Notice of the meeting must include a statement of the proposed amendments. Such proposals may not be amended in the meeting at which they are presented. If the one hundred Full Members necessary to produce a binding vote are not present, the amendments are discussed at the meeting and a referendum held on them by mail or electronic ballot. Only Full Members are entitled to vote.
    • The rules for binding votes are as given in Article VII, Section 4.
    • Two-thirds of the votes or ballots cast are required to pass amendments. At least one hundred favorable ballots are required to pass amendments by referendum.
    • In the case of a mail or electronic ballot, votes shall be counted with at least two Full Members present, at least one of whom shall be a member of the Executive.
  2. In cases of doubt or dispute as to the precise meaning of the Constitution, the Council makes an interpretation.
Approved at the Annual General Meeting May 6, 1974; Amended at General Meetings on:

November 14, 1974
November 12, 1981
April 1, 1982
November 14, 1985
November 23, 1989
March 21, 1991
March 28, 1996
April 15, 2010

Amended by Mail Ballot June 30, 2000

MAUT BY-LAWS, governing...

MAUT BY-LAW GOVERNING STANDING COMMITTEES AND CAUCUSES

  1. The membership of all standing committees will be reviewed at the second Council meeting of the academic year to ensure that positions are filled. If a position subsequently becomes unfilled, Council shall name a replacement in a timely fashion.
  2. The Chair of each committee and caucus shall make a report to Council in the spring of each year on the activities of the committee during the academic year then ending.
  3. The standing committees of MAUT are:
    • Retiree Affairs
    • Collegiality at McGill
    • Faculty Club
    • Finance
    • Membership
    • Nominating
    • Non-Discrimination
    • Remuneration
    • Tenure Mentoring
  4. The standing caucuses of MAUT are:
Approved by the MAUT Joint Executive-Council Meeting, March 31, 2010. Presented to Spring General Meeting on April 15, 2010.

MAUT BY-LAW GOVERNING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

The MAUT Finance Committee consists of: The Finance Committee is advisory to the MAUT Executive Committee regarding the creation and implementation of a financial policy for the association.

The Finance Committee shall report annually to the MAUT Executive Committee. The Finance Committee Report must be presented at the first Executive Committee Meeting in September and later received by Council.

Approved by Council on November 12, 2003; Presented to Fall General Membership Meeting on November 26, 2003.

MAUT BY-LAW GOVERNING THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

  1. The Nominating Committee shall solicit nominations for positions of officer and Council member from Council and the General Membership. It shall do so by way of Notice in the McGill Reporter, and using the Association’s Newsletters, Listservs, Blogs, and web site.
  2. The Nominating Committee shall inform Council at the first Council meeting in February, and then the General Membership, of any positions for which it has not yet received nominations.
  3. The Nominating Committee shall use its best effort to fill all nominations no later than March 1st so that elections can take place at least 15 calandar days before the Spring General Meeting.
Approved by the MAUT Joint Executive-Council Meeting on March 31, 2010. Presented to Spring General Meeting on April 15, 2010.

MAUT BY-LAW GOVERNING NOMINATION OF MAUT REPRESENTATIVES ON UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES

Council will approve at the beginning of every academic year a slate of names of those to be nominated as MAUT members on University Committees.

Approved by the MAUT Joint Executive-Council Meeting on March 31, 2010. Presented to Spring General Meeting on April 15, 2010.

MAUT BY-LAW GOVERNING RETIRED MEMBERS

The activities involving Retirees are to remain revenue neutral as determined by an annual budgetary process and the ongoing adjustment of Retired Member fees.

A person who retires from an M-level appointment at McGill University is eligible to participate in the activities organized by the Retiree Affairs Committee. The fee for participants shall be determined by the Retiree Affairs Committee.

Approved by the MAUT Council on March 17, 2010. Presented to Spring General Meeting on April 15, 2010.

MAUT BY-LAW GOVERNING SERVICES

  1. FULL MEMBER
    In addition to the rights and obligations contained in the MAUT Constitution, a Full Member is entitled to, the regular MAUT communications, the regular CAUT communications, the regular FQPPU communications, attend MAUT conferences and seminars, obtain legal assistance under certain conditions at reduced cost in arbitration matters, and access to the Professional and Legal Officer for consultation.
  2. ASSOCIATE MEMBER
    In addition to the rights and obligations contained in the MAUT Constitution, an Associate Member is entitled to the same services as a Full Member.
  3. RETIRED MEMBER
    In addition to the rights and obligations contained in the MAUT Constitution, a Retired Member is entitled to, the regular communication of MAUT, and access to the Professional and Legal Officer for consultation.
  4. SCHEDULE OF FEES AND DUES
    • FULL MEMBER: 0.65% of salary
    • ASSOCIATE MEMBER: $190/year for all academic categories other than course lecturers/instructors (as defined in 7.1.1, McGill’s Regulations Relating to the Employment of Contract Academic Staff), who shall pay a semi-annual fee of $30 per course contract.
    • RETIRED MEMBER: $25/year

Approved by Annual General Meeting on April 11, 2000.
Amended schedule of fees and dues approved by Council on December 10, 2003 and presented to the Spring General Membership Meeting for information on April 14, 2004.

Amended fee schedule presented to Fall General Meeting November 2010.

MAUT BY-LAW GOVERNING LIBRARIANS' SECTION

  1. There shall be a Librarians' Section Executive which shall direct the activities of the Librarians' Section in a manner that is not inconsistent with the MAUT Constitution and by-laws. When matters of basic policy arise, the Librarians' Section Executive may consult with Section Members at a Section General Meeting.
  2. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE LIBRARIANS' SECTION SHALL BE:
    • To develop a collective awareness of the librarian's contribution to the University.
    • To promote communication and understanding among librarians and the other members of the academic community.
    • To promote recognition of the role of the librarian within the University.
    • To promote professional standards, rights, privileges, and obligations of librarians.
    • To work toward the improvement of working conditions and terms of employment of librarians, including salary, job security, fringe benefit policies, research and continuing education.
    • To seek actively and maintain recognition by Library administration and University administration of the Librarians' Section as the representative for librarians in the promotion of these objectives.
  3. The Section Executive shall be composed of the Section Chair, the Section Chair Elect and the Section Secretary-Treasurer. The immediate Past Section Chair may serve informally in an advisory capacity to the Section Executive. All officers of the Section Executive are Full Members elected from the Section membership.
  4. The Section Chair is a member of Council, presides at Section General Meetings and Section Executive Meetings, and has prime responsibility for the affairs and operation of the Section.
  5. The Section Chair elect acts for the Section Chair in the absence of the Section Chair and performs such other duties as may be assigned by the Section Executive.
  6. The Section Secretary-Treasurer maintains and safeguards the membership and financial records of the Section and takes the minutes of all Section General Meetings.
  7. The term of office of the Section Chair, the Section Chair Elect and the Section Secretary-Treasurer begins at the end of the Section General Meeting held in the Spring.
  8. If the position of the Section Chair becomes vacant at any time, the Section Chair Elect shall succeed to that position. If the position of the Section Chair or Section Secretary-Treasurer becomes vacant, then the position shall be filled by election. If there is only one nomination that nominee will be elected by acclamation.
  9. There shall be the following standing committees:
    • The Section Nominating Committee shall consist of a chair, appointed by the Section Executive, the Past Section Chair and one other full member appointed by the Section Executive in consultation with the chair of the Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the Section Nominating Committee to actively solicit librarian nominations for vacant Section Executive positions. The Section Nominating Committee may also solicit librarian nominations for positions on Library or University committees and Senate, including nominations for positions on University Committees on which librarians have acquired right of representation, such as the Academic Salary Policy Sub-Committee. The Section Nominating Committee may also solicit nominations for librarian representatives on the CAUT Librarians' Committee and FQPPU's Comité ad hoc sur les bibliothèques.
    • The Professional Issues Committee shall consist of a chair, appointed by the Section Executive, and other members appointed by the Section Executive in consultation with the chair of the Professional Issues Committee.
  10. The Section Executive may propose to Council the creation of additional committees and committee membership. The Section Executive may also as necessary establish ad-hoc advisory committees to the Executive, or ad-hoc subcommittees of the Professional Issues Committee.
  11. The Section Chair must call at least two Section General Meetings each year, one in the Autumn before November 15 and one in the Spring before April 30. Additional Section meetings may be called by the Section Chair, the Section Executive, or by the written request of 10% of Full and Associate Members.
  12. Notice of a Section General Meeting must be given at least one week before the meeting and must include an agenda.
  13. Notice of an emergency meeting will be at least 24 hours.
  14. Full Members and Associate Members may speak, make motions and vote at Section General Meetings.
  15. Retired Members and observers may speak, but not vote nor make motions at Section General Meetings.
  16. A meeting, by majority vote, move into closed session. When a meeting is in closed session, all observers shall be required to withdraw until the meeting has moved back into open session.
  17. 20% of Full and Associate Members represents a quorum at Section General Meeting. Once a quorum has been established at the commencement of a Section General Meeting, it shall be deemed to continue unless subsequently challenged. If a meeting is found to be below quorum after such a challenge, the meeting may continue but may not entertain motions. The quorum for an emergency meeting will be 50% of Full and Associate Members.
  18. The fiscal year of the Section shall begin on September 1. The Section shall levy fees to Full and Associate Members. Upon failure to pay Section fees, librarians forfeit the rights and privileges of participation in the Librarians' Section. Changes to the fees may be proposed by the Section Executive at a Section General Meeting and must be ratified by a majority vote of Full and Associate Members.
  19. The Section Secretary-Treasurer shall submit financial reports to the Vice-President (Finance) of MAUT twice per year, prior to the General Meetings of MAUT.
  20. The Librarians' Section may propose by-laws under Article XII to provide guidance in the operation of this Section. Notice of any proposed amendment shall be filed by the Section Secretary-Treasurer and shall become effective only after it has been approved by Council, submitted by mail or electronic ballot to full members of the Section and approved by a 2/3 majority of those section members voting.
Approved by Librarians' Section on April 25, 1996. Approved by Council on May 9, 1996