The Board of Directors fulfills three distinct roles within the organization of the Alma Mater Society;  

1. Strategic Guidance Role, the Board provides oversight of the business planning process, ensuring that the organization is adhering to its long-term business and financial objectives. 
2. Financial Accountability Role, the Board monitors the fiscal and risk management of the Society and ensuring its sustained financial viability. To this end, the Board approves all corporate and office budgets, as well the societies allocations prior to assembly approval of their budgets, and capital expenditures for the organization. 
3. Human Resources Role, the Board concerning human resources is derived from the board’s exclusive jurisdiction over all AMS policy concerning personnel that receive remuneration for the involvement with the Society. 

For students, all AMS members are eligible to become members on the board. Applications will become available each February, and interviews will generally take place in March, this process is done by the Board’s Nominating Committee. Nominated directors, then at the Corporate Annual General Meeting will be voted in by the incoming and outgoing stakeholders. The election for Chair and Vice-Chair takes place in April by an internal election process by the current/ upcoming Board. The next application period will be February 2026. 

For alumni and community directors, applications will come out in March (for April ratification by the Board). The next application period will be March 2026. 

Each year, the board forms standing committees to provide recommendations and foresight pertaining to each area of specialization. These committees do not just include board members, but also permanent staff and student staff to make the strongest recommendations. They are as follows:

Strategic Planning

Investment

The Committee is responsible for the oversight and performance review of the AMS Investment Advisors and the AMS’s investment funds. The Committee will also make recommendations to the Board on matters relating to the AMS Investment Policy Statement.  

Finance and Risk

The Committee will make recommendations to and oversee for the Board on matters related to the Corporation’s financial management and reporting, including enterprise risk management, finance and risk guidance to management for the Board, and monitor the internal processes and controls of the Corporation. 

Governance

The Committee shall work to ensure the effective functioning of the Board and AMS corporate governance, including overseeing professional development, engagement, non-delegated corporate policies, and evaluation of the Board.  

Personnel

The Committee is responsible for the oversight, review, and establishment of policy, remuneration, and annual compensation grid pertaining to all student and permanent staff, as well as volunteers of the AMS. 

The Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University Inc. is a not-for-profit entity created by the Society in 1969 for the purpose of ensuring its continuing financial viability by overseeing the management of its services and associated financial affairs. The Corporation is bound to its by-law, articles, and its corporate philosophy is derivative of the Mission and Operating statements of the Society as set out in the AMS Constitution. As such, the AMS is required to have a Board of Directors to guide the strategic direction and long-term viability of the corporation. 

Joining the Board of Directors as a Student Director is an outstanding opportunity for experiential learning and student leadership. Being a Student Director allows you to engage in a variety of areas from corporate governance, human resource capital management, risk management, shareholder engagement, and financial or strategic planning. Further the following benefits and supports to provide appreciation and financial accessibility to being a Board member are as follows: 

• Professional Development for Board areas as well team building socials with the Board.  

• Trainings on How to be a Board Director. 

• Transportation cost coverage for meetings.  

• Meals provided for board meetings that occur during a general mealtime (Lunch or Dinner). 

• All 6 Student Directors are provided a base honorarium as listed in the Dayforce application, additionally for Roles of Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Chairs of Governance, Finance and Risk, or Personnel each receive an additional honorarium as listed in the Dayforce application. 

• All 6 Student Directors receive AMS Services Discount.   

The Board has engagement in three ways; Shareholder Engagement, Student Engagement, and Internal Engagement (How we engage with management and other internal bodies, defined within corporate policies, procedures, or agreements.) 

The Board pursues Shareholder Engagement which is the Assembly Members through: 

• Corporate General Meeting and Special Corporate General Meeting(s) in April and December respectively; this is our largest public event where reports and presentations are provided to shareholders and motions for approval are moved to a vote; all shareholders have voting rights as outlined in ONCA. 

• The Chair serves as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Assembly; that also provides a monthly report on behalf of the Board to the Assembly. In addition, the Chair, Vice Chair, and other Board Committee Chairs site on a variety of Assembly authorized committees as requested by the Assembly.  

• Shareholder surveys and feedback circles are often facilitated around concerns or ideas brought by the board or the shareholders.  

• Engagement Activities with the Assembly as planned by the Chair, President, and Secretariat. 

The Board pursues Student Engagement, viewed as more broadly to all of campus for improving awareness of the responsibility of the Board of Directors and who they are; while also engaging beyond shareholders to the students composing the customer base of the corporation.  

• Invitation to Corporate General Meetings and Special Corporate General Meetings, with non-voting rights.  

• Board of Directors campaigns led with the Marketing Office or other campus partners.  

• Engagement with Students through Community volunteering and collaborations. 

• Surveys and focus groups that are planned for feedback on specific interests of the Board based on student concerns or ideas.