Board Notes
The agenda of Concordia’s Board of Governors meeting on June 9 was largely devoted to an overview of plans for the PERFORM Centre, slated to open this fall.
The Board approved nominations to the Advisory Search Committee for the President and Vice-Chancellor and approved the establishment of an Advisory Search Committee for the Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies, in anticipation of Louise Dandurand’s retirement in December 2011.
The Board ratified a series of changes to fees collected by the Graduate Students Association. Two of the motions reflected the GSA’s recent decision to leave the Canadian Federation of Students.
Professors William Lynch (Engineering and Computer Science) and Norman Ingram and Nina Howe (Arts and Science) had their nominations to the Board ratified for three-year terms starting July 2011. Students Lex Gill, Laura Beach, Cameron Monagle and Adam James West were all ratified as Board members for one-year terms.
President’s remarks
In his remarks to the Board, Concordia President Frederick Lowy said he was pleased by the progress being made on key dossiers. He noted that the academic plan, currently in its discussion phase, will be presented to the Board this fall.
Lowy also announced that the External Governance Review Committee will present its report on June 15 at a joint meeting of the Board of Governors Executive Committee and the Senate Steering Committee. Dr. Bernard Shapiro, who chaired the three-person committee, will make the presentation and be joined by committee members Dr. André C. Côté and Dr. Glen A. Jones. The report will be available on the Concordia website. A meeting for the Concordia community is planned later this month to outline the report’s highlights and to provide a forum for discussion.
PERFORM Research Centre
Board members were provided with an overview of the PERFORM Research Centre — the first centre of its kind in Canada. Made possible through a $35 million Knowledge Infrastructure Program grant, the centre will take a multidisciplinary approach to developing models to improve individual’s health and well-being while providing opportunities for the public to benefit from its facilities.
The presentation was led by Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science Brian Lewis who underscored how the centre’s proposed mandate reflects a growing awareness of the impact of lifestyle on health. Lewis also introduced the centre’s new Chief Administrative Officer, Kevin Little.
Robert Kilgour, Chair of the Department of Exercise Science, described the unique nature of the centre, with its dual mandate as a research/education facility and a role in community engagement. He stressed the centre’s goals of primary and secondary disease prevention. Kilgour introduced Pierre Duplessis, who has been involved in developing partnerships with existing health networks in Montreal on behalf of PERFORM.
Chief Financial Officer Patrick Kelley provided an overview of the financial considerations of the centre. He presented forecasts based on a variety of revenue scenarios and said an evaluation of operating costs and revenues will be part of the financial plan to ensure the centre’s sustainability.
Appointment, Vice-President Services
During its closed session, the Board approved the appointment of Roger Côté as Vice-President Services, effective June 9, 2011. Côté had been Acting Vice-President Services since November 2010 and had also served in that capacity on two previous occasions in 2008 and 2009. As Vice-President Services, Côté reports to the president and provides strategic leadership of Concordia’s extensive services sector. An integral member of the university’s executive group, the VP Services is responsible for leading the implementation of best administrative practices in support of the university’s Strategic Framework and operational objectives.
The next meeting of the Board will be June 23.
Related link:
• “Concordia Appoints Roger Côté Vice-President Services” – NOW, June 9, 2011