The Trent University Board of Governors held its fourth regular – and first in-person – meeting of the academic year on March 25, 2022, which included the annual student leaders luncheon with the Board on the Symons Campus.

Introductory remarks from Board chair Debra Cooper Burger highlighted recent celebrations and gatherings held virtually and in-person at Trent including the annual Elders Gathering, Trent Excalibur Lacrosse team gold medal celebration, and the annual varsity athletics banquet.

Representatives from the TCSA, TDSA, TGSA, TISA, college cabinets and members of the Excalibur women’s lacrosse team joined govenors over lunch to discuss issues important to students. At the student leaders luncheon, women’s lacrosse student-athlete and co-captain Emily Van Damme also spoke to the governors, Trent chancellor Stephen Stohn, and senior administrators.

Other highlights from the March 25 meeting:

2022/23 Operational Budget Approved

Trent University’s Board of Governors reviewed and approved the 2022/23 operating budget as presented by the Finance and Property Committee. This presentation of the operating budget included a narrative and analysis regarding updated 2022/23 projections, budget assumptions and recommended strategic investments for 2022/23, and multi-year high-level planning assumptions and financial forecast. 

In addition to meeting inflationary and staff escalation costs, the University was able to allocate an additional $2.7M dollars to support growth and special projects. As a result, the 2022/23 budget will be essentially balanced, with a nominal surplus of $51,000 (assuming resuming in-person learning and on-campus activities at normal levels) for the fiscal year.

The 2022/23 budget reflects the continued freeze on domestic tuition fees by the province. As part of the budget the Board approved new tuition rates for out-of-province and international students: a 3% increase for out-of-province students; an 8% increase for incoming international students and 5% to 8% increase for continuing international students; a 3% increase for research-based international grad programs and a 5% increase for international professional programs. Certificate programs will increase by 5% for international students.

Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre at Traill College

The Board of Governors also received a report from Dr. Michael Eamon, principal of Catharine Parr Traill College, on the upcoming construction of the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre, a new three-season performance space situated in the courtyard of Traill College.

This dynamic, new performance space will offer a professional cultural facility for arts and heritage experiences accessible to a wide range of community interests, and has been developed as an accessible space for all people (particularly youth, seniors, and Indigenous peoples) to experience arts and culture in the heart of downtown Peterborough. Several departments based at Traill College offer performance-based classes that will benefit from the use of this professional performance space. The construction of the amphitheatre at Traill College is the first step in Trent University’s fostering of a larger community space for performance and expression.

The amphitheatre will be named after the late Jalynn Bennett, former chair of the Trent University Board of Governors and honorary governor – a dynamic community booster who ardently believed in the value of both arts and heritage and the importance for all Canadians to access collaborative spaces of creation and presentation in their community.

Community Engagement Update

The Board of Governors were presented with updates on community relations activities at the Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses. Governors were provided with the opportunity to preview the University’s annual Community Report (to be released in April), which outlines Trent’s contribution to the Peterborough region over the past year, and learned more about community engagement activities in the Durham Region.

“With the academic year coming to a close, the Community Report is an opportunity to reflect on the milestones, relationships, and impact that Trent University has on the greater Peterborough region,” says Julie Davis, vice president of External Relations and Development at Trent. “Trent is a place where students, staff and our broader community can thrive and build a resilient, sustainable Peterborough.”

Some highlights shared with the Board included Trent’s philanthropic endeavours, the contribution of Trent research, and initiatives underway through the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan. The Peterborough community report also highlighted the University’s role as a leader in the community and economic impact within the region. During the reporting period, the University accounted for nine percent of the region’s GDP and $176 million in local expenditure, with a total estimated economic impact of $675 million.

In addition to the report from VP Davis, the Board also received an update from Dr. Scott Henderson, dean and head of Trent Durham GTA, which highlighted a variety of community-based research, partnership updates and consultation with regional partners in Durham.