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PRESIDENT APPOINTED VICE CHAIR OF ONTARIO’S WATER QUALITY TRUST FROM THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ MEETING - THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003
In her report to the Board of Governors, President Bonnie Patterson confirmed that last week she accepted an appointment by the Premier to the position of Vice Chair of the newly created Clean Water Legacy Trust. The appointment was part of a $50 million dollar provincial announcement to fund both a Centre of Excellence in Walkerton, Ontario and a new Clean Water Legacy Trust. The nine-member Legacy Trust Board will administer the government investment, build clean water research and development partnerships, review funding requests and select R&D projects for support. The Board of the trust will also channel government funding to the Centre of Excellence. "I welcomed this appointment because of the importance that Canadians attach to water quality issues and because Trent University is playing a leading role to increase our knowledge of water quality science through its Water Quality Centre," said Patterson. The President updated the Board of Governors on a variety of other university-wide issues. She noted that this past week the Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation and the Biotechnology Cluster Innovation Program (BCIP) awarded up to $2.2 million for business plans outlining biotechnology infrastructure projects. Under the program, the Greater Peterborough Area DNA Cluster Consortium will receive $200,000 to develop a strategic business plan for the proposed DNA Cluster R&D Centre, to be constructed at Trent University. The Board was advised that the province announced this week a $400 million investment in the Ontario Student Opportunities Trust Fund (OSOTF) to enhance student financial aid over the next decade. In phase one of the program Trent secured funding for a $2.78 million endowment that was matched one-for-one by the province. Phase two of the program will set aside $100,000,000 for Ontario’s smaller universities. Updating the admissions
process for high school students, the President noted that this is
a delicate time for all Ontario universities. Acceptances of Trent
offers of admission by high school students are high. To date there
are over 1,700 confirmed acceptances, very close to the target The President reported that the province’s age of retirement legislation would not likely receive final reading before the conclusion of the current legislative session. It was noted that the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) has established a task force to track the mandatory retirement issue and will be advocating for a longer transition period for implementation, if the legislation is approved. It was emphasized that universities have invested heavily into staffing plans to prepare for the double cohort and that changes to retirement ages would affect those plans. President Patterson confirmed that the budget for the Quality Assurance Fund has been embedded into the budget for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities but that universities are still waiting for the flow through of the funding. Build 2000 Report Updates on the Build 2000 projects were provided by staff to the Board. Science Facility It was noted that the contractor is being directed to accelerate the remaining construction activities with a focus on the completion of new teaching space and renovation of existing space in the Science Facility for September. The schedule for renovations remains on track. Chemistry offices will be available at the end of September, the beginning of October. The Water Quality Centre is scheduled for completion by the end of October, although this date may be advanced. Exterior cladding, landscaping and some roof work is set for completion at the end of October. Peter Gzowski College Reviews of tenders for the First Peoples House of Learning are on-going. The schedule for the construction of the new College is back on track after construction days were lost this past winter due to severe weather conditions. The last contract to be issued for the College relates to final millwork. The College remains on track for an April, 2004 opening. Health and Safety Report Received for information, the University’s Annual Occupational Health and Safety Report, 2002/03. Name Recommendation, New Science Facility Following meetings of the Science Chairs and with the support of the Names Committee and the Senate Executive the Board approved a recommendation to designate the new Science Facility as the "Chemical Sciences Building." The approval also allows for donors to be approached regarding future naming opportunities for the new building. Fundraising Council Report Dan Coholan, Trent alum and Chair of the Fundraising Council, reported on the latest fundraising initiatives. He noted that Trent alum Mr. Graeme W. Ross, Manager of RBC Dominion Securities, Peterborough branch, had accepted a position on the fundraising council. Recent fundraising activities have included:
Nominating Committee Approved, the Nominating and Governance Committee’s recommendation to delegate the approval of personnel changes for all employee groups to a Human Resources subcommittee that would report to the Board at least annually. Committee’s recommendation to change the Board By-Law to allow for the submission of compilation reports to the Board on a quarterly basis highlighting personnel changes for all employee groups. The Board reviewed results of the Board Effectiveness Survey and agreed to restructure the organization of Board meeting days to better meet the needs of Board members and the public. Policy on Research Organizations Approved, a "Policy on Research Organizations at Trent University." The policy divides research organizations into three different types based upon the scope, sources of funding and management structure. The three organizations are:
The policy also includes procedures for appointing Directors of Research Centres, guidelines for preparing research organization proposals, membership, management, staffing, physical requirements and liability, financing and support, and commercialization of research. External Undergraduate Reviews Received for information a report on various Trent undergraduate program reviews (UPRs). In 2001-02, reviews of History, International Development Studies and Philosophy were initiated. In 2002-03, UPRs for Business Administration and Physics were initiated. In 2003-04, UPRs for Anthropology, Cultural Studies and Mathematics will begin. All Ontario universities are required to undertake periodic reviews of all undergraduate programs in accordance with principles set out by the Ontario Council of Academic Vice Presidents (OCAV). This is a self-regulatory process, subject to audit through OCAV. New and Departing Board Members Chair Reid Morden welcomed Doug Brown and Michael Gough to the Board. He also presented certificates of appreciation to departing board members Glen Easson, Professor David Glassco, Mike Izzo and Dr. Larry Seeley. Posted July 2, 2003 |
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