Alumni Associations support Board of Governors
The following message has been sent to Concordia graduates on behalf of Philippe Pourreaux, President of the Concordia University Alumni Association, Mardy Weigensberg, President of the Association of Alumni of Sir George Williams University, and Donal Ryan, President of the Loyola Alumni Association:
To Concordia alumni,
As the elected executives of the Concordia University Alumni Association (CUAA), the Association of Alumni of Sir George Williams University and the Loyola Alumni Association, we represent more than 160,000 alumni worldwide.
In 2010, the CUAA shared with you our strategic plan for 2010-2014, which supports Concordia’s Strategic Framework, Reaching Up, Reaching Out.
In view of our stated objective to be an integral part of Concordia’s development, we have closely followed the events surrounding the announcement on December 22, 2010, of Dr. Judith Woodsworth’s resignation, for personal reasons, as President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University.
As you may know, our associations each have a Board of Governors representative, each of whom plays an active role on the Board and its committees.
Appreciating that the President’s resignation has raised many questions about Concordia’s governance practices, we queried our Board of Governors representatives and senior university officials on the matter.
Those discussions, which respected the confidentiality that governs deliberations by the Board of Governors, have allowed the executives of the three alumni associations to concur that Dr. Woodsworth’s decision to resign had the support of a significant majority of the internal and external members of the Board of Governors.
In our view, the process was conducted fairly and objectively and the transition to a new Interim President and Vice-Chancellor is in the best interests of the university and the alumni.
In the selection of the Interim President, our Board of Governors representatives will be vigilant in conveying our views on issues concerning alumni, the alumni associations and Concordia’s strategic initiatives.
Throughout Concordia’s history, our alumni have contributed immensely to the growth, enrichment and diversity of the university in terms of its academic program, connection to the community and international reach.
Concordia’s alumni are an integral part of the university’s community and our collective success attests to the abundant rewards of a Concordia education.
Thanks to your support, Concordia has done very well over the last decade, opening several world-class facilities, expanding its student body and programs, and winning awards that recognize its excellence in academics, research and community engagement.
Concordia is doing better than ever in its contributions to higher education and society and we are confident that the Board of Governors will demonstrate dynamic leadership in its selection of the next President and Vice-Chancellor in order to maintain that momentum.
We invite all alumni to communicate with us directly at alumni@concordia.ca.
Related links:
• Reaching Up, Reaching Out
• Concordia University Alumni Association
• Association of Alumni of Sir George Williams University
• Loyola Alumni Association