Constitution and Policies

The Constitution for the Teaching Support Union at McGill is a document that governs the internal affairs and management of the Union. The TSUM Constitution can be found here - last updated April 2026.

The union changed its name in April 2026 from the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM) to the Teaching Support Union at McGill (TSUM). The name change must still be approved by the TAT.

Standing Rules

Whenever a motion with continuing effect is passed by a body of the union, it is added to the Standing Rules. That includes motions that permanently changes the way that we do things, motions that give long-term instructions to committees, motions that establish committees—anything that lasts longer than a month or so is added!

Committees, officers, and members are encouraged to read the Standing Rules to regularly remind themselves of what we are currently mandated to do!

• Standing Rules - Committees, Positions, and their Mandates (last updated May 2026)
• Standing Rules - Operations and Procedures (last updated May 2026)
• Standing Rules - Political Positions (last updated May 2026)
• Standing Rules - Bargaining Mandates - please email secretary@agsem-aeedem.ca for access

Equity Policies

At the 1 April 2014 All-Units General Assembly, AGSEM adopted an Equity Statement to be read aloud before all Delegates’ Council and General Assemblies. The AGSEM Equity Statement can be found as article 2.4 in the Standing Rules of the General Assembly, linked above.

AGSEM also adopted an Equity Policy and Internal Complaints Procedure in April 2013, which provides AGSEM with a procedure by which to address complaints related to harassment and/or discrimination within the Union. The AGSEM Equity Policy and Internal Complaints Procedure can be found as appendix B of the Standing Rules of the General Assembly, linked above.

Please note that issues of psychological harassment and/or discrimination within the workplace (i.e., on the job as a Teaching Assistant or Invigilator) are handled using the [grievance process](https://www.agsem.ca/your-rights/).

Privacy Policy

AGSEM has adopted a policy governing the protection of personal information it holds, including information on union members. You can consult the most recent version of the privacy policy in Appendix C of the Standing Rules of the General Assembly, linked above.

Land Recognition

At the 24 October 2018 General Assembly, AGSEM adopted the following land recognition statement. The statement was to be posted on the AGSEM website, included in the AGSEM Constitution, and read at all General and Unit Assemblies. The text of the land recognition reads as follows:

We acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional land of the Kanien’kehá:ka, which has also been a place of gathering for other Indigenous peoples, including other members of the Haudenosaunee confederacy and Anishinaabe communities. AGSEM honours and respects these diverse indigenous peoples, and recognizes that our presence on this land is but one outcome of an ongoing colonial legacy. We reflect upon the impact of this heritage on our presence here today, and make this statement as a first step in interrogating the diverse effects of these under-acknowledged colonial histories.

CSN Rules of Order

AGSEM’s Delegates’ Council meetings and General Assemblies are chaired according to the CSN Rules of Order. A brief, simplified version of the Rules of Order can be found here.