Our Alumni Chapter

The School of Public Health Alumni Chapter (SPHAC) was approved in 2011 as an alumni chapter under the auspices of the University of Alberta Alumni Association. All graduates of programs in the Centre for Health Promotion Studies and the (former) Department of Public Health Sciences are members.

This new, unified chapter was launched in cooperation with the executives of two previous chapters affiliated with our School: the Public Health Sciences Alumni Association (PHSAA) and the Health Promotion Alumni Association (HPAA). 

This new chapter represents renewed enthusiasm and commitment to pursue mutually beneficial goals. We are excited about the opportunities to strengthening relations between our School and alumni.

We invite you to read on and meet your alumni chapter executive.

1. Name: The name of the committee shall be the University of Alberta School of Public Health Alumni Chapter, hereinafter known as the Chapter.

2. Mission: To support School of Public Health alumni to champion public health approaches; to foster a sense of community among alumni; and to promote the goals and values of the School of Public Health.

3. Chapter Membership:

4.1 The Executive Committee, guided by the mission and supporting work plan, will implement the goals of the Chapter, as long as they are not in conflict with the University of Alberta, the University of Alberta Alumni Association, or the School of Public Health or its student groups or clubs.

4.2 The powers of the Executive Committee shall include:

4.2.1 Promoting the goals of the Chapter

4.2.2 Recommending an annual budget for the Chapter

4.2.3 Raising funds for scholarships or bursaries

4.2.4 Making policies, rules and regulations for operating the Chapter

4.3 The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members:

4.3.1 Chair

4.3.2 A maximum of five Directors, with at least two that are based in Edmonton and at least one that is not based in Edmonton

4.3.3 A maximum of two student representatives

4.3.4 A maximum of two representatives from the School of Public Health, with one having responsibility for marketing, communications and alumni relations

4.3.5 Past Chair
4.3.6 A maximum of two Directors-at-Large

4.4 The Chair will assume the following duties:

4.4.1 Preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee. In the absence of the Chair, a chairperson shall be appointed by the members present.

4.4.2 Work in collaboration with the Executive Committee to establish work plans, implementation timelines and high level evaluation of progress.

4.4.3 Work with the representative(s) from the School of Public Health who will provide Secretariat functions.

4.4.4 Work in collaboration with the Executive Committee to establish the Chapter meeting schedule and prepare and circulate an agenda in advance of meetings.

4.4.5 Review the Chapter meeting minutes for accuracy and distribute them to the Executive Committee and to the University’s Office of Alumni Relations.

4.4.6 Liaise with the University’s Office of Alumni Relations and forward, as requested, minutes, reports, Chapter news, and other information.

4.4.7 Develop Chapter related documents as required.

4.5 The five Directors, student representatives, School of Public Health representative(s) and Directors-at-Large will assume the following duties:

4.5.1 Champion the mission and goals of SPHAC.

4.5.2 Attend and actively participate in Chapter Executive meetings.

4.5.3 Serve on sub-committees formed to achieve the Chapter’s mission and goals.

4.5.4 Serve, on occasion, as volunteers at Chapter-related events and activities as location permits.

4.6 A quorum shall consist of a majority (50% + 1) of members of the committee. A consensus model shall be used for decision making.

4.7 Recruitment for the SPHAC Executive members will occur as follows:

4.7.1 Recruitment of Chair

4.7.1.1 Will be the responsibility of the incumbent SPHAC Chair.

4.7.1.2 Will preferably come from the pool of current executive who have served a minimum of two years.

4.7.2 Recruitment of Directors

4.7.2.1 The Chair will call for nominations and the names of potential suitable candidates will be confirmed.

4.7.2.2 An Executive Committee member will be assigned to gauge the potential candidate’s interest.

4.7.2.3 At an Executive Committee meeting the candidates will be confirmed and the Chair will subsequently notify the person and advise them of the next meeting date.

4.7.2.4 A staggered approach to recruitment will be used when possible, to optimize continuity.

4.7.3 Recruitment of School of Public Health Representatives

4.7.3.1 The senior person responsible for marketing, communications and alumni relations will be designated as the representative.

4.7.3.2 Additional School representatives may be recommended by the person designated in 4.7.3.1

4.7.4 Recruitment of Student Representatives

4.7.4.1 The Chair will ask for a maximum of two representatives from the School of Public Health Student Association (SPHSA).

4.7.5 Recruitment of Past Chair

4.7.5.1 The Past Chair will be encouraged to serve a one year term to support the Executive Committee’s transition to new leadership.

4.7.6 Recruitment of Directors-at-Large

4.7.6.1 Director-at-Large positions shall be used to allow recognized leaders to continue to serve on the Chapter after a prior term is complete and to allow the Chapter access to people with specialized expertise.

4.7.6.2 Directors-at-Large are considered full members of Executive Committee and have the same duties and responsibilities.

4.7.6.3 It is desirable that one of the Directors-at- Large be a member of the University’s Alumni Council.

4.8 Appointment of members for the SPHAC will occur as follows:

4.8.1 The Chair of SPHAC and the SPH representative will share new SPHAC member’s names with the Dean, SPH.

4.8.2 A welcome letter, on SPH letterhead, co-signed by the Dean, SPH and Chair, SPHAC will be sent to each new member and to members assuming new roles.

4.8.3 Appointments for the Chair and Directors will be for a period of not less than two years with the option to renew for one two-year term. An officer shall not serve more than two successive terms in one position.

4.8.4 Appointments of the School of Public Health Representatives will be ongoing for the duration of their position with the School of Public Health.

4.8.5 Appointments of the Student representatives will be at the discretion of the School of Public Health Student Association Executive.

4.8.6 Appointments and timeframes for the Director-at-Large positions will be mutually agreed upon by the individual and the Chair.

4.8.7 If an appointed member resigns their position or otherwise ceases to hold their position, the Chair will initiate recruitment as outlined above in 4.8.

4.9 The Executive Committee shall meet at least 4 (four) times per year at the call of the Chair.

5.1 The fiscal year of the Chapter is April 1 to March 31.

5.2 Funds required to operate the Chapter shall be obtained from donations collected; sponsorships; funds from the School of Public Health; or any other dues, membership fees or ticket prices as the Chapter may deem appropriate.

5.3 All funds/finances shall be administered by the University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations.

5.4 The funding, if available, from the University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations will be applied for and expended on Chapter operations within each fiscal year.

5.5 The University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations shall maintain the financial records.

6.1 The Chair shall forward to the School representative a copy of the minutes of all meetings of the Chapter for safe-keeping and will also forward minutes to the University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations.

6.2 A member wishing to inspect the minutes or financial reports of the Chapter must give the University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations 10 business days’ notice of their intention to do so. Records that are governed by FOIPP or deemed confidential shall not apply.

7.1 The Executive Committee may propose amendments to the Terms of Reference. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations in writing.

7.2 Amendments shall not take effect until approved by the University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations.

8.1 Should the Chapter have a period of inactivity for a period of two years, it will be deemed to be dissolved and the University of Alberta Office of Alumni Relations will notify the School of Public Health regarding this change.

8.2 If the Chapter is dissolved, the remaining funds, if any, will be used for scholarships or bursaries for students in the School of Public Health.