Board and Senate notes: September 2017
Read the Board Notes from September 13, 2017.
Read the Senate Notes from September 15, 2017.
BOARD NOTES: Audited financial statements for 2016-17 approved
President’s remarks
At the Board of Governors’ first meeting of the academic year, Concordia’s president Alan Shepard announced that the university had welcomed almost 9,500 new undergraduate and graduate students.
He also welcomed Christophe Guy, the new vice-president of Research and Graduate Studies, and congratulated Guylaine Beaudry, who has been appointed as vice-provost of Digital Strategy. She will continue to serve as university librarian.
The president also noted that Anne-Marie Croteau assumed her new role as dean of the John Molson School of Business (JMSB) on June 1.
This fall will see the beginning of two major projects: the construction of the new Student Success Centre in the Henry F. Hall Building and a new science hub on the Loyola Campus. The final phase of the Webster Library Transformation Project has been completed.
These are exciting developments for Concordia as it continues to enhance the student experience and program offering as a next-generation university, Shepard said.
Audited financial statements for 2016-17 approved
The Board approved Concordia’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending on April 30, 2017.
These statements were audited by the university’s external auditors, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, and reviewed by the Audit Committee at its September 5 meeting.
Report on environmental health and safety
Roger Côté, vice-president of Services, presented the highlights of the 2017 second quarter report from Environmental Health and Safety.
He noted that Environmental Health and Safety focuses on preventive measures, including awareness and education, to create a culture of safety within the university.
There was a 45 per cent increase in the number of people who participated in training sessions compared to the second quarter of 2016. The number of training sessions also rose by 14 per cent.
Initiatives contributing to these increases include the training of Facilities Management staff on the university’s Policy on Personal Protective Equipment and the implementation of a new Control of Hazardous Energy program.
Increased emphasis has also been placed on engaging supervisors, both in the academic and administrative sectors.
A total of 154 supervisors participated in the Supervisor’s Health and Safety Responsibilities Training Program, compared to 110 in the first quarter of 2017.
SENATE NOTES: Senate receives an overview of the Student Success Centre
President’s remarks
At Senate’s first meeting of the new academic year, president Alan Shepard began his opening remarks by acknowledging the sudden passing of Michel Nadeau on September 3.
The associate vice-president of Facilities Management, who joined Concordia just over two years ago, was widely admired and respected.
Nadeau led ambitious projects aimed at improving not only the management of the university’s facilities but the development of new buildings. This included the upcoming research and innovation hub planned for the Loyola Campus.
Concordia continues to make impressive strides in international rankings, said Shepard. The university is now among the world’s top 500 universities, according to the 2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as the Shanghai Rankings.
Enrolment for the fall term is up with almost 9,500 new undergraduate and graduate students. This is an indication that more students are making the choice to come to Concordia, said Shepard.
This summer, Concordia offered several summer and field schools in Montreal and abroad. These were identified as one of the first moves under the Strategic Directions Game Plan.
Shepard also noted recent appointments who have either joined Concordia or begun new positions:
• Christophe Guy joined the university on August 1 as the vice-president of Research and Graduate Studies;
• Anne-Marie Croteau began her new mandate as dean of the John Molson School of Business (JMSB) on June 1;
• Sandra Gabriele joined the Office of the Provost on June 19 as the new vice-provost of Innovation in Teaching and Learning, following the end of Catherine Bolton’s mandate;
• Guylaine Beaudry has assumed the new position of vice-provost of Digital Strategy, in addition to serving as university librarian; and
• Mark Villacorta began his new role as senior lead of Equity and Diversity on September 5, working in the Office of the Provost, Faculty Relations.
Provost’s academic update
Graham Carr, provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs, provided a brief overview of a very busy summer.
This included the offering of 12 summer and field schools. Some were geared to professionals and graduate students while others provided young people with opportunities to learn within the university environment.
As well, the university worked to meet tight deadlines to submit nominations to the Canada 150 Research Chairs Program. This new Government of Canada initiative will create between 15 and 35 research chair positions with a seven-year tenure.
Concordia is gaining increasing global recognition, said Carr, also referring to the recent Shanghai Rankings. As a result, he said, more people are figuring out how great the university really is.
This has translated into a greater number of international students choosing Concordia, now consisting of 18 per cent of the student population, and rising international accolades for faculty members.
Carr cited the recent award given by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). On September 8, representatives from Concordia’s Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP) and its partner organizations accepted the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize for their work in creating and implementing the Learning ToolKit+ (LTK+).
Carr said this was an excellent example of how Concordia is “embracing the world” as part of its Strategic Directions.
Curriculum changes approved
Highlights of curriculum changes approved by Senate included:
• Offering Indigenous Spirituality as a required course in the Spirituality and Pastoral Ministry major and certificate programs in the Department of Theological Studies. This is in direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, which recommended that Indigenous content be taught in postsecondary institutions; and
• Strengthening the programming skills of students and offering three new areas of expertise in the Department of Design and Computation Arts (tangible, networked and playful media). These changes will affect the computation arts specialization major and minor, as well as the minor in game design.
Overview of the Student Success Centre
Laura Mitchell, director of the Student Success Centre, provided Senate with an update.
Now in its third year, the centre brings together resources to engage and empower students in achieving individual, academic and professional success. The centre is staffed by 115 employees, including 90 students.
Mitchell emphasized that the centre supports students throughout their journey, offering remedial support as well as helping all students to “raise their game.”
The centre’s services support students:
• in their first year as they transition to university life and studies
• in developing the academic skills they need to reach their full potential in the classroom
• in preparing for a successful career and professional life
The centre offers two courses through its “back on track” program for re-admitted students – University Skills for Success – one on self-management strategies for success and a second on successful study strategies.
These courses support students in rebuilding a positive attitude towards university. The underlining philosophy focuses on personal growth, personal challenge and personal goals.
The centre also offers weekly peer-facilitated sessions to facilitate a deeper understanding of core concepts, study strategies and exam preparation for science courses that tend to be difficult or have a high rate of failure.
Between 2014 and 2017, the Strategic Learning program supported chemistry, biology, geography and exercise science courses.
Work is under way to develop a new program for undergraduate students. Similar to the GradProSkills program for graduate students, Next-Gen Skills will focus on personal and professional skills development for transitioning from the classroom to the workplace.
Mitchell also provided a brief overview of the upcoming construction project that will provide new, bright and clean spaces for the centre on the seventh floor of the Henry F. Hall Building.
This will include a large welcoming area and larger spaces to accommodate workshops.
Update from the university registrar
Daniel Therrien, university registrar, provided an update regarding the setting of dates for Reading Week. The current approach is to hold Reading Week after six weeks of classes.
Following a series of consultations, a new approach will be adopted for 2018-19, in which Reading Week will be held after seven weeks of classes.
This approach will be evaluated to determine the effect, and future directions.
