The Council, standing committees and affiliates are supported by a full-time secretariat of close to 40 people, who support them through research, policy development and advocacy.
Office of the President, under the leadership of President and CEO Bonnie M. Patterson, takes a leadership role in identifying priorities, managing policy and advocacy efforts, engaging with government and other stakeholders, and strengthening the service to members.
Secretary to Council supports the ongoing business of Council by providing timely information, policy advice and service to the Executive Committee, Executive Heads, Council, several standing committees and affiliates, as well as to the Office of the President, and administers several research chair programs.
Corporate Services strengthens and supervises human resources, manages informational technology and oversees the financial administration of the secretariat. The department also supports the work of the universities' senior administrative and financial officers.
Communications and Public Affairs builds awareness about the strategic importance of our university sector as well as the challenges it faces, and engages with a wide range of stakeholders including government, media and student organizations.
Policy and Analysis identifies research needs that address key priorities for Ontario universities, and provides analysis to support ongoing advocacy and communication efforts in a wide range of areas, such as enrolment, finances, physical facilities and university applications.
Office of Health Sciences, within Policy and Analysis, provides advocacy and policy support to Ontario universities that offer health sciences programs in medicine, nursing, rehabilitation sciences as well as programs that focus on seniors' health.
Strategic Initiatives advances the research agenda in Ontario with both the provincial and federal governments. The department also leads special policy projects, such as improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
Quality Assurance Secretariat. The primary roles of the Secretariat are to support the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance and its Committees in the approval process of new undergraduate and graduate programs, conduct the quality assurance (QA) audits of member universities and provide QA advice to universities and other stakeholders.
Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), a division of COU, processes the applications for the province’s undergraduate programs; for medical, law, teacher education and rehabilitation sciences programs; and for selected graduate programs.