November 22, 1999

To Members of the Trent Community:

On November 12, 1999, the Board of Governors approved a capital development strategy for Trent and thus our application to the SuperBuild Growth Fund for $32.8 million was submitted by the deadline on November 15, 1999. The strategy has been posted on Trent's website at www.trentu.ca\news and hard copies can be obtained from the University Secretariat for those interested.

It is important to remember that SuperBuild is a competitive program. We are in competition with other universities and colleges, and our Ministry (Training, Colleges and Universities) will be competing with other Ministries related to how well our sector meets the "intent" of the program to double the government investment through partnerships within the program. To date, the Ministry is unable to confirm exactly when we might learn about the outcome of our application, but has indicated its hope for decisions very early in the new year. As well, our Ministry has reiterated the government's desire that construction begins in time to address the projected growth in student numbers starting in 2003.

In anticipation of Trent's proposal being selected for funding, it will be important to move forward with five "streams" of activity. One stream of activity will involve working with faculty, students and staff of Peter Robinson and Catharine Parr Traill Colleges to ensure that every effort is made to minimize disruptions to ongoing academic activities and to provide them with appropriate space and services through the transitional period. The phases of this transition will only be fully clear when we know details of our success in the SuperBuild competition and of course, be dependant on the timing of government decisions. I have asked the Dean of Arts and Sciences to head this effort. Secondly, we will need a design stream. It will involve a continuum of activity that includes the siting of new construction, assessment of user needs for new and renovated facilities, selection of architects and, ultimately, building and space design. The third stream will involve a concentrated effort by and with the Friends of Native Studies Council of the Beyond Our Walls campaign. The campaign leaders have agreed to more than double the $1 million target in support of a First Peoples House of Learning/Humanities centre that could form a central element of a new college at the Symons Campus. The fourth stream involves identifying partners to invest in the residential development related to the new college and the eventual replacement of that component of Otonabee. Importantly, the fifth stream will involve college planning activities that will need to address a number of transition items as well as operational issues associated with the integration of a new college in the Trent mix.

Today I am writing to seek the input of the community about processes we need to put in place as we move forward from this point. I would appreciate hearing directly from individuals and groups about how we might proceed with each of these activity areas to ensure that the views of the University community are heard, their needs addressed, and in an ongoing way, a satisfactory consultation and planning process is implemented. There are standing committees and several individuals whose defined roles will see them assume specific responsibilities and involvement in these processes. It will be important to finalize how we will approach this work during the next four weeks and have a preliminary framework in place before the University closes for the holidays. Please send your input to me by email (secretariat@trentu.ca) or in writing to the President's Office, Bata Library.

The Category II competition of the SuperBuild Growth Fund program is now upon us. At the Senate meeting on November 16, 1999, Vice-President Graham Taylor reviewed the steps we are taking to explore a potential joint proposal with Sir Sandford Fleming College in this category and invited participation by Senators with a working group that is meeting on this project. The Vice-President has met with a group of faculty and staff active in Trent programs connected to Sir Sandford Fleming, and Beth Popham, Murray Genoe, David Binkley, Bruce Ahlstrand and Tom Whillans have been involved in discussions relating to specific areas that may form components of our submission.

As with the SuperBuild Category I submission, we are working under a very tight externally imposed timetable. The deadline for submissions for SuperBuild Phase II is December 15, 1999. If representatives of Sir Sandford Fleming College and Trent University come up with a potentially viable application, our first opportunity to bring this to Senate for information and input would be December 7, 1999.

In closing, may I say how impressed I have been with the spirit and energy the Trent community has demonstrated through the debate over Trent's new capital development strategy. Although there is lack of unanimity in the community about some elements of the capital development strategy, I appreciate the depth of concern and commitment that everyone shares about the future of Trent University.

I am unable to respond individually to everyone who has called, emailed, written and demonstrated in the last couple of weeks but want you to know that I read all your letters, listened carefully and appreciated your input. I hope you will show the same degree of interest in helping us plan how to move forward, and consider actually taking part in the processes when they are defined.

Yours sincerely,

Bonnie Patterson
President - Vice-Chancellor

Go to Capital Development Strategy 2000-2004