Board of Governors Minutes of the Meeting Open Session Peterborough, May 11, 2018 Present: S. Kylie (Chair), C. Bonello, B. Cowie, G. Cubitt, P. Dilworth, L. Edwards, S. Graham Parker, C. Gray, L. Groarke, R. Jacobson, G. James, L. Kerr, A. La Barge, I. Lord, T. Miller, J. Panchal, S. Pieper, S. Rafi, S. Sinclair, A. Stewart, M. Younis, (Vice- President, External Relations & Advancement) J. Davis, (Vice-President, Research and Innovation) N. Emery, (Provost & Vice-President, Academic) J. Muldoon, (Vice-President, Finance & Administration) S. Pillar, (Associate Vice-President, Facilities Management) K. Stringham, (Associate Vice-President, Finance) C. Turk, (Head, Trent Durham) J. Muldoon, (University Secretary) Karen Spearing, Richelle Hall (Recording Secretary). Regrets: K. Armstrong, C. Dummitt, C. Salo, H. Stafford. [The Secretary confirms that quorum was present for this meeting.] 1. Welcome and Adoption of Agenda. The Chair called the open session of the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m. Hearing no amendments to the agenda it was moved/seconded (Cubitt/La Barge), That the Board approve the agenda as presented. Carried. 2. Declarations of Conflict of Interest. No declarations of conflicts of interest were made at this time. 3. Consent Agenda. It was moved/seconded (Cubitt/Sinclair), That the consent agenda be approved as presented. Carried. 3.1 Approval of Minutes. The Open Session of March 23, 2018 was approved as presented. 3.2 Financial Status. Received as information. 3.3 Capital Projects Status Update. Received as information. 4. Chair s Remarks. The Chair was pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Eminent Service Awards: former Board Chair and Governor Emeritus, Bryan Davies; current Vice-Chair, Sue Graham Parker; and long-time Trent volunteer, Gillian Stamp. The Eminent Service Awards are to be presented to the individuals at convocation ceremonies in early June. The Chair acknowledged Chartwells for the amazing meal served at lunch and wished them the best of luck at the Chef s Competition taking place Canadian College and University Food Service Association s annual conference in late June. Page 1 of 5
5. President s Report. President Groarke reported on recent activities and developments, including: $50M Campaign. President Groarke was pleased to inform the Board that at the Heart of Trent event on May 2, 2018 the Advancement office announced the completion of the $50M Campaign with a final total of $56.8M raised. Trent Durham Dean Search. President Groarke reported that the committee carrying out the search for a new Dean at Trent Durham held its first meeting and that the search is now underway. Travel to Dubai/India. President Groarke reported that he and a delegation recently returned from Dubai and India where they found the potential for multiple partnerships in education and industry. This was a first visit, and it will take time for partnerships to be established. Deputy Minister Visit. President Groarke reported that he met with the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Greg Orencsak, on April 10. Honorary Degree Recipients. President Groarke announced that the Honorary Degree Recipients for 2018, as approved by Senate, were George Cope, Max (Tibor) Eisen, Sylvia Maracle and Stephen Teeple. The honorary degrees are to be presented at the convocation ceremonies in June. Traill College. President Groarke reported that three individuals were appointed as Honorary Fellows at the Traill College Dinner on May 5. The recipients included His Worship Daryl Bennett, the Honourable Jeff Leal, and the Honourable Maryam Monsef. It was noted that Dr. Michael Eamon has been very active in building an endowment for Traill College, with $200K having been raised to date. The Chair reported that President Groarke announced that he would donate $30K if Dr. Eamon could secure $10K in donations. Distinguished Research Award. President Groarke announced that the 2017/18 Distinguished Research Award would be presented to Dr. Stephen Bocking, a professor in the Trent School of the Environment. He will be presented this award at convocation in June. It was moved/seconded (Stewart/Cowie), That the President s Report be received as information. Carried. 6. Capital Campaign Report. Director of Philanthropy, Sherry Booth, presented a video announcing the successful completion of the $50 Million Campaign. She reported that this exceptional fundraising effort has furthered the University s top priorities: strengthening the transformative student experience for which Trent is known, elevating teaching excellence, and providing students with world-class research opportunities. More than 8,461 individual donors contributed over 57,749 Board of Governors Open Session Minutes Page 2 of 5
gifts to the campaign. During the campaign, donors initiated 690 new funds: 399 of these funds provided student assistance in the form of scholarships and financial aid, of which 10,000 students received support. It was moved/seconded (Cubitt/Dilworth), That this report be received as information. Carried 7. Special Resolution I.4 Advancement Committee Terms of Reference. Governor Graham Parker, as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, reported that the Committee had been tasked with a review of the Board Committee structure during the year, however it was felt that with the ongoing pension work, and the delay in transitioning to a separate Trent Lands Committee that it was too premature to undertake a large review at that time. In the short-term the Committee directed administration to bring back revised terms of reference for the Advancement Committee that would better reflect the nature of its work around relationship building, including specific reference to Indigenous engagement. Governor Graham Parker presented the revised terms of reference for the Advancement Committee. The revisions included a renaming of the committee, to External Relations and Advancement Committee. VP Davis stated that the new name was more encompassing with its mandate being broken down into categories of relationships including philanthropy, alumni relations, community relations, Indigenous community relations, institutional reputation, and government relations. It was noted that the Committee would continue to have leadership over the University s philanthropic work, however this would not be as direct of oversight as in the past as it was now falling to the Fundraising Committee, external to the Board. It was moved/seconded (Graham Parker/Stewart), That the Board of Governors approve revisions to Special Resolution I.4 Advancement Committee Terms of Reference, renamed as Special Resolution I.4 External Relations and Advancement Committee Terms of Reference, as presented. Carried. 8. 2018-19 Operating Budget. Governor La Barge, as Chair of the Finance and Property Committee, presented the 2018-19 Operating Budget for approval, noting that with new strategic investments of $2.1M a nominal annual surplus of $157K was being projected. AVP Turk noted that the budget was predicated on enrolment growth of 294 full-time equivalents (FTEs), growing from 8,960 FTEs in 2017/2018 to 9,254 FTEs in 2018/2019 and it was assumed that enrolment growth would be funded. VP Pillar reported that domestic tuition fees for 2018-19 were approved at the December 1 meeting. For 2019-20 a 3% increase in domestic tuition fees was proposed. Additionally, for 2018-19 a 3% increase in international tuition fees for Board of Governors Open Session Minutes Page 3 of 5
continuing students and a 5% increase for new students was proposed. It was noted that a portion of the international tuition fees would go back into student supports. All professional program tuition fee increases proposed were in line with the tuition fee framework. At this time two conflicts of interest were declared. Governor Cubitt declared a conflict regarding the Compulsory Ancillary Fees and the inclusion of Durham Transit fees, due to his position at the Region of Durham. Governor Panchal declared a conflict of interest regarding the International Tuition Fees. The Chair recommended that in light of these conflicts of interest that the motion be split into three separate motions. It was moved/seconded (La Barge/Sinclair), That the Board of Governors approve the 2018-19 Operating Budget, as presented. Carried. It was further moved/seconded (La Barge/`Gray), That the Board of Governors approve the 2019-20 Domestic Tuition Fees and the 2018-19 International and Professional Program Tuition Fees, as presented. Carried. And further, it was move/seconded (La Barge/Gray), That the Board of Governors approve the 2018-19 Compulsory Ancillary Fees, Housing Fees and Dining Fees, as presented. Carried. 9. Housing Strategy Status Update. Governor La Barge, as Chair of the Finance and Property Committee, presented the housing strategy report, which provides short and long-term planning strategies for Trent s provision of housing. Ms. Jen Coulter, Director of Housing, reported that following the development of the five guiding principles Housing developed a five-year rolling facilities plan. Over the five years the intention is to fund $6.9M for maintenance/aesthetic projects and $3.5M for major renovation planning. The three-year Undergraduate Fee Strategy developed would allow the university to invest in revitalizing current facilities and to earmark funds into the housing reserve, but would not put Trent at a disadvantage in comparison to other universities. Ms. Coulter noted that Housing Services had also developed a plan to collaborate with the colleges to enhance the student experience over the next five years. Ms. Coulter reported that Housing had recently received approval to move forward with securing consulting services for a market and demand analysis. This analysis will look at the demand for key cohorts, determine housing needs, understand the key drivers for choosing to live on campus, review historical application data as well as demographic and enrolment data. Additionally, an off-campus market analysis would be included as well as projected affordability and price elasticity of existing Board of Governors Open Session Minutes Page 4 of 5
stock and possible new developments. It was moved/seconded (Sinclair/Gray), That the Board of Governors receive this report as information. Carried. 10. Cleantech Commons Status Update. Governor La Barge, as Chair of the Finance and Property Committee, reported that great work has been done in regards to community relations, specifically in Indigenous consultation, for the Cleantech Commons. VP Pillar reported that on March 19 the City approved the head lease summary document and that they are in the last stages of finalizing the head lease. Noblegen was planning on submitting their site plan to the City for approval in the following month or two. VP Pillar noted that recruitment for the Executive Director of the Cleantech Commons is process and that this position will be cost split by Trent and the City. Significant promotion of the Cleantech Commons has occurred with the assistance of the Peterborough Kawartha Economic Development Corporation. VP Pillar reported that there had been changes at the City impacting the Cleantech Commons, including the CAO, Alan Seabrooke being replaced by Sandra Clancy. Ms. Clancy will be replacing Mr. Seabrooke on the Cleantech Commons Management Committee. It was moved/seconded (Dilworth/Panchal), That the Board of Governors receive this report as information. Carried. 11. New Business 11.1 Recent Report on Philanthropy. VP Davis reported that Trent had received a $1M legacy gift from former Board Chair Jalynn Bennett. Funds are to be allocated to the Trent Lands Plan, recognition of Indigenous First Nations on campus, the creation of an amphitheatre at Traill College and the creation of an arbour and green courtyard to connect buildings at the Trent Durham Campus. 12. Session Adjournment. The open session of the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m. Tara Harrington A/University Secretary Stephen Kylie Chair Board of Governors Open Session Minutes Page 5 of 5