The Trent University Board of Governors held its second regular meeting of the academic year on December 6, 2019.

Appointment of Board Vice-Chairs

Trent University’s Board of Governors approved the appointment of two vice chairs of the Board of Governors. Debra Cooper Burger and Scott Sinclair ’80 were each appointed for a one-year term, commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021.

Debra Cooper Burger is a health care leader with proven success in health care delivery, programming and operations. She has extensive experience in health care operations including acute care, long-term care and community-based programs. Ms. Cooper Burger began her career in health care as a registered nurse and has held leadership roles at the Peterborough County-City Health Unit, St. Joseph’s at Fleming, and the Unionville Home Society. Ms. Cooper Burger is the former chair of the Fleming College Board of Governors and is currently in her second year on Trent’s Board of Governors, serving as chair of the Nominating & Governance subcommittee.

Scott Sinclair brings to the Board of Governors 30+ years of experience in the financial services industry. His particular areas of expertise include life and health insurance, segregated fund and mutual funds, as well as pension and employee benefits. A dedicated community volunteer, Mr. Sinclair currently serves on the board with East Metro Youth Services. He has also served as president with Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre, and Grace Communities Corporation. Mr. Sinclair, a Trent alumnus, has been on the Trent University Board for three years, recently reappointed for a second three-year term, effective July 1, 2019. Mr. Sinclair has also served as the chair of the Finance and Property committee for two years.

Reappointment of Governors
During the meeting, Governors Brian Cowie and Saad Rafi were each reappointed for a second three-year term, commencing July 1, 2020 through to June 30, 2023. Governor Garry Cubitt was approved for an additional one-year term, commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021.

Indigenous Community Relations
Board members received an update on the Indigenous Community Relations Plan (approved in March 2018) focused on building trust and mutually beneficial institutional relationships with the Michi Saagiig communities.

Recent milestones include the creation of a protocol guidebook, instructional videos about the land acknowledgement and smudging, the conferring of honorific names across the Symons Campus, and the unveiling of a treaty display in Bata Library.

2018/19 Audited Pension Financial Statements
The Board also approved the 2018/19 financial statements of the Contributory Pension Plan for Employees represented by OPSEU Local 365, Exempt Administrative Staff and TUFA Employees of Trent University, based on external audits. In the opinion of the auditors, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Contributory Pension Plans and Supplemental Retirement Arrangement as at June 30, 2019, and the changes in net assets available for benefits, and the changes in the pension obligation for the year then ended in accordance with the Canadian accounting standards for pension plans.

2020/21 International Tuition Fees
At the meeting, the Board reviewed information and comparators on international student tuition fees and approved a fee schedule for international undergraduate and graduate programs for 2020/21.