649th Board Meeting Summary – December 2, 2025
The Board met in person on December 2, 2025. Minutes from the meeting will be posted on the Board of Governors website once available. The following are the highlights from the meeting:
Creation of the College of Global Studies
On the recommendation of Senate, the Board approved the creation of a new College of Global Studies in the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs. The new college will house the Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS), the graduate programs in Migration and Diaspora Studies (MDS) and the undergraduate and graduate programs in Russian and Eurasian Studies (EURUS).
International Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2026–2029)
The Board approved the international undergraduate tuition fee structure, which includes tuition certainty for three academic years (2026/27 through 2028/29). The approach is designed to assist students with their decision making by providing them with predictable costs, tuition stability over the course of the next three years, and relevant information to assist with the visa process. The proposal was benchmarked against other Ontario universities, confirming Carleton’s fees remain competitive.
Institutional Impartiality Policy
The Board approved Carleton’s new Institutional Impartiality Policy, reaffirming the university’s commitment to open inquiry, rigorous debate, and academic freedom, while ensuring clarity on institutional expression by senior leadership and employees when acting in an official capacity.
Developed through the normal consultation process with the university community, the policy strengthens Carleton’s governance framework and will help mitigate reputational risk by affirming Carleton as a non-partisan institution dedicated to learning, research, and the betterment of society and a continuing space for diverse perspectives and respectful dialogue.
Enterprise Risk Management Policy and Framework
The Board reviewed and approved Carleton’s updated Enterprise Risk Management and Framework. The ERM framework establishes a structured approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks across strategic, operational, financial, legal, and reputational portfolios. It aligns with best practices in higher education governance and supports Carleton’s long-term sustainability and resilience.
2026/27 Operating Budget Cycle
The Board approved the 2026/2027 Operating Budget cycle. The cycle includes revenue and planning assumptions, fiscal pressures, including the impact of frozen domestic tuition, fixed provincial grants, and changes in international enrollment rates. The cycle also includes priorities for the coming year and is moving toward aligning operational and ancillary budgets by 2028.
Research Update
The Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) presented an update on research at Carleton, highlighting ongoing research achievements, underscoring the university’s commitment to an innovative culture. The update emphasized growth in external funding, interdisciplinary collaboration, research recognitions, international partnerships, and institutional research priorities such as developing a scholarly prominence in established and emerging areas.
Next Meeting: March 10, 2026
The next meeting of the 2025/26 Board year is scheduled for March 10, 2026. Open session meeting materials are posted one week in advance of each meeting. More information on items approved, as well as minutes from previous meetings, can be found on the Board of Governors website.
Sincerely,
Beth Creary
Chair, Carleton University Board of Governors