New KSA Policy Allows for Dismissal of Absent Committee Members
Policy will make committees more efficient, less dramatic
A new policy passed by the Kwantlen Student Association last month will ensure that any committee members who miss over three meetings per term can be officially asked to resign.
The Chair of the committee must consult with the Vice President, the appointments committee, and Council before requesting the resignation, although it is expected that the member will step down after it is submitted.
There are two primary intentions with the policy. Firstly, it will prevent all committee members who are not “contributing to the progression and development of the committee and its mandate”—as written Council’s Aug. 26 agenda—from remaining in their position. That way, they are not being rewarded for work they have not done, and someone who will actively work towards improving the committee can fill their spot.
Secondly, having a policy that makes it mandatory for the Chair to report members who miss three or more meetings gets rid of the opportunity for interpersonal conflict. For instance, if a thrice-absent committee member tries to pick a fight with the Chair for reporting them and the Chair did not technically have to by regulation, it could easily seem like a personal bias towards the member. This policy therefore levels the playing field.
“I think it was noticed that some student members weren’t necessarily participating a lot at meetings and the process for removing them was a little—not necessarily onerous, but potentially personal. We just wanted to keep it objective,” says KSA President Alex McGowan.
He adds that a few meetings missed for a good cause may be excusable. The specific situation, honesty, and drive of the committee member will have a sway on whether or not they will be asked to resign.
There were no council members in particular that McGowan believes inspired this policy.
“Whenever someone signs up for something like Council, they do so with an understanding that there’s a certain amount of time commitment, and being removed from a committee isn’t the end of the world,” he says. “I don’t think there’s any barrier or issue.”
