About the Council of Ontario Universities

The Council of Ontario Universities (COU) is a membership organization of Ontario’s 20 publicly funded universities and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC).*

We facilitate discussion between our members and advocate on a wide range of university issues as well as co-ordinate  a number of shared services for members, including inter-university transit of documents; application processing and an online portal of research resources for students and faculty.

COU works closely with the provincial and federal governments to develop and improve public policies that help our universities deliver high-quality programs for students, and the research and innovation that impacts the social, cultural and economic well-being of Ontarians.

How We Operate

With approximately 40 full-time staff across seven departments, the “COU Secretariat” is the administrative group that supports the work of the executive body, or the Council, as well as various working groups and committees.

The Council is made up of two representatives from each member and associate member institution: the executive head (president or principal) and an academic colleague appointed by each institution’s senior academic governing body.  View the 2012-13 Council photo gallery here.

Dr. Max Blouw, President of Wilfrid Laurier University, is the current Chair of Council.

Prof. Bonnie M. Patterson is the President and CEO of COU. View Prof. Patterson’s bio here.

Council is supported by the following standing committees (Click name for membership list):

• Executive
• Nominations
• Relationships with Other Postsecondary Institutions
• Government and Community Relations
• OUAC Advisory Board

COU’s Budget and Audit Committee is a standing committee under COU Holding Association Inc., the corporate entity of COU, which is overseen by the Board of Directors of COU Holding Association Inc.

• Click here for the full list of groups affiliated with COU.
• Click here for the complete 2012-13 list of COU committees and special groups.
• Click here for COU’s constitution.
• Click here for a list of Ontario universities.
• Click here to read COU’s Statement on Advanced Study at Provincially Assisted Ontario Universities.

*As a federally funded university, RMC is an associate member.