By-laws Article 3 Membership

The Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act requires Special Resolutions, with approval of a 2/3 majority of members (Bylaw section 1.1.(q) Special Resolutions), for many matters that relate to membership and the meeting of members, the details of which are included in this Policy. The following require approval by the membership at the Annual General Meeting, are described in Bylaw section 17.1, Amendments requiring a Special Resolution, and include:

Membership Composition, section 3.1;
Member Rights, section 3.3;
Number of Directors, section 4.2; and
Notice of Meetings, section 14.

The Bylaws of the Society recognize two classes of members: Individual (Bylaw section 3.1(a)) and Institutional (3.1(b)). Individual memberships are a rolling one-year membership from the date of payment of the membership fee and have voting rights at Meetings of members (Bylaw section 6, Meetings of the Members). Institutional memberships are for the calendar year, January 1 until December 31, are not prorated and do not have voting rights at Meetings of Members. (Any changes to these conditions require approval by Special Resolution.)

The STLHE membership page is an adjunct to the STLHE Website, is the main database for institutional and individual members of the Society, and is used for providing Notice to Members (Bylaw section 6.5, Notice of Meetings). Members are responsible for updating their membership profiles and reminders are sent when a membership is up for renewal. Membership lists are maintained for all members of the Society and Affiliated Groups (Bylaw section 10, Affiliated Groups and Policy 6, Affiliated Groups), and these lists are the official means for communicating information to the Society and Affiliated Group Members with email, notifications, announcements, and discussion forums. The membership data and communication is formally the responsibility of the Secretary of the Society and is maintained and executed by the Administrative Unit.

1. Memberships classes and fees

a. Individual Members of the Society

All individual members (Bylaw section 3.3, Members’ Rights) have the same rights, privileges and a vote at meetings of members. The Society recognizes different types of individual members but not as separate classes or groups. Some of these membership types may be eligible for a discount on their membership fees (Bylaw section 3.6, Membership Dues and Policy 1(d) Membership fees). These types include the following:

• Lifetime members: In addition to the 3M National Teaching Fellowship award winners, the Board may set up an adjudication committee composed of a minimum of three members to evaluate teaching dossiers of Society members nominated or suggested for a lifetime membership in the Society;
• Preferred members: Regular members who are employees of post-secondary institutions that are institutional members of the Society are eligible for the preferred members discounted rate;
• Regular members;
• Student members are eligible for the student members discounted rate;
• Retiree members are eligible for the retired members discounted rate.

b. Institutional Members of the Society

Institutional Memberships (Bylaw section 3.1(b)) were created in 2007 and reflect a commitment to teaching excellence and reflective practice. An institutional membership publicizes the climate of the institution as positive and nurturing for teaching and learning. There are two types of Institutional members, but these do not represent separate classes or groups within the Society. The two types of Institutional Members have identical rights and privileges but do not vote at meetings of members:

• Category 1: Colleges and primarily undergraduate universities
• Category 2: Comprehensive and medical doctoral universities

Each fall, usually in October/November, renewal notices from the Chair of the Board of the Society are sent to existing Institutional Members and invitations to become Institutional members are sent to colleges and universities across Canada. Information packages for renewal and joining STLHE typically include the following items: STLHE Annual Report, STLHE brochure, and an invoice for membership. Two copies of STLHE publications published in the last year are included for founding members and one for other packages.

Founding Institutional Members:
Acadia University, Brock University, Carleton University, Concordia University, College of Alberta, Dalhousie University, Durham College, Fanshawe College, Fleming College, Kwantlen University College, Lakehead University, Lambton College, Malaspina University-College, McMaster University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Mohawk College, Mount Allison University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Niagara College, Northern Lights College, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, Saint Mary’s University, Sheridan College, Simon Fraser University, St. Jerome’s University, Thompson Rivers University, Trent University, Université du Québec à Montréal, University College of the Fraser Valley, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Guelph, University of Manitoba, University of New Brunswick, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Ottawa, University of Prince Edward Island, University of Saskatchewan, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario, University of Windsor, University of Winnipeg, and Wilfrid Laurier University

c. Affiliated Group Membership

In addition to the individual Membership fee of the Society, Affiliated Groups (Bylaw section 10, Affiliated Groups) may levy additional membership fees from their constituents.

d. Membership fees

STLHE membership fees are approved by the STLHE Board of Directors.

2. Meetings of STLHE Members

Bylaw Section 6

This section of the bylaws addresses meetings of the entire membership of the Society of which there are two types: the Annual General Meeting (Bylaw section 6.1) and Special Meetings (Bylaw section 6.2) which are described in more detail below. For both types of meetings, a call to meet can be made by the Board of Directors. If the notice of meeting is sent by email, the call must be delivered to the members 21-35 days prior to the meeting (Bylaw section 6.5, Notice of Meetings). Quorum (Bylaw section 6.8, Quorum) is met when 5% of the membership entitled to vote is in attendance.

The Board of Directors must call a Special Meeting (Bylaw section 6.2, Special Meetings and Requisition Meetings) of the members if there is a request for a meeting from 5% of the membership that is eligible to vote; if the Board fails to call the meeting within 21 days of the request having been made, the members themselves can call the meeting.

a. Annual General Meeting of Members

The Annual General Meeting (Bylaw section 6.1, Annual Meetings) is required by the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and is usually held during the Society’s Annual Conference in June of each year. The following business items must be completed at the Annual General Meeting: election of Directors (Bylaw section 6.1(b)), approval of the audited financial statements (Bylaw section 6.1(a)), and the appointment of the public accountant (Bylaw section 6.1(c)) for the upcoming year.

The following additional items are usually included in the Annual General Meeting: Chair’s report, budget, bylaw revision(s), recognition of incoming and outgoing members of the Board and Affiliated Group Executives, and a period for questions from the Floor.

b. Special Meetings of Members

Items that must be included in the Agenda of the Annual General Meeting (Bylaw section 6.1) cannot be items of business at a Special Meeting of members where agenda items can include amendments to bylaws; removal of a director, officer, or public accountant; changes to notification requirements; or any other business.

This policy was revised by the Board at its November 12, 2021 meeting.

Revisions of this policy to remove: 1) specific details about membership fees charged was and 2) affiliate group membership classes was approved at the September 2018 Board Meeting. Now approved by the board, these revisions will come into effect until approved by Members at the 2019 Annual General Meeting, as per policy 1.
This policy was approved by the Board at its June 20, 2016 meeting
This policy was updated in June 2016 to make appropriate reference to proposed changes to STLHE by-laws. Founding Institutional membership list was also included. The requirement for members approval was also added.
This policy was approved at the December 10, 2015 Board meeting with a unanimous vote.
This policy was revised on April 27, 2015 to accommodate changes associated with new constituencies of CSEC and SoTL Canada.