November 11, 1999

To Members of the Trent University Community:

I am writing to you today to explain why I will be taking forward to the Board of Governors tomorrow a capital strategy that does not reflect the views of a majority of the members of Senate. You can appreciate that as the Chair of Senate this has been a most difficult decision and that I have reflected carefully about Senate's concerns. However, as President I must weigh all factors and then act in what I believe are the best interests of Trent.

The capital strategy we are proposing would involve over the course of the next 5 years, building a new residential college facility on the Symons campus, renovating and expanding science facilities, and replacing the Otonabee residences. It would also require sale of buildings and lands at Peter Robinson and Catharine Parr Traill Colleges. The strategy calls for building new, improved space for teaching, research, and for faculty, staff and students currently at CPTC and PRC. New construction and the careful phasing out of old facilities will also generate enough space for Trent to accept its share of growth in provincial enrolment, including the one-time bulge resulting from the elimination of the OAC year in our secondary schools.

It is my judgement that a defensible case for an extraordinary investment in Trent by the provincial government will take clear evidence of a holistic and sustainable set of actions that avoids Trent being in the same financial and physical condition in the future. Trent's willingness to accommodate additional enrolment would make it eligible to submit a proposal for construction funding under the province's SuperBuild program. Planned enrolment growth will directly assist with our current financial situation and will also work to Trent's advantage over the next couple of years when the government reviews other funding programs (including operating grants and research programs).

We would all acknowledge the traditions, vitality and contributions that Peter Robinson and Catharine Parr Traill Colleges have given Trent. Much of that will continue albeit in new space. The location and configurations of that space cannot overshadow our key concern about the financial viability of the University's academic programs and operations. We are living beyond our means and cannot continue to do so. Most of our buildings at Robinson and Traill are inaccessible for students with special needs and they are crumbling faster than we can afford to maintain them. The deferred maintenance (i.e. repairs and renovations that should have been done but haven't) on the town colleges is currently $2.3 million and over the next five years this figure will grow to $6.0 million excluding major upgrades to improve accessibility. Our older buildings are over twice as expensive to operate as new ones would be and, as well, we are carrying invisible costs of having three campuses in Peterborough (for things such as mail service, telephone switches, etc.) which amount to around $200,000 a year.

I acknowledge the considerable unhappiness with the process followed in coming to this capital strategy which many consider not in the spirit of consultation usual at Trent. However, we were faced with uncertainty about the funding program's criteria and tight externally-imposed time lines. I assure you, however, that many lengthy consultations have taken place over the last sixteen months with all sectors of our community including the year-long process to develop the plan for recovery that deals with only one dimension of our financial challenge. I also want to assure you that careful consideration was given to a wide range of alternative capital strategies including maintaining the town colleges in close to their present form and other uses for these facilities. Unfortunately, none of them addresses our institutional problems adequately. It is impossible to reconcile the affection of the community for these downtown buildings and Trent's pressing need to get its financial affairs under control. The various analyses that made it possible to develop our capital strategy were thorough and I am confident about the reliability of the data we are using.

From my perspective, Trent is a house divided by some of its history. It is also divided by its geography. While recognizing that other members of the community believe that town colleges in their current locations are advantageous, I believe that consolidating our Peterborough operations on the Symons campus will, eventually, allow the institution to strengthen its cohesiveness, morale and culture. I look forward to a day when we walk the talk of interdisciplinarity - when scientists and humanists work in sufficient proximity that they can achieve the goal of minds meeting across disciplinary fences that is at the heart of Trent's founding principles. I look forward to a future that sees all members of this community in decent, appropriately equipped and well-maintained classrooms, labs, residences, and offices, and to a time when we have financial flexibility to fund innovation and development. We cannot get there without some major changes. If we fail to make the hard but necessary changes that demonstrate an intention to help to solve our problems ourselves we cannot expect others to invest in Trent. Trent's future as an autonomous institution is at risk.

If the Board approves the proposed capital strategy, even before we learn the outcome of the SuperBuild competition, I will form representative users committees to identify our detailed building needs. We will also consult widely with students about their needs and specific aspects of the proposed capital projects that will impact them.

We acknowledge and respect the depth of feeling expressed by those who would prefer to preserve facilities at Peter Robinson and Catharine Parr Traill Colleges. Unfortunately, this is no longer a viable option for Trent and we must, therefore, take a different, new path. Although not everyone in the University community feels able to support campus consolidation, I think we would all agree that the spirit of Trent is strong enough to survive these difficult decisions and will emerge revitalized.

Yours sincerely,



Bonnie Patterson
President and Vice-Chancellor