OPEN
SESSION MINUTES
TRENT UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS
October 1, 2004
Present:
J.R. Morden (Chair), P.A. Brieger, D.B. Brown, R. D. Butterworth,
J.T.P. Casserly, C. Dickinson, M.J. Gough, D. J. Kennett, R. Kutschke,
P.M. Lafleur, L. McDonald, D. L. Morton, B.M. Patterson, C.A. Rabinovitch,
K.M. Ramsay, G. N. Ross, W.J. Saunderson, F. G. Sherratt, P.H. Southern,
E.W.H. Tremain, L. Vernon, J.D. Young; J.D. de Pencier, L. Seeley, G.
Wolff; M. Nefstead, C. Sproule; S. Bartsch, G. Brownscombe, S. Clark,
D. Cumming, S. Mackle, D. O'Leary, B. Willows, N.E.S. Smith (Secretary)
Chair's
Remarks. The Chair welcomed Senate visitors, new members and
honorary members. He commented on the Board's interesting breakfast
session with student leaders and on the evolution of the University
as a topic for ongoing discussion.
Minutes.
The Minutes of the Open Session of June 24, 2004 were approved.
Honorary
Membership. Ms. Rabinovitch noted that up until March 2003,
honorary member appointments had been awarded under different terms
than those set out in the Board's special resolution on honorary membership.
In June 2004 the Committee had recommended a grandfathering provision
for these earlier lifetime appointments made in recognition of prior
exemplary service. Based on this recommendation, the Board resolved;
THAT
Special Resolution III.7 be revised to include a footnote stating
“Honorary members of the Board appointed prior to 2003 shall be considered
to be grandfathered under the terms of their original appointments”.
President's
Report. President Patterson announced that a discussion document
entitled Higher Expectation for Higher Education was being
released in connection with the Rae Review of Postsecondary Education.
The Task Force would visit Trent and Fleming on November 22 and both
COU and Trent would be making submissions in due course. The President
commented on other upcoming provincial initiatives including the government's
strategic plan, fall economic impact statement and three-year capital
plan. She reported that new documents associated with the Ontario Universities
Accountability Framework should be available for the Board's review
in a few weeks.
The
President provided updates on the curtailing of the OSOTF program which
will now only match funds to March 2005, the government's wish to bring
Ontario universities under provincial freedom of information/privacy
legislation and the appointment of local MPP Jeff Leal as parliamentary
assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. She
reported on the position COU was taking with the government concerning
the end of mandatory retirement and on a recent discussion with Minister
Sorbara on research infrastructure support.
Almost
2000 new students had arrived on the Trent campus. While enrolment was
still below the April 2004 budget target, the Registrar's Office had
managed to reduce the shortfall by about 25% since the last report to
the Board. Ten non-GTA universities had not met their yield rate-based
projections for students entering directly from high school and it appeared
that many grade 12 students were taking an extra year to prepare for
university entrance. At Trent the lower enrolment numbers would have
a significant impact requiring adjustments to both the operating budget
and academic staffing plan.
The
President noted the recent approval by Senate of a new name "Trent-Fleming
School of Nursing" and operational framework for the nursing program.
She highlighted a number of recent and upcoming campus events and reminded
the Board that the dedication of the Larry E. Seeley Chemistry Computational
Room, the photographing of the Chair's Bench in honour of Mr. Wolff
and the naming of a rowing scull after Mr. Coholan would all take place
that weekend in conjunction with Head of the Trent and the opening of
the Chemical Sciences Building . Professor Gordon Johnston addressed
the Board about the University's upcoming 40 th Anniversary celebration.
Financial
Statements ( April 30, 2004 ). The Chair of the Investment
& Audit Committee reported that the University had received a clean,
unqualified audit report for 2003-2004. She noted that the audit had
been more complex than usual due to a $36.7M increase in capital assets.
Mr. Brownscombe reviewed the statements in detail, noting in particular
changes in revenue and expense over the previous five years and improvements
in key financial indicators. These included a decrease of almost $1M
in the cumulative deficit and an improved debt to equity ratio. He noted
in response to a query, that indicators showed Trent falling into line
with other, smaller Universities but not tracking as favourably as the
larger institutions. Mr. Brownscombe illustrated how, on a cumulative
basis, the net yield of past tuition increases to the operating budget
had been very minimal once the increased investment in scholarships
and bursaries was taken into account. On the recommendation of the Committee,
the Board resolved:
THAT
the Trent University
Financial Statements at April 30, 2004 , attached as
Appendix
A to the master copy of these Minutes, be approved.
Revised
2004-2005 Operating Budget. The Chair of the Finance & Property Committee recalled that when the current year's budget had
been approved in April 2004, the University had not yet received confirmation
of its operating funding. Since that time, both tuition revenue from
enrolment and government grants had come in at lower levels than anticipated
and it had been necessary to identify expense reductions to deal with
these shortfalls. The academic community had been alerted that with
fewer students than expected, the University would not be in hiring
mode this year. Following questions and discussion, the Board resolved:
THAT
the Trent University 2005-05 Operating Budget , as amended
and attached as Appendix B to the master copy of these Minutes, be
approved.
Objectives
of the Board of Governors. On behalf of the Executive Committee
Mr. Morden presented proposed objectives and supporting initiatives
for the Board in 2004-05. In response to a query the President indicated
her intention to hire someone to support planning for the development
of the Endowment Lands in conjunction with the DNA Cluster, research
park and athletics plan. Following questions and discussion, the Board
resolved:
THAT
the Objectives of the Board of Governors 2004-05 , attached
as Appendix C to the master copy of these Minutes, be approved.
Site
for DNA Cluster Building . The Chair of the Finance & Property Committee noted that although the administration was not quite
ready to propose a business plan for the DNA Cluster building, the Committee
was recommending approval of a site for the eventual facility, if and
when a project involving construction of a facility was approved by
the Board. This move would allow necessary planning and site preparation
work to continue. The University had been approved for approximately
$8M of CFI and OIT funding for the Trent component of the research facility
and was facing a tight time line (December 2005) for the use of these
funds. The proposed site, located behind Otonabee College , had been
identified after much consultation as the site that would best satisfy
the goals and selection criteria for the project. The President provided
updates on design, consulting, costing and steering committee work in
progress and on the three potential business models that could be presented
for committee consideration before the next Board meeting.
It
was reported that a member of the Nature Areas Committee had expressed
concern that not all members were in attendance when the site had been
discussed in July. It was noted in response that consultation with the
advisory committees had taken place over more than one meeting and that
Site B represented the best compromise based on input received from
all sources. Vice-President O'Leary reported that the discussion with
the Nature Areas Committee in July had been extensive and that the Committee
had provided valuable input on the storm water management plan. President
Patterson confirmed that the project would not involve the sale of University
land, that Site B had been part of an environmental assessment on air
movement and that the City would be conducting an environmental assessment
on the proposed ring road area. The Chair reiterated that approval of
the site did not commit the Board to proceed down a particular path
in terms of the project. Based on this understanding, the Board resolved:
THAT
the DNA Cluster Project Building if and when approved, be located
on Site B as indicated on the map shown in the Request for Approval
of DNA Cluster Project—Site Selection attached as Appendix D
to the master copy of these Minutes.
Fundraising
Council. It was reported that $2.4 million of the $3.6 million
target for the Expanding Capacity campaign had been raised
to date and that the Fundraising Council hoped to complete the campaign
by early 2005. A renewed effort would be needed to raise the last $1.2
million. The Council was concerned about issues of donor trust related
to government changes to the OSOTF program. Members were encouraged
to attend the October 16 and/or November 8 fundraising events for the
Peter Gzowski College Campaign.
Human
Rights Report. President Patterson called attention to the
2003-2004 annual report of the University's Human Rights Advisor. She
noted that the policy on discrimination and harassment was currently
under review by the University's Human Rights Committee.
Board
Nominations and Chair Succession. Mr. Gough invited nominations
for Board appointments in 2005 noting the particular types of skills,
experience and diversity being sought by the Nominating Committee. He
noted that chair succession planning was also underway and that Ms.
Dudas would be contacting members of the Board to request their input
with a view to bringing forward a recommendation on November 26.
Special
Thanks to Faculty and Staff. The Board expressed appreciation
to Trent staff and faculty for their forbearance in the aftermath of
the July flooding of University facilities.
The
meeting was adjourned.
Nancy
Smith
Secretary
|
Reid
Morden
Chair |
Susan
Bartsch
Recording Secretary |
|
