Board of Governors Meeting Summary: June 27

AFN National Chief Welcomed

The Board was pleased to welcome Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, to discuss the role of universities in reconciliation and in implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions’ Calls to Action.

Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Committee Consultation

The Board was pleased to take part in an Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Committee (CUISIC) consultation hosted by co-chairs Kahente Horn-Miller and Jerry Tomberlin. The discussion focused on broad themes such as community engagement, ways of teaching and learning, Carleton’s culture and systems, and the student experience.

Board Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement

The Board developed and approved a first-ever Carleton University Board Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement as it relates to diverse recruitment and governance. The purpose of the statement is to express the Board’s commitment to a balanced, diverse and inclusive environment that will help advance the university’s mission.

Renewed Membership

The Board is pleased to welcome the following new members for 2019/2020 Board year commencing July 1:

• Farima Afaq, Graduate Student
• Abdulwahab Alhaimi, Undergraduate Student
• Patrick Dion, Community
• Jessica Fullerton, Graduate Student
• Kim Furlong, Community
• Dan Greenberg, Community
• Louise Hayes, Alumni
• Brenda O’Connor, Community
• Banu Ormeci, Faculty
• Jane Taber, Community
• Ann Tremblay, Community

Learn more about each member on the Board of Governors website.

Annual Chair’s Report

This past year has focused on stewardship, transparency, relationship building and reflection. We are proud to continue to be financially sustainable as the university enters its new strategic planning phase. Specially, the Board is pleased to have:

• Brought outside voices to the Board on topics important to our community such as sexual violence, mental health and Indigenous conciliation.
• Enhanced Board transparency through community reports, new risk assessment oversight and better communications.
• Increased focus and commitment to Board diversity, equity and inclusion (EDI) through recruitment efforts and the establishment of our first-ever EDI statement.
• Conducted a Board best practices review to ensure good governance and that your Board continues to support the good work done at Carleton.

Lean more by reading the full Board of Governors Chair’s Report.

Process to Renew Carleton’s Strategic Plan Presented

President Benoit-Antoine Bacon provided a presentation on strategic planning. He highlighted that the vision and objective laid out in Carleton’s Strategic Integrated Plan 2013-2018 had, by and large, been realized. He announced that Carleton will now be engaging the community in a broad and consultative process towards designing the next Strategic Integrated Plan, and announced the four co-chairs that will be leading the process:

• Lorraine Dyke, Deputy Provost, Academic Operations and Planning
• Patrice Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs
• Cindy Taylor, Assistant Vice-President, Human Resources
• Betina Appel Kuzmarov, Clerk of Senate

The planning process will start with establishing a representative task force of 12 to 15 people. It is expected that the work of the task force would start in September and end in the spring of 2020 when the Strategic Integrated Plan is taken to Senate and Board for approval.

President’s Report

President Bacon provided an update on recent activities and accomplishments that have taken place throughout the university since the April Board meeting and presented the President’s Annual Report. You can access the full report on the President’s website.

Senate Annual Report

Betina Appel Kuzmarov, Clerk of Senate provided an annual report on Senate’s work for the 18/19 academic year. In addition to its core academic work, this year Senate focused on the orientation of Dr. Appel Kuzmarov as its new Clerk and President Benoit-Antoine Bacon as its new Chair as well as the university’s Free Speech Policy, Senate committee review and the enhancement of Senate communications. Read the full report on the Senate website.

National Centre for Research in Canadian Philanthropy, Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

Susan Philips, professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration, presented on Carleton’s work with external partners towards the establishment of the National Centre for Research in Canadian Philanthropy, Nonprofits and Social Enterprises. This Centre will be linked with Carleton’s highly regarded Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program and will lead the development of essential, practical knowledge to benefit Canada’s philanthropy and nonprofit sector.

Next Meeting

The next Board of Governors meeting is Sept. 30, 2019, which will be the first meeting of the 2019/20 academic year. More information on the items approved as well as minutes from previous meetings can be found on the Board of Governors website.

Sincerely,

Nik Nanos
Chair, Carleton University Board of Governors
@CU_BoardChair

To learn more about the Carleton University Board of Governors, including membership, meeting schedule and official minutes, visit carleton.ca/boardofgovernors