The Trent University Board of Governors held its second regular meeting of the academic year on December 8, 2023 at Catharine Parr Traill College, Trent’s downtown college. 

Board vice-chair and Trent alumnus Doug Kirk ’70 chaired the meeting, which featured a video greeting from Siobhan Cadigan, the 29th recipient of the Board of Governors’ Leadership Scholarship. In the video, Siobhan, a first-year Indigenous Studies student, shared her gratitude for the scholarship, saying, “Words cannot express how grateful I am to pursue my postsecondary education without the burden or worry of working multiple jobs to afford tuition and other financial costs associated with university." So far, this year, the Board has contributed $21,560 toward this annual scholarship.  

In his opening remarks, President Leo Groarke shared highlights and key milestones with the Board, including the success of National Philanthropy Day and the naming of Trent’s newest college, Gidigaa Migizi College, in honour of Elder and Professor Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams ‘69). He also noted the impact of Thrive Week on the well-being of the University community and referenced the launch of the new Financial Intelligence and Innovation Hub. Additionally, he mentioned recent events including the ONCAT Student Mobility & Pathways Conference, the Mayor’s Breakfast, and the City-University Meeting, as well as the CACE conference in Montreal where vice-president of Communications & Enrolment Marilyn Burns and Board member Yancy Craig ‘95 delivered a presentation on the recommendations and key learnings from the Champlain Report. President Groarke also noted Canada’s Walk of Fame honour for Trent’s chancellor and alumnus Stephen Stohn ‘66 and campaign leader and honorary alumna Linda Schulyer, recognizing their work on the popular Degrassi series.  

Highlights from the meeting include:  

Trent Durham Task Force Report

The Board received the report from the Trent Durham Task Force (TDTF), entitled A Path Forward: Recommendations for a Growing Campus. Through consultations with a variety of University stakeholders, including staff, faculty, students, and community, the TDTF identified six areas for examination: academic programs, communications, the college model, administrative structure, governance, and real estate and facilities. Subcommittees were formed to further assess each area and recommendations for each were put forward in the final report. The recommendations outlined in the report will serve as a blueprint for the future of Trent Durham’s growing campus in the Greater Toronto Area.  

Alumni Review & Response  

The Board was briefed on the external review of Trent University's Alumni Engagement & Services (AES) department, underscoring the well-managed and highly regarded team's commitment to philanthropy. The review acknowledges the need for additional resources to support a growing alumni base. The response to the review, presented to the Board, includes plans to explore revenue growth from existing affinity partners and seek new partnerships. Looking ahead, AES will focus on increasing collaborations, developing more comprehensive understanding of alumni engagement opportunities, implementing a new strategic plan, developing data-driven strategy, and building enhanced resources to meet evolving alumni needs globally. 

CUPE 3908 Unit 1 Agreement Ratified

At the meeting, the Board officially ratified the new four-year collective agreement between the University and CUPE 3908 Unit 1, which represents 377 course instructors, clinical instructors, markers, tutorial leaders, workshop leaders, academic counsellors, academic skills counsellors and lab demonstrators at Trent University. 

Sustainability and Energy Plan 2024

The Board received the 2024 Sustainability & Energy Plan, which aligns with the environmental responsibility goals of the University’s ESG framework with a focus on environment and climate change and the reduction of Trent’s carbon footprint. Organized around three guiding principles to reduce environmental impact, facilitate increased engagement, and demonstrate leadership and accountability, the plan outlines various categories for action, including carbon reduction, waste prevention, and sustainability literacy. The report also calls for the development of a Pathway to Zero Carbon report to be developed to identify strategic next steps, forward-thinking needs, and long-term requirements of the University. 

Approval to Lease University Lands for Battery Storage Project

The Board approved plans for the University to lease Trent lands to Atura Power and continue project planning for a proposal with Ameresco and Atura to create a new battery energy storage system (BESS) in the north-end of Peterborough. The project is envisioned to address increasing demand for electricity and to offset supply challenges and will have the potential to store and output enough energy to power 125,000 homes for four hours. The BESS project aligns with the Board’s strategic priorities around environmental social governance (ESG), Trent’s focus on campus sustainability and the environment, and efforts to reduce the University’s overall carbon footprint.  

New Residence Project Developments  

The Board approved the University’s Letter of Intent with Knightstone Capital Management for the development of a new 1,300 bed college residence on Trent’s Symons Campus, which will also feature academic and administrative spaces as well as other amenities.  

Audited Pension Statements, Current Fiscal Environment & Budget Planning

The Board of Governors endorsed the Financial Statements of the Contributory Pension Plan for employees represented by OPSEU Local 365 and exempt administrative staff of Trent University for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The Board also received a report on the 2024/25 current fiscal environment, outlining various factors for consideration in multi-year financial planning, including inflation, enrolment and government funding.