Welcome to the Student Caucus of Osgoode's Faculty Council
Representing Osgoode Students to the Administration
Osgoode Hall Law School is situated on land which is the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat, and the Métis. It is now home to many Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region.
What do we do?
The Student Caucus of the Faculty Council runs parallel to the Legal & Literary Society, which was founded in 1876. Student Caucus is the voice of the student body within Osgoode Hall Law School, and is responsible for representing the interests of students on a number of academic, administrative and advising committees at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Student Caucus allows students at Osgoode Hall Law School to have their voice in the administration and evolution of their learning environment, and works in collaboration with the Legal & Literary Society to provide meaningful student services, academic and professional development direction – all of which helps Osgoode Hall Law School maintain its position as one of Canada’s most prestigious law schools.
Student Caucus of the Faculty Council is chaired by a group of student leaders, who are elected annually from all three years of the J.D. program. Although every J.D. student of Osgoode Hall is a member of Legal & Lit, not everyone who is a member of the Legal & Literary Society sits on committees chaired by members of Student Caucus. As always, everyone is encouraged to run, get involved and participate in life at Osgoode Hall.
Past Initiatives and Achievements
- Compiled “Instructor Report Cards” based on student evaluation data. You can find them here
- Introduced a fall reading week break for 1L students to provide a mental pause to relax, reflect and consolidate learning
- Consulted students on campus safety, mental health resources and tuition
- Created a guide for professors on making lecture recordings to ensure both that students with accessibility needs have those needs met, and that where open access has been provided that the recordings are reliable
- Contributed to Faculty Council committee work
- Reviewed student admission and faculty hiring applications
- Approved new courses and clinical intensives
- Sat on panels to review academic decisions, student awards, and grant proposals
- Set up priorities for Osgoode’s library and digital resources
Projects Which Students May Contribute To
- Updating the Student Caucus Constitution and bylaws
- Continuing to consult students on Osgoode’s strategic plan for the next three years
- Increasing representation of Indigenous students’ voices in faculty governance
- Revising the course evaluation process
- Responding to the Law Society’s proposal to change the lawyer licensing process
- Organizing our annual Alternative Careers Week
- Reviewing and revising the 1L curriculum