Board confirms senior academic appointments
At its April 16 meeting, Concordia’s Board of Governors appointed two senior academic leaders: Guylaine Beaudry assumes the role of university librarian on May 1, while André Roy joins Concordia on August 1 as the new dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science. Both appointments are for five-year terms. The search for a new dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science is also in its final stages.
Guylaine Beaudry, University Librarian
Guylaine Beaudry has been interim university librarian since July 2013 and has been the leading champion of the proposed Webster Library Transformation Project. In October 2009, she joined Concordia as the director of the R. Howard Webster Library.
“Under Guylaine’s leadership, we will transform our libraries and lead the way in next-generation library infrastructures and services,” says Benoit-Antoine Bacon, provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs. “One of Guylaine’s greatest strengths is her deep commitment to the student experience.” Read more.
André Roy, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science
André Roy is an award-winning teacher, leading environmental scientist and experienced academic leader who is coming back to Montreal after serving as dean of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. During his three years at Waterloo, he played a key role in the rapid growth and increased research productivity of his faculty.
“I am very pleased to announce that André Roy will be joining Concordia. We are fortunate to have attracted such an accomplished and respected dean,” says Bacon. “André’s leadership experience will be invaluable as he takes the helm of the Faculty of Arts and Science.” Read more.
2014-15 operating budget
Concordia’s 2014-15 operating budget was approved by the Board. The budget projects total revenues of $394.8 million and total expenditures of $397.6 million, resulting in a deficit of $2.8 million. The budget takes into account annual cuts of $13.2 million to the university’s operating grant, announced by the Government of Quebec in 2012. These cuts were made permanent in 2013-14. Read more.
Per-credit tuition fees for international students
Following the decision in 2008 by the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie (MESRST) to move towards complete deregulation of tuition for international undergraduate students in certain programs by 2014-2015, the Board approved resolutions to modify tuition fees for international undergraduate students in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science and the John Molson School of Business for the next academic year.
Chief Financial Officer Patrick Kelley explained to the Board that the new fee structure represents an increase equal to those imposed by the MESRST in regulated areas.
He also reassured the Board that a fixed budgetary envelope would be created for continued international student support at similar or higher levels than in past years.
Student fee levies and adjustments
The Board of Governors approved an annual increase to the fee levy for the People’s Potato Collective to reflect Montreal’s annual Consumer Price Index (CPI). Originally approved by undergraduate students in 2009, the CPI adjustment was not made in subsequent years due to an administrative oversight.
An increase to the fee levy collected from undergraduate students (from $0.29 to $0.37 per credit) to support the Centre for Gender Advocacy was also approved by the Board.
Finally, the Board approved the transfer of the $0.34 per credit fee levy from the Concordia Student Broadcasting Corporation (CSBC) to Concordia University Television (CUTV), and the discontinuance of the graduate student fee levy for the CSBC.
Ombuds Office annual report
The university’s ombudsperson Kristen Robillard presented her office’s annual report for the 2012-13 academic year. A total of 547 cases were brought to the attention of the Ombuds Office, the majority (80.8 per cent) from students studying for credit.
In most cases (67.6 per cent), students contacted the Ombuds Office with academic concerns. Grades and re-evaluation were the concerns most often raised by graduate and undergraduate students, followed by course management for undergraduates, and advising and supervision for graduate students.