Academic Council held its first meeting March 7th, 1972, and its constitution was ratified May 10, 1972. The Academic Governance Council (AGC) was established in December 2008, with its Bylaws approved by AGC at its first meeting in January 2009 (Motion AGC-05-01-20-2009). AGC is responsible for academic standards, integrity, policies, programs, as well as scholarship, research, and creative activities at MacEwan University.
Academic Affairs first appeared on organizational charts on June 15, 1976. Possibly preceded by the Academic Division (org chart from June 29, 1971).
Within a shared governance framework, Academic Affairs is responsible for academic program development and delivery, scholarly activity, academic policies, enrolment management, educational technology, the Office of Teaching and Learning Services, and a number of supporting functions to support learner success and faculty engagement. In addition, Academic Affairs is accountable for the institutional and educational technology mandate at MacEwan as well as the requirements of Institutional Research.
Retirees of MacEwan University
The association was formed in winter 2015 by the President's Group Task Team and the Retired Staff Seed Group as part of the University's retiree engagement strategy. Its intention was to continue retiree relationships with the University and one another, and was created as an umbrella group for all categories of retired employees: faculty, staff, out-of-scope, and administration. On May 28, 2015, the Board of Governors approved the name “Retirees of MacEwan University” and on March 19, 2019, the structure was formalized with the approval of the bylaws by the association's Leadership Group.
Established in 1985, the Alumni Association's goals were to re-establish contact with past alumni and to provide access to resources and services to meet the needs of its members. It reported to a variety of departments including Community Relations, the Students' Association, and College Advancement. In 2015, Alumni Relations and Fundraising merged into a single department named Alumni and Development.
Arts and Cultural Management program
The Arts Administration program was proposed in 1972 , funded in 1979, and was the first college-level arts administration certificate to be established in Canada. In 2000 it was renamed Arts and Cultural Management, and in 2004 it became possible to complete the program entirely online. In 2010, it became a two year diploma program. In 2022, it transitioned to a major and diploma exit option available in the Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Selected by The Alberta Colleges Commission, the Board of Governors of Edmonton College held its first meeting on April 29, 1970. Chaired by Barry Moore, membership also included Winnifred Ferguson, Robert Guebert, Fred Kurylo, and Edward Stack. Early priorities included changing the name of the institution, and on July 15, 1970 it was agreed that the Honourable Dr. J. W. Grant MacEwan be selected as namesake. The Board also identified the intent of the College as a community college that would not focus on university transfer, which set it apart from other Alberta institutions. It subsequently hired the first president, John L. Haar, who accepted the Board's offer on October 16, 1970.
The Board of Governors of Grant MacEwan University is a corporation, as set out in the Alberta Post-Secondary Learning Act. As the senior authority for the University, the Board is accountable to the Minister of Advanced Education and ultimately, the people of Alberta. The Board manages and operates the University within its approved mandate, establishing policies to govern the affairs of the University. On an annual basis, the Board submits a Comprehensive Institutional Plan and Audited Financial Statements to the Minister.
The Faculty Association formally began when faculty met to establish an academic staff association on July 29, 1971. A proposal for the Faculty Association was submitted August 10, and the constitution was approved on September 16, 1971.
The Grant MacEwan University Faculty Association (GMUFA) negotiates the terms and conditions of employment for their members and ensures the application and interpretation of the Collective Agreement.
The nursing program began on February 2, 1972 when it was approved in correspondence from the Committee on Nursing Education of the Universities Coordinating Council from a proposal submitted by Nursing Chair Dr. George Monckton. Seventy-four students were admitted for the first class in September, 1972, and in April, 1974, the Occupational Health Nursing Program with given approval to operate with 32 students enrolled. To increase the opportunities for educational advancement of Registered Psychiatric Nurses, a supplementary program leading to a general nursing diploma was approved in May, 1974, and admitted 9 students. In July, 1975, the department was reorganized and enlarged under a new name: Health Sciences Department. The basic nursing program then admitted 80 students in September and 30 in January, 1975. Its first degree, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing was first offered in September, 2007. The Faculty of Nursing was created July 1, 2016.
The Grant MacEwan Community College Foundation began in 1980 as an extension of the responsibilities of the Vice President, Student and College Services. Its purpose was to raise money to support projects offered by the college that exceeded the allocation from Alberta Advanced Education. By 1992, the foundation had raised approximately $17 million from alumni, friends, service clubs, corporations, and other foundations on behalf of the college. In 2015, Fundraising and Alumni were merged into a single department named Alumni and Development.
Named for the former Lieutenant Governor and mayor of Calgary, Grant MacEwan Community College was established in Edmonton, Alberta in 1971. In 1999 it was renamed Grant MacEwan College, and on September 24, 2009 became Grant MacEwan University.