Trent University’s Board of Governors held its fifth regular meeting of the academic year on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area (GTA)’s Advanced Learning Centre – marking the first time a Board meeting has been held at the new facility focused on post-graduate certificates in downtown Oshawa. 

In his opening remarks, incoming Board chair Doug Kirk spoke to the steady, strategic growth of the Trent Durham campus, and the support and investment of the local Oshawa and Durham community that was integral to the success of the University’s operations in the GTA. Kirk also spoke to a recent event he attended, the Canadian Universities Board Association, which included a panel of university presidents speaking to current issues in higher education.  

President Leo Groarke also shared highlights of recent events in his opening remarks, including the Trent Alumni Awards, where he was recognized as an honorary alumnus, the Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Research Awards, and the Heart of Trent employee appreciation event. President Groarke praised the outstanding contributions of Trent's faculty in research, innovation, and teaching and thanked staff for their hard work and dedication to the University.

The meeting also featured a luncheon with local dignitaries, including His Worship Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa, and Councillors Tito-Dante Marimpietri and Derek Giberson. In welcoming the dignitaries, incoming chair Kirk thanked them for their continued support of Trent Durham, saying “the Board of Governors looks forward to our continued partnership with the City of Oshawa to the greater benefit of the entire community.”

Further highlights from the meeting include:

Governor Appointments

The Board approved the appointment of Gail Beggs, Eric Hanna, and Peter Norman to the seats designated for members of the external community, each for a three-year term, commencing July 1, 2024. 

• Gail Beggs has a passion for public service and a strong history of public sector leadership, including over 30 years of experience with the Ontario Public Service. Beggs’ public service leadership roles include deputy minister of the Ministries of the Environment and Natural Resources, and the deputy minister for the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat. Beggs was also the president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Clean Water Agency and served as an assistant deputy minister with Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Currently, Beggs is the vice chair of the Board of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and serves on the Boards of the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario, and the environmental not-for-profit Forests Ontario. She also served on Trent’s Finance & Property Committee as an external consultant. 

• Eric Hanna has more than 35 years of experience in healthcare administration. He has held senior executive positions at several Ontario hospitals, most recently Campbellford Memorial Hospital. Previously, Mr. Hanna was appointed by the Ontario Ministry of Health to undertake governance reviews of healthcare facilities. Hanna has contributed his time to volunteering for not-for-profit organizations as an active member or chairperson for local and national-level committees. Some of these efforts include work with the Canadian Care Access Centre – Durham (founding board member), the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, the Victoria Order of Nurses and the Arnprior Chamber of Commerce. Hanna also serves on Trent’s Nominating & Governance Committee as an external consultant. 

• Peter Norman ‘87, a Trent alumnus, is currently the vice-president and chief economist at Altus Group in Toronto, providing expert consultation services to private and public sector organizations across Canada. Previously, Norman served as the vice-president of Clayton Research Associates. He also sat on the Executive Committee of the Toronto Association of Business and Economics, the Economic Research Committee of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, and is an active member of the Association of Ontario Land Economists, as well as a member of Lambda Alpha International – an honorary society for the advancement of land economics.  

The Board also approved the reappointment of Dr. Hasmet Uluorta in the seat designated for faculty for a two-year term commencing July 1, 2024; and the appointments of José González Güel and Ufuoma Rose Mrabure in the seats designated for staff and student (Durham) respectively, for two-year terms also commencing July 1, 2024. 

• Dr. Hasmet Uluorta is the current chair of Political Studies at Trent and an active member of the Decanal Council and Faculty Board. He has been a member of Trent faculty since 2012. During his first term on the Board, Professor Uluorta served on the Advisory Committee to Review the Presidency, the Presidential Search Committee, and on the City Liaison Committee. 

• José González is the Human Rights Advisor at Trent University. He has a Master’s degree in Law from Osgoode Law School, a dual Bachelor's degree in Law and Social Sciences, and is currently completing ongoing studies in Business Administration with a Finance specialization. He worked as a senior legal consultant in private practice and has work experience in various post-secondary institutions in Ontario and outside Canada. His expertise spans legal compliance, occupational health and safety, admissions, international student recruitment, and human rights. González has also volunteered with organizations like the Durham Region Law Association and held multiple volunteer positions at Toronto Metropolitan University. 

• Ufuoma Rose Mrabure is a student in the Human Resources, Marketing & Entrepreneurship postgraduate certificate program at Trent Durham. As the student representative on Trent’s Board of Governors, she plans to contribute to the fostering of effective governance through transparent communication, accountability, and promoting the paramount interests of the University community. 

Trent Durham GTA Community Engagement Report

Dr. Scott Henderson, dean and head, Trent Durham GTA, presented the Board with the Durham Community Engagement Report, showcasing campus activities to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with community partners in Durham Region; and recognizing the work of Kevin Maina, Manager, Community Engagement at Trent Durham. The report highlighted ongoing work in supporting community initiatives, expanding experiential learning partnerships, and engagement with municipal and regional government. 

Revisions to Ancillary Fee Protocol

The Board approved the proposed revisions to the Ancillary Fee Protocol and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Housing & Dining Fees. The protocol is a formal agreement between the Institution’s administration and student governing body representatives, in accordance with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ Tuition Fee Framework and Ancillary Fee Guidelines. The revisions align ancillary fee approvals across both of Trent’s campuses.  

Careerspace Report

Kevin Whitmore, director of Co-op, Careers & Experiential Learning, presented a report on Careerspace, its goals, impressive expansion and growth since launching in 2019. Whitmore spoke to the launch of 28 new paid co-op streams across the arts, sciences, and professional programs at Trent, as well as other successes, including the CEO in residence program, Life After Trent networking events, and the ongoing work of the Trent Community Research Centre.