The Langara College Board of Governors focuses on policy and strategic leadership, rather than administrative detail, and develops and maintains a clear distinction between Board and presidential roles.  Board By-Laws and Policies have been developed to assist the Board in performing its functions consistent with the BC College and Institute Act which the Board considers advisable for the proper administration and advancement of the College.

(as prescribed in the College and Institute Act)

Powers of the Board:

(Section 19)

  1. Subject to this Act, a board may do the following:
    1. make bylaws for the orderly conduct of its affairs;
    2. manage, administer and control the property, revenue, expenditures, business and affairs of the institution;
    3. establish committees it considers necessary and advisable;
    4. determine courses or programs to be offered or cancelled at the institution;
    5. manage and promote the educational or training programs offered at the institution, subject to sections 24 and 25;
    6. determine all questions relating to the qualifications for admission, subject to section 24;
    7. provide for the granting of diplomas, certificates and associate degrees and, subject to designation under section 5.1, baccalaureate degrees, applied baccalaureate degrees, applied masters degrees and honorary degrees to be awarded by the institution;
    8. establish and administer trust funds for scholarships, fellowships, exhibitions, bursaries, prizes and student loans out of money donated or made available for that purpose;
    9. perform other functions consistent with this Act that the board considers advisable for the proper administration and advancement of the institution.
  2. If there is a conflict between subsection (1) (d) and an agreement entered into by a board on or after July 7, 1983, subsection (1) (e) prevails.
  3. [Repealed 2004-33-4.]
    (3.1) Without limiting subsection (1) (b), the board may collect fees on behalf of a student organization and remit those fees to the student organization.
  4. The board may pay to a municipality incorporated by or under an Act a grant in a year not exceeding the lesser of
    1. the amount that would be payable as general municipal taxes in the year on property of the institution within the municipality if the property were not exempt from these taxes, and
    2. the amount specified by the minister or calculated in the manner specified by the minister
  5. The board must act as follows:
    1. (a) at the request of the minister, prepare and submit budgets, financial statements, reports and other information that the minister considers necessary to carry out the minister’s responsibilities in relation to institutions;
    2. (b) provide for the conservation of any heritage property that is owned by, assigned to or in the possession of the institution;
    3. (c) make bylaws establishing the following:
      1. fees and charges to be paid to the institution by students;
      2. duties of members of the board or committees of the board in conflict of interest situations;
      3. powers, duties and benefits of the president as chief executive officer of the institution;
      4. reimbursement by the institution to members of its board for travelling and out of pocket expenses necessarily incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.

    (5.1) to (5.3) [Repealed 2004-33-4.]

  6. Information requested under subsection (5) (a) may include personal information about a student.
  7. Personal information obtained under subsection (5) (a) or under section 170.2 of the School Act may not be used to make a decision respecting an individual student.
  8. For the purposes of subsections (6) and (7), “student” has the same meaning as in section 41.1.
  9. Subject to a requirement in this Act that the board act by enacting a bylaw, the board may act by bylaw or resolution.
  10. The board must hold a minimum of 4 meetings each year and the intervals between meetings should be approximately equal.
  11. On a number of matters identified in section 23 of the Act, the Board must seek advice from the Education Council. Other matters require joint approval of the Board and Education Council. These matters are identified in section 25 of the Act.

The Operating Principles of the Langara College Board

These Operating Principles outline how the Board will operate to carry out its duties of stewardship and accountability, and define the role of the Langara College Board in outlining its purpose, procedures and organization, duties and responsibilities and general legal obligations.

  1. The Board, as trustees of the organization, carries out its duties of stewardship of a public institution and accountability to the community, students, employees and government.
  2. The Board develops the capacity and processes to deal with important and difficult issues.
  3. The Board demonstrates its leadership by establishing and maintaining a healthy, responsible, and respectful working relationship between the Board, management, employees, students and the community.
  4. The Board and Management determine and maintain the type of flow of information that is needed in order for the Board to perform its functions and duties.
  5. The Board, in consultation with Management, sets the vision and direction for the College. Management then develops the strategic plan with the involvement of the Board at key stages of development and review.
  6. The Board sets policy, Management implements the policy, and the Board, at times, provides advice and support to Management in the implementation process. To aid this process, the Board sets deliberate parameters to allow for the development of policies that meet the true direction intended.
  7. After a respectful consultative process that accommodates the diversity of perspectives on the Board, the Board speaks with one collective voice, signified by a passed motion that reflects the majority opinion of the Board. Board members can express their views of particular subjects as individuals but they do not speak for the Board.
  8. The Board will use committees or special task forces to do research and analysis on specific issues to enhance the information available to make decisions.

    The Board will manage these committees or task forces by:

    • establishing the operating guidelines for Board committees or task forces
    • defining the governance framework, including their respective mandates, roles, responsibilities and accountabilities.
  9. The Board is responsible for assessing and maintaining a high level of effectiveness by establishing a process for evaluation of its performance and renewal of its mandate.
  10. The Board members are responsible for bringing their diverse skills and experience to deliberations with the end result being decisions that are in the best interest of the College.
  11. The Board will establish operating processes which ensure their delegated and fiduciary responsibilities are effectively discharged.
  12. The Board supports the concept that the role of the Chair is separate from that of the President/CEO. The Board is able to function independently of Management when necessary and the Chair provides leadership to the Board.