28 President’s Role in Meetings

Chairing StudentS’ Council & executive Meetings

As part of the President’s role, you are also the ex officio Students’ Council Chair. Working in collaboration with the VP Communications, who serves as the Recording Secretary of the Students’ Council, the role of the Chair is to ensure the meeting agenda is followed in a timely, orderly and professional manner.

Ensure you are familiar with the meeting agenda well ahead of the meeting start time, and plan to arrive to each council meeting 5-10 minutes in advance to ensure that everything is ready in time.

Keeping Order

It is your role as Chair to ensure that when a discussion starts to go off topic, that you bring the Council back to the original agenda item at hand, maintaining order over the proceedings. You may use a gavel or indication token if necessary to bring the room to order. Always make sure you are clear at the outset of your Council meetings about how the meetings will operate so everyone has an understanding of the rules and how you, as Chair, will be keeping the meeting moving – on task and on topic.

PresidentS’ Council Meetings

Student Life hosts bi-weekly Presidents’ Council meetings to conduct provincial Student Association business. These meetings are used to discuss opportunities for collaboration between various NSCC departments with Student Associations at each campus, as well as conduct any provincial votes or Student Association voting initiatives.

Guest speakers are often invited to attend to provide details and information on possible collaboration opportunities with the Student Association.

Roundtable Discussions

During the Presidents’ Council meetings, each President is given the opportunity to share what their team has been working on at their campus, and/or ask questions they may have for other Presidents or Student Life. This is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons and think of additional programs, services and events that you may want to bring to your campus as well.

Attendance & Recording Meetings

As with attendance at any meeting, if you are unable to attend, we expect you to send your regrets to Student Life either via your NSCC email or Teams.

Presidents’ Council Meetings are always recorded for those who are unable to attend. If you are unable to attend, it is expected that you watch the recording within 48 hours to ensure any time sensitive information is still received by your Student Association.

NS Government RoundTable meeting

Once a year, NSCC Student Association Presidents are invited to attend a meeting with the Minister of Advanced Education. This is an undeniable opportunity to engage with our provincial government representatives on issues that matter most to our NSCC students – your constituents. As such, attendance is highly recommended.

Agenda items for this meeting are set by the Presidents and sent to the Minister of Advanced Education by NSCC’s Manager, Housing & Student Life. Past agenda items have included the Nova Scotia housing crisis, access to basic necessities such as childcare and healthcare for students, cost and efficiency of transportation, etc.

This is an open and respectful discussion, providing NSCC student leaders with a platform to advocate for the concerns of your constituents.