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Board Notes: May and June 2018

Read the highlights from Concordia’s most recent governance meetings
July 20, 2018
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By Karen McCarthy



Read the Board Notes from June 18, 2018.

Read the Board Notes from May 23, 2018.

 

JUNE BOARD NOTES: The Board approves a new name for the Department of Exercise Science


President’s remarks

In his remarks at the June 18, 2018 Board meeting, Concordia’s president Alan Shepard thanked the Board members for their service over the past year.

The president noted the success of the convocation ceremonies on June 11, 12 and 13. More than 5,600 graduates received their degrees and there were more attendees than in previous years.

The speeches by the 11 honorands and the eight valedictorians were very inspiring, Shepard said.

Work is progressing on the new science hub on the Loyola Campus. This state-of-the-art research facility will be part of an expansion of the Richard J. Renaud Science Complex (SP). It will help enhance research, innovation and training at the university.

Several summer courses, summer schools and summer institutes are now being held across all four Faculties, as well as summer camps for children and youth. This includes an athletic sports camps for children aged six to 15.
 

Board approves the new name for the Department of Exercise Science

Following a recommendation by Senate, the Board of Governors approved the renaming of the Department of Exercise Science as the Department of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology.

The change in the department’s name reflects the expanding role of overall health within the department’s programs and research, and the need to promote physiology and the sciences, in addition to interventions. This not only includes exercise but sleep, nutrition and behaviour change.

 

MAY BOARD NOTES: Tuition fees approved for international students for the 2018-19 academic year

 

President’s remarks

In his remarks at the May 23 meeting of the Board of Governors, Concordia’s president Alan Shepard said construction is progressing well on the new science hub on the Loyola Campus.

This project will expand the Richard J. Renaud Science Complex to provide Concordia’s scientific community with new state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. This will contribute to enhancing research, innovative and training at the university.

The president also noted a recent event that marked the 10th anniversary of Youth Fusion, founded by Concordia graduate Gabriel Bran Lopez.

Youth Fusion, which began as a pilot project at Concordia, is a charitable organization that that supports young people in staying in school and reducing dropout rates in the province.

It also contributes to the perseverance, employability and civic engagement of youth by implementing innovative experiential programs that create ongoing links between school systems and the community.
 

Academic update

In his academic update to Senate, Graham Carr, provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs, noted Concordia’s growing visibility and enhanced reputation.

He pointed to the annual Maclean’s report on universities where Concordia ranked fifth out of 15 comprehensive universities in Canada in terms of reputation.

Carr said that all of the activities the university is undertaking — whether it is the success of its undergraduate and graduate students or the achievements of faculty members — are contributing to Concordia’s growing reputation as a next-generation university.
 

Student fee levy for Café X to be discontinued

The Board approved a request from the Fine Arts Student Association (FASA) to discontinue the collection, on behalf of FASA, of a fee levy of $0.35 per credit from all undergraduate students in the Faculty of Fine Arts to support Café X.

Despite efforts from FASA, the Faculty of Fine Arts and others, Café X was not sustainable and closed in December 2017. The funds collected in the winter and summer 2018 terms will be reimbursed to students.
 

The Board approves tuition fee increases for international students in deregulated undergraduate programs

The Board approved an increase in the per-credit tuition fees for undergraduate international students in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science (ENCS) and the John Molson School of Business (JMSB) for Cycle I programs.

The increase of 3.28 per cent is the same as the increase set by the Government of Quebec for students from the rest of Canada, France and Belgium.

Aligning the increase with the Government of the Quebec has been the university’s practice in previous years.

Beginning in the 2018 fall term, undergraduate international students in ENCS Cycle I programs will pay $696.04 per credit. Those in JMSB Cycle I programs will pay $761.25 per credit.
 

The Board approves administrative and technology infrastructure fee increases

The Board approved an increase of 2.7 per cent for the administrative fee charged to all students. Effective in the fall 2018 term, the fee will increase from $10.26 per credit to $10.54.

This fee covers some of the administrative costs for front-line services provided by various units throughout a student’s academic career.

This includes the Welcome Centre, Birks Student Services Centre, Student Accounts, Enrolment Services, Exams office as well as the administration of the shuttle bus.

The Board also approved an increase of 2.7 per cent for the technology infrastructure fee charged to all students. Beginning in the fall 2018 term, the fee will increase from $4.92 per credit to $5.05 per credit.

These funds are used to enhance infrastructure technology services.
 

Quarterly report from Environmental Health and Safety received

Roger Côté, vice-president of Services, presented the highlights from Environmental Health and Safety’s (EHS) 2018 first quarter report.

EHS supports the academic, research and operational activities of the university and promotes a safe, healthy and sustainable campus environment.

During the first quarter, from January 1 to March 31, there was a 38 per cent increase in the number of training sessions, compared to the same period in 2017. There was also a 9 per cent increase in the number of training participants.

EHS staff also conduct preventive workplace inspections and assessment of university premises (e.g. research laboratories, workshops, art studios, mechanical rooms).

For Q1 2018, EHS conducted 52 preventative internal inspections and assessments. EHS also completed risk assessments in 45 elevator mechanical rooms (serving 84 elevators) over the course of two months.

As part of its mandate, EHS monitors compliance with both government regulations and internal safety policies and procedures. Compliance monitoring allows the university to ensure the safety and well-being of the university community and to mitigate external non-compliance citations.

In terms of total injuries, 87 injuries were reported in Q1, 44 per cent more than the reported injuries for the same period in 2017. This increase was attributed to a 213 per cent increase in slips and falls with many related to winter conditions.
 

Update on District 3

Xavier-Henri Hervé, founder and director of the District 3 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (D3) provided an update to the Board of Governors.

Hervé explained that D3’s mission is to provide experiential learning and career opportunities for the next-generation of students.

He said today’s generation is looking for a different world and is focused on experiential learning, and universities are at the heart of the change. Millions of dollars are generated by new technologies, and there is increased focus on entrepreneurship, he said. Jobs are not defined by the present environment and as a result, the needs of today’s students are different.

They were born in a digital world, with access to more information than ever before, and they demand more overall, specifically experiential learning, since access to knowledge is just a just a click away.

Hervé said the entrepreneurial culture is everywhere at Concordia, as evidenced by D3: an award-winning leading innovation hub. Since its inception, District 3 has coached and mentored 398 startups generating $35 million in combined startup sales and financing with a combined startup valuation of $91 million.

Hervé provided a summary of some notable startup and community accomplishments.

He said District 3 will continue to build four collaborative knowledge networks focused on innovation specialties in artificial intelligence, life sciences, and financial technologies.



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