Mr. Paul Davidson, President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) – Presentation to the Board:

Mr. Paul Davidson provided an overview to the University about the top advocacy issues being pursued by AUCC including funding from the national Granting Councils, support for universities from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Internships, and Canada’s International Strategy. He outlined how AUCC is supporting universities across Canada and thanked Board members for their voluntary service to the Trent community. A graduate of Trent in 1986, Mr. Davidson rounded out his return visit to his alma mater with meetings with faculty, and staff.

President’s Monthly Report

In his monthly report, Dr. Steven E. Franklin, President and Vice-Chancellor updated the University on developments at the provincial level impacting the sector:

• Projected Enrolment: The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) has projected lower enrolment growth levels and now estimates that 60,000 students are expected by 2017-18, rather than by 2015-16. The Ministry has committed $75 M to fund all planned 2012-13 undergraduate and graduate growth in the province.
• Capital: The government has confirmed its commitment to the June 2010, 10-Year Capital Plan, but has reduced uncommitted funds available for future years with no new capital funding for 2012 -13. The timing of the three possible future new undergraduate campuses in the GTA is uncertain.
• Student Aid: The Ontario Special Bursary Program (OSBP) and the Ontario Work-Study Program (OWSP) are expected to be covered through the tuition set-aside, and the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) was eliminated (matching donor’s funding for scholarships).
• Executive compensation restraint: Bill 55, the budget measures implementation act, includes amendments to the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010 that will require a freeze on Executive compensation from March 31, 2012 to March 31, 2014.
• Pension Issues: The March 2012 budget announced several changes, which, when implemented, may directly affect universities with defined benefit pension plans, such as:
  • Introduction of a legislative framework in fall 2012 to facilitate pooling of assets of smaller BPS pension plans, through either a new investment management entity or by building on existing large public sector pension plan investment structures
  • Transition of single employer pension plans to 50/50 cost sharing of contributions between employers and plan members within five years
  • Conversion of Broader Public Sector Single Employer Pension Plans (SEPPs) to Jointly Sponsored Pension Plans (JSPPs) with full equal cost-sharing
  • Pooling of assets to yield high investment returns and cost efficiencies.

Capital Projects Update:

• Stanley Adamson Powerhouse: The reconstruction work is ongoing, with an expected completion date of February 2013;
• Simulated Learning Space for School of Nursing: This projected is expected to be complete by early summer 2012;
• Re-roofing of Champlain College Residence (Champlain West Quad roof) to be completed over the summer.

Integrated Plan Annual Progress Report

The Integrated Plan entitled Toward a Sustainable Future: The First Integrated Plan for Trent University (2010-2015) was approved by Senate in May 2011 and the Board in June 2011. The following actions related to the four Institutional Priorities identified in the plan have been completed in the first year:

1. Commitment to Academic Excellence

• Radical Recovery: An Academic Plan for Trent University (2012-2015) (approved by Senate and the Board in spring 2012) containing multiple initiatives

2. Commitment to Strategic Enrolment Management

• Multiyear Enrolment and Retention Plan (updated in the form of the new Strategic Enrolment Plan, April 2012)
• Positioning Statement for the University (process underway, results to be considered in the fall 2012)

3. Commitment to Achieving Financial Stability

• Financial Literacy Program (regular meetings and briefings since November 2011 – a full report was provided to Board Finance and Property Committee in January 2012)
• Multiyear Budget Framework for a five-year planning cycle (appropriate scenarios, assumptions, and subsequent budget approval process completed in April 2012)
• Budget Decentralization (continues to decanal-level through Provost’s Planning Group)
• Fiscal and Operational “Snapshot” (data basket, used in the Academic Plan)

4. Commitment to Strengthening Community Engagement

• Oshawa Community Engagement Committee held its first meeting in January 2012.
• Presidential Advisory Committee on Government Relations (formed December 2011, initial meetings held, representatives drawn from faculty, staff, governance); a key outreach strategy was the successful Trent University Day at Queen’s Park, May 16, 2012
• 50th Anniversary Steering Committee (formed May 2011, meetings now held every two months, membership finalized, and four subcommittees initiated)
• Endowment Lands Master Plan (commitments now proceeding on identified
  parcels) within the context of the Draft Trent Development Plan which has now been shared privately with local leadership and will be the subject of an extensive consultation process in fall 2012

Enrolment Report

Trent University student applicant data compiled by the Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis shows that confirmed applicants (accepts) as of June 11, 2012 is as follows:

• The total number of undergraduate students that have accepted their offer to come to Trent is up 3.5% compared to last year at this time. This translates into 80 more accepts compared to last year’s numbers.
• Nursing accepts are up 24.7% compared to last year. This is a result of 45 more students accepting their offer.
• Teacher education confirmations are up 18.0% over last year’s numbers. This is an additional 47 student accepts.

Board Reports

The Board received a series of reports including:

• Annual Research Report
• Financial Report
• Year End Report from Visitors to Senate
• Annual Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility Report
• Report on Quarterly Investment Results to March 30, 2012
• Annual Health and Safety Report

The Office of Research Report reported that over 250 Trent faculty are engaged in fundamental or basic research and approximately 100-150 are engaged in applied research. At present, there are over 680 active programs of research involving over 830 individual research accounts at the University.

Board Member, Vice-Chair, Committee Chair Appointments

The following appointments were approved:

• Bryan Davies was appointed Vice-Chair of the Board for a one year term commencing July 1, 2012
• Amber Vance was appointed a member of the Board (student seat) for a two-year term commencing July 1, 2012
• Paul Orser was appointed a member of the Board (staff seat) for a two-year term commencing July 1, 2012
• Prof. Liana Brown was appointed a member of the Board (faculty seat) for a two year term commencing July 1, 2012
• Kate Gillespie Ahrens was appointed a member of the Board (alumni seat) for a two-year term commencing July 1, 2012
• Ken Armstrong, Ian Lord, Cristina Marques, Dr. Thomas Miller and Andrew Stewart were each appointed for a three-year term commencing July 1, 2012
• Harvey McCue was reappointed for a one-year term commencing July 1, 2012
• Michael Mackey was reappointed for a three-year term commencing July 1, 2102

The following Governors were appointed as Chairs of the Board’s standing committees for 2012-13:

Advancement: Harvey McCue
Audit: Rod Taylor
Endowment Lands: Cristina Marques
Executive: Bryan Davies
Finance & Property: David Bignell
Investment & Pension: Michael Mackey
Nominating & Governance: Pamela Jeffery

Retiring Board Members

Board Chair Anne Wright paid tribute to 10 retiring Board members for their service to the University including: Bob Butterworth, Vice-Chair (2004-12), Joan Bush (2006-12), Rosemary Zigrossi (2007-12), Dawn Lutchman (2008-12), Sue Lupton (2009-12), Rob Graham (2009-12), Murray Miskin (2009-12), Prof. Moria Howes (2010-12), Ha Nguyen (2010-12) and Laura Storey (2011-12).