The Board of Governors met on March 21 at Trent University Oshawa’s Thornton Road campus, continuing the Board’s practice of holding at least one of its regularly-scheduled meetings at the Trent Oshawa campus each year. Joining the Board for this meeting were Dr. Don Tapscott, Trent’s chancellor, and Dr. Leo Groarke, president-designate. Both thanked the Board for its work, encouraging governors in their important role as leaders.

The Board also held a special luncheon at this meeting and welcomed members of the Oshawa faculty and staff, as well as student leaders as guests. During lunch, the group enjoyed a presentation highlighting Trent Oshawa developments and events, given by Joe Muldoon, head of Trent University Oshawa.

Strategic Mandate Agreement Submission to MTCU

The Board considered Trent’s Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) submission to the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU), and approved use of the submission as the basis for negotiating a new three-year accountability template with MTCU to be finalized by March 31, 2014. The Board’s approval mirrored the vote of support that was approved by Trent’s Senate on March 11, 2014.

Trent’s SMA submission set out the University’s strengths and priorities in the context of MTCU’s Differentiation Policy Framework. SMA submissions and accountability templates are a requirement of MTCU for all Ontario universities and colleges.

Food Services

An important item of business for the Board was approval of a new contract for food services on campus, recognizing the impact of quality, variety and affordable food services on student recruitment, retention, and experience.  The contract was awarded to Compass Group Canada (operating as Chartwells Education Dining Services) and takes effect May 1, 2014.  The rollout of updated facilities and services will commence in the coming months.  For more information, please see today’s release: http://www.trentu.ca/newsevents/newsreleases_140324FoodServices.php

Governance of Risk Management

As oversight of risk management is a primary responsibility of the Board of Governors, the Board invited a presentation from Trent’s director of risk management, Louise Fish, to provide an overview of the University’s process for the identification, mitigation, and management of operational and strategic risk. The presentation prompted a productive discussion by the Board regarding the role of committees and the Board with regard to governance oversight for risk management processes.

Next Meeting

The Board of Governors will meet next at Trent University, Peterborough on April 25, 2014.