On Feb. 28, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the administration signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)—a document outlining the two parties’ cooperation. Coming in at 118 pages long, The Tribune breaks down what students actually need to know about the new MoA, how it differs from the previous version, and why it matters.
What is the MoA?
The MoA is a crucial aspect of how SSMU operates. The SSMU is a student-run organization registered as a not-for-profit incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Despite its independence from McGill, the terms of its relationship with the university are central to its functioning—defining its ability to operate on the McGill campus and for clubs and services to use the McGill name.
Without an MoA, student clubs and services cannot legally use the McGill name or work out of the University Centre, fundamentally disrupting SSMU’s operations.
Typically valid for five years, the new agreement will remain in effect until May 31, 2029. This MoA includes a couple of key adjustments, including new requirements for hopeful SSMU executives and changes to how McGill and SSMU can resolve any Notices of Termination—formal announcements that either party wants to end the agreement. The MoA also includes details on the SSMU office’s upcoming move to the fourth floor of the University Centre.
What are the new rules for SSMU executive and executive nominees?
Under the previous MoA the only requirement to run for a SSMU executive position was to be an undergraduate student who had taken at least 18 credits in the 18 months leading up to the election. The previous MoA also stipulated that all SSMU executives and Board of Director members would be subject to the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures, although there were no further details on candidates’ eligibility.
Now, SSMU executives and directors cannot have a disciplinary record at McGill, an offence under the student code of conduct, or have been suspended from the university.
How has the process of resolving MoA-related issues between McGill and SSMU changed?
The default clause in the previous MoA outlined that an “event of default” would occur if SSMU breached the MoA, its own constitution, Quebec law, or faced serious financial issues. In the event of default, the money “assessed by the University for [SSMU]” would be put into a trust fund overseen by representatives of both parties until the default was resolved. The new MoA no longer includes this clause. Instead, either party can now issue a Notice of Termination at any point, with the issue being taken to an impartial third-party mediator.
To SSMU President Dymetri Taylor, this adjustment takes away some of the University’s financial power over student union in negotiations over default.
“The reason for the change was more or less to give some leeway and have it be more of a conversation amongst equals,” Taylor explained to The Tribune.
Where are the SSMU offices going?
Currently located in suite 1200 of the Brown Building, the SSMU offices will be moved to the fourth floor of the University Centre following this school year, taking over suites 401 and 403-409. While most of the space is currently unoccupied, it includes the Club Lounge, the McGill University Photography Students Society office, and the Queer McGill library. The SSMU has yet to finalize where the clubs’ spaces will be relocated to, although he alluded that libraries from various SSMU services may be consolidated into a single space.
As for the current SSMU offices, McGill will take over the space to create more offices for staff on campus. According to Taylor, this is in part due to financial constraints that have forced the university to cut down on its external leases in and around Montreal.
