In compliance with Ontario’s Essential Services Order, the Carleton Board of Governors met remotely on April 30, 2020. Minutes from the meeting will be posted on the Board of Governors website once available. The following are the highlights:
Videoconferencing and Electronic Meetings Policy Approved
In an effort to ensure governance remains seamless at Carleton University, the Board approved the use of video-conferencing, email and electronic voting for all foreseeable standing committee and Board meetings.
Engineering Student Design Centre Approved
The Engineering Student Design Centre was designed to support the growing Faculty of Engineering and Design, and in particular, to provide areas specifically adapted for large capstone projects. It will also include labs, offices, and research space. The Board approved a revised design and budget of $16.9 million as part of the Engineering Student Design Centre Project Implementation Plan.
Recognize an Outstanding Student for Community Volunteerism
The Board Award is presented annually to a Carleton student who has gone above and beyond to assist their community. The Board approved Francesca Tsimiklis, a Master of Applied Science and Mechanical Engineering student as recipient of the 2019/’20 Board of Governors Award for Outstanding Community Achievement. The selection jury noted Tsimiklis’ commitment to volunteerism, both within and outside of Carleton, with a specific focus on advocacy for women in STEM. The award will be granted to the successful candidate when convocation resumes.
Strategic Integrated Plan Second Draft
The Board was consulted on the second draft of the Strategic Integrated Plan (SIP). This version considered all recommendations submitted throughout the consultation phase, including those made by Board members. The SIP is a forward-looking document that captures the best of Carleton today, and provides a roadmap to reaching our future aspirations. The final version of the plan will return to the Board at the June 2, 2020 meeting for approval.
President’s Report
President Bacon outlined the efforts Carleton has made to adapt to the current health crisis. Since moving the University’s operations online, Carleton has concluded the winter term and is now preparing for a successful summer semester. Carleton is proud to provide a large slate of quality classes for the summer, and over 11,000 students have already enrolled in one or multiple courses. The University has also begun planning for the fall semester, and has appointed Deputy Provost Lorraine Dyke and a small group of academic and operations experts to lead scenario planning and consult with key stakeholder groups. In all decisions, the University will continue to prioritize the safety of all members of the community, and will follow the recommendations of public health authorities and government regulations. Finally, Carleton has made two senior appointments: Brenda O’Neill has been announced as Dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs, and Amber Lannon has been confirmed as Carleton’s University Librarian.
2020/’21 Operating Budget Approved
The Board approved a balanced Operating Budget for 2020/‘21 with total revenue and expenses of $502.4 million. The operating budget outlined three priorities for the upcoming year: student success and wellness, research productivity and external research funding, and investing in Carleton’s reputation. In light of the COVID-19 situation and associated fiscal uncertainties, a number of new discretionary allocations will be on hold over the summer months, until the potential impacts of the current public health crisis are better understood.
2020/’21 Students Association Fees Approved
Student associations charge for the variety of services and activities they provide on campus. For 2020/’21, the majority of the fees are the same as the previous academic year, with the exception of two additions aimed to grant undergraduate students access to FundQi.ca, and a new levy by the Carleton Science Student Society to strengthen the science community through services, events and scholarships. The Board approved the student association fees to be implemented on Sept. 1, 2020.
Governor Spotlight: Nina Karhu
The Board of Governors consists of 32 volunteers representing the Carleton community, like Nina Karhu. Elected to the Board in 2018 as an administrative staff representative, Nina is Manager of Classroom Support and Development in the Department of instructional Media Services, Teaching and Learning Services. Learn more about Nina.
Next Meeting: June 2, 2020
The next Board of Governors meeting is June 2, 2020. 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,
Nik Nanos
Chair, Carleton University Board of Governors
To learn more about the Carleton University Board of Governors, including membership, meeting schedule and official minutes, visit carleton.ca/boardofgovernors