143rd AMS President Eric Sikich adressing Assembly.
The Alma Mater Society (AMS) is the oldest student union in Canada. The AMS Assembly is composed of elected representatives from Queen鈥檚 eight faculty societies, non-voting Commissioners, and ex-officio members, together representing over 20,000 undergraduate students. The Assembly is responsible for discussing student affairs, debating and voting on motions, and holding the AMS Executive and affiliated bodies accountable.
The Assembly meets regularly throughout the academic year, on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, with all AMS members invited to participate in the General Assembly held twice annually. Assembly meetings follow formal governance procedures and aim to promote transparency, inclusivity, and good governance. Reports are submitted by key members, and students are encouraged to submit motions or raise issues. Accessibility is a core priority, and accommodations are available upon request to ensure full participation.
The Rector serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the AMS Assembly, meaning they hold this position by virtue of their role as Rector, rather than through election or appointment. The Rector attends each Assembly meeting, where they submit a written report and deliver an oral update to keep student representatives informed of key initiatives, concerns, and ongoing advocacy.
Within Assembly, the Rector offers context and insight on relevant topics, poses guiding questions to support meaningful discussion, and uses Assembly dialogue to inform their work with university administration.