Board approves 2015 financial statements
Board approves 2015 financial statements
President’s Remarks
On September 16, in his report to the first meeting of the Board of Governors for the academic year, Concordia President Alan Shepard started by highlighting the success of the fall student orientation program, Discover Concordia. The university has welcomed some 8,000 new undergraduate and graduate students this fall.
Shepard provided an update on the new Student Information System (SIS). Until September 21, the university is offering a hotline to facilitate course registrations. He noted that there has been a significant increase in enrolment for master programs with a modest increase in PhD registrations.
The newly released QS World University Rankings, one of the largest such annual measures, were released in mid-September. Of the 18,000-plus universities in the world, only 891 end up being ranked by QS. Concordia’s place improved for the fourth straight year, rising to the 411-20 range this year from the 461-470 range in 2014.
Shepard welcomed two new senior academics: Rebecca Taylor Duclos, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Isabel Dunnigan, director of the Centre for Continuing Education. He also welcomed 27 new full-time and 24 part-time faculty members, and announced the creation of 30 new tenure-track positions.
A search for a new dean for the John Molson School of Business is underway; Steve Harvey steps down this December.
Renovations to the Webster Library are going well, reported Shepard, with the first of four phases opening in September. There are already more student study spaces than when the renovations began.
Finally, Shepard provided an update on the Strategic Directions initiative. Launched earlier this year, the successful phase one resulted in the creation of nine directions to help Concordia chart its future as a next-generation urban research university. Read more on the update in the Senate Notes.
Board approves 2015 financial statements
In his last Board of Governors meeting, outgoing Chief Financial Officer Patrick Kelley presented the externally audited financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2015, which were approved by the board conditional on the confirmation of certain items by the Government of Quebec.
On September 21, Sonia Trudel assumes the role of CFO, taking over for Kelley, who was thanked by Board Chair Norman Hébert, Jr. at the meeting’s opening. Kelley received a long round of applause.
Board appointments
Françoise Bertrand was selected from the external board members to become vice-chair of the Board of Governors, effective immediately. She replaces Marie-José Nadeau who left the board in August. As chair of the World Energy Council, Nadeau’s demanding international travel schedule made it difficult for her to fulfil her duties as a board member. Bertrand’s term ends June 30, 2016.
Tony Loffreda, regional vice-president of Commercial Financial Services for Western Quebec with the RBC Royal Bank, was appointed to the board, representing the external community, filling the position previously held by Nadeau. His term, which begins immediately, ends June 30, 2018.
Benjamin Prunty has been appointed an alternate member of the board. His term begins immediately and ends on June 30, 2016.
Senate approves the ammendment of Concordia's Policy for the Responsible Conduct of Research
President’s Remarks
On September 11, in his report to the first meeting of Senate for the academic year, Concordia president Alan Shepard underscored the excitement of the back-to-school season, with the university welcoming some 8,000 new undergraduate and graduate students this fall.
Shepard provided an update on the August 26 release of the report and recommendations by the Sexual Assault Policy Review Working Group, chaired by Deputy Provost Lisa Ostiguy.
Many of the recommendations have already been implemented, such as refreshing the website to centralize information on available resources. Other recommendations will be brought to Senate during the 2015-16 academic year. The plan is to ensure that all recommendations be adopted and implemented this academic year to make our campuses safer for all. Read more.
Two new graduate programs have been approved by the Government of Quebec: a Master of Design from the Department of Design and Computation Arts in the Faculty of Fine Arts, and a PhD program in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Shepard congratulated the two departments and welcomed new students who are starting the programs this fall.
The president extended a warm welcome to several senior leaders: Rebecca Taylor Duclos as dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Isabel Dunnigan as director of Concordia’s Centre for Continuing Education and Sonia Trudel as the new chief financial officer.
He also welcomed 27 new full-time and 24 part-time faculty members to campus, and announced the creation of another 30 new tenure-track positions, which represent the future of this institution. He highlighted the importance of forging ahead with the university’s academic mission, even in a tight fiscal environment.
Strategic Directions Update
Provost Benoit-Antoine Bacon provided an overview of the strategic directions initiative and focused on the upcoming phase two. Launched earlier this year, the very successful phase one resulted in the creation of nine directions to help Concordia chart its future as a next-generation urban research university.
Bacon explained that phase two is getting underway with the Faculties, Libraries and administrative units embarking on their own planning process, taking into consideration the nine directions.
Other key elements of phase two will include the creation of four working groups to create cross-institutional strategies for the following directions: Double our research, Teach for tomorrow, Grow smartly, and Embrace the city, embrace the world.
There will also be a series of activities to improve several administrative processes, including the admissions process, hiring practices and research ethics reviews. Finally, the university will be looking at different challenges, and engaging members of the Concordia community in some collaborative problem-solving activities.
New Research Integrity Officer
To conform with the Fonds de recherche du Québec’s new Politique sur la conduite responsable en recherche, which comes into effect in September 2015, Concordia has amended its existing Policy for the Responsible Conduct of Research, which was approved by Senate.
Concordia has taken the additional step of creating the new position of research integrity officer (RIO). This new role, which will be filled by a full-time faculty member, adds a layer of expertise in providing the Concordia community with information and support to help prevent misconduct in research, as well as procedural advice with respect to any inquiries or investigations arising from the policy.
Cameron Skinner has been appointed Concordia’s first RIO. An associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and previously an associate dean for student affairs in the School of Graduate Studies, Skinner has expertise in the investigation of research misconduct complaints at Concordia and other universities.