Board of Governors

1.Approval of Agenda

Moved by Mr. Labine, seconded by Mr. Dennison that the Agenda be approved as circulated.

2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest

None were declared.

3. Chair's Report

Mr. Cleghorn informed Governors that the Presidential Search Committee had hired a search consultant to assist in the search for the next President. He noted that contractual arrangements are being finalized.

Mr. Cleghorn announced that Lakehead University's 2009 Research and Innovation Week had taken place during the week. He stated that this event has celebrated and showcased research excellence at Lakehead, along with the award of the University's 2009 Distinguished Researcher - Dr. Bruce Strang.

4. Approval of Minutes of the Board of Governors' Meeting of January 16, 2009

The Minutes were circulated with the Agenda.

Moved by Mr. Dahl, seconded by Mr. Dudtschak that the Minutes of the Board of Governors' Meeting of January 16, 2009 be approved as circulated.

5. Business Arising from the Minutes (not on the Agenda elsewhere)

There was no business arising from the Minutes.

Mr. Cleghorn informed the Board that Mr. Matt Granville has assumed the position of LUSU President. Mr. Cleghorn welcomed Mr. Granville to the meeting.

6. President's Report

Dr. Gilbert reviewed his Report which had been distributed at the beginning of the meeting.

7. Standing Committees Reports

7.1 Audit & Risk Management Committee

Mr. Dennison announced that the Audit & Risk Management Committee had not met since the last meeting but a Joint Finance and Investment and Audit and Risk Management Committees' Orientation Session had been held prior to the Board meeting.

7.2 Finance & Investment Committee

Ms. Dumyn drew members' attention to the Committee's Report which had been circulated with the Agenda. She noted that the Committee had met on February 17^th, not on the 26^th as the Report had indicated.

7.2.1 Approval of Proposed Tuition Fees for 2009/10

Ms. Dumyn spoke to the Schedule of Proposed Tuition Fees for 2009/10. She reported that in accordance with the Tuition Fee Policy for Publicly Assisted Universities issued by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) in April 2006, the first year tuition fees for most undergrad programs had been increased by 4.5% and the tuition fees for continuing years in these programs had been increased by 4%. The tuition fees for most Graduate programs had been increased by 4% except for the first three terms in Master of Public Health, and the twelve month program fee for Master of Science in Management and the Master of Management. Ms. Dumyn noted that discussion had taken place with respect to the impact of tuition fee increases on students and the budgetary impact that would occur in the absence of tuition fee increases. She reported that the 5 year Operating Plan presented to the Board in October 2008 projected for 2009/10, a total income of $98,048M and total expenses of $104,415M, yielding a deficit of $6,467M. These projections included the tuition fees increase which will provide an additional $1.7M - $1.9M revenue over 2008/09. Although these projections did not include the 6% reduction of 2008/09 approved expenditures (e.g. P&I, scholarships & bursaries from tuition reinvestment, utilities and general) which is being developed now with other initiatives (i.e. Grad Student Building), to close the deficit gap and bring the operating budget for 2009/10 into a balanced position. Ms. Dumyn also reported that the proposed tuition increase is the maximum allowed by MTCU, noting that 2009/10 is the last year of the 5 year tuition fee increase schedule, therefore, COU is preparing to negotiate with the government for a schedule beyond 2010. Ms. Dumyn concluded by advising Governors that Lakehead has the third lowest tuition fees in Ontario with Nipissing and Windsor below Lakehead. She also noted that Lakehead is in the middle of the scale with regard to graduate and international tuition fees.

Moved by Ms. Dumyn, seconded by Mr. Bruce that the Board of Governors approve the proposed tuition fees for 2009/10.

Mr. Granville, LUSU President, was given the opportunity to voice the concerns of students regarding the proposed tuition fee increase. He noted that the continued increase in the cost of education, the poor current provincial funding plan, and the lack of communication from the province as to a successor plan is highly concerning to the student community of Lakehead University.

Moved by Ms. Dumyn, seconded by Mr. Bruce that the Report of the Finance & Investment Committee be accepted.

7.3 Governance Committee

Mr. Campbell noted that the Committee had not met since the last Board meeting.

7.4 Nominating Committee

Mr. Campbell reported that the Committee had met once since the last Board meeting. He noted that the Committee is in the process of completing a skills set grid which will be used as one of the tools to determine re-nomination of Board terms or appointment of new Board members.

7.4.1 Replacement Member for Board Representative to Senate

Moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Heroux that Ms. Judy Flett complete Mr. Ewan Downie's term as a Board Representative to Senate.

Moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Labine that the verbal report of the Nominating Committee be accepted.

7.5 NOSM Committee

Mr. Labine reported that the Committee had not met since the last meeting but the Committee would be meeting on March 30, 2009.

7.6 Operations Committee

Mr. Bruce, Chair of the Operations Committee, highlighted the Committee's Report which had been circulated with the Agenda.

7.6.1 Semi-Annual Report on Occupational Health and Safety

Moved by Mr. Bruce, seconded by Ms. Palmer that the Semi-Annual Report on Occupational Health and Safety be accepted.

Moved by Mr. Bruce, seconded by Ms. Palmer that the Report of the Operations Committee be accepted.

7.7 Senate Liaison Committee

Dr. Leggatt reviewed the Report which had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting. She reported that she had addressed Senate in January and explained the responsibilities of the Senate Liaison Committee, as well as she asked several questions regarding the two way exchange of ideas and information between Senate and the Board and received a request to forward those questions via email to Senators so that they could provide more thoughtful feedback. Dr. Leggatt reviewed the summary of answers. Based on the summary, Mr. Cleghorn requested the Senate Liaison Committee to develop an Action Plan for the next Board Meeting.

Moved by Dr. Leggatt, seconded by Mr. Hoey that the Report of the Senate Liaison Committee be accepted.

7.8 Student Liaison Committee

Mr. Holt-Hindle reviewed the Report of the Student Liaison Committee which had been circulated with the Agenda.

Moved by Mr. Holt-Hindle, seconded by Mr. Sevean that the Report of the Student Liaison Committee be accepted.

7.9 University Advancement Committee

Mr. Crooks drew members' attention to the Report of the University Advancement Committee which had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting. He reminded Governors that the University Advancement Committee had developed a seven-year Strategic Plan. Mr. Crooks mentioned that the Committee would provide the Board with an ongoing updated six month action plan so that the Board will be updated on the developments of the University Advancement Strategic Plan. Mr. Crooks noted that the first six month action plan had been attached to the University Advancement Committee Report.

Moved by Mr. Crooks, seconded by Mr. Waite that the Report of the University Advancement Committee be accepted.

Carried unanimously.

8. Report of the Alumni Association

Ms. Cheng spoke to the Report of the Alumni Association which had been circulated with the Agenda.

Moved by Ms. Cheng, seconded by Ms. Phipps that the Report of the Alumni Association be accepted.

9. Approval of Chair Appointments

Moved by Dr. Gilbert, seconded by Ms. Dumyn that Dr. S. Kissin be appointed as Chair of the Department of Geology, effective July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012.

Moved by Dr. Gilbert, seconded by Dr. Leggatt that Dr. Nancy Luckai be appointed as Chair of the Department of Forest Conservation, effective July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012.

Moved by Dr. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Dahl that Dr. Ulf Runesson be re-appointed as Chair of the Department of Forest Management, effective July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012.

10. Nomination for Electoral Board for the Election of Chancellor

Moved by Ms. Dumyn, seconded by Mr. Campbell that the following Board members be appointed to the Electoral Board for the election of a Chancellor: Slim Babay, Colin Bruce, Vonnie Cheng, Kurt Dahl, James Dennison, Kirk Dudtschak, Len Hoey, Gil Labine, Darlene Palmer, Frances Picherack, Lynne Sevean, and Bruce Waite.

11. Ratification of the Application for Formal Centre Status for The Centre for Research on Safe Driving (CCRSD)

Moved by Dr. Gilbert, seconded by Dr. Leggatt that the application for formal Center status of The Centre for Research on Safe Driving be ratified as outlined in the memorandum of the Senate Research Committee (November 24, 2008) and as recommended by Senate on December 5, 2008.

12. Ratification of Adjunct Professors

Moved by Dr. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Holt-Hindle that Dr. Oleg Rubel in the Department of Physics and Dr. Jim McLaughlin in the Department of Biology be ratified as Adjunct Professors for the term July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2013, as recommended by Senate on January 23, 2009.

Moved by Dr. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Holt-Hindle that Dr. Jessica Whitley, Faculty of Education be ratified as an Adjunct Professor retroactive to July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012, as recommended by Senate on January 23, 2009.

13. Ratification of Professional Associate

Moved by Dr. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Holt-Hindle that Dr. William Hettenhausen be ratified as a Professional Associate for the Master of Public Health Program for the term July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2013, as recommended by Senate on January 23, 2009.

14. Approval of Board of Governors' Meeting Schedule

14.2 Item 14.2 was dealt with before 14.1

Moved by Mr. Bruce, seconded by Ms. Dumyn that the proposed schedule for 2009/10 Board of Governors' Meetings be approved as circulated.

Mr. Cleghorn drew members' attention to the 10:00 a.m. start time for the October 1, 2010 Annual Meeting. He noted that since Lakehead Celebrates had tentatively been scheduled for the evening of September 30, 2010, therefore, holding the Annual Meeting on October 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. would provide out of town members the opportunity to fly home Friday afternoon following the Board meeting.

Carried unanimously.

Ms. Dumyn suggested that one of the 2009/10 Board meetings should be held in Orillia. She also noted that Board members should be prepared to incur the travel expenses. Following further discussion, the Board was in consensus that one meeting should take place in Orillia. The Board also requested the Officers to review the 2009/10 schedule and determine which Board meeting would be held in Oriliia.

14.1 Proposed Meeting Change for October 2009 Annual Meeting

Moved by Mr. Dahl, seconded by Mr. Bruce that the Annual Board Meeting to be held on Thursday, October 8, 2009 be rescheduled to Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. to coincide with Lakehead Celebrates which has been moved to Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

15. Report of the Lakehead University Student Union

Mr. Granville spoke to the Report of the Lakehead University Student Union which had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting.

16. Report from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Board

Mr. Labine reviewed the Report of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Board which had been circulated with the Agenda.

17. Report of the Board of Governors' Representative to Senate

Mr. Dahl, Board of Governors' Representative to Senate, updated members on the January Senate Meeting, adding that Senate Agendas, Minutes, and backup documentation can be found on the Senate website. Mr. Dahl informed members that at the January 2009 Senate Meeting the 2009 Honorary Degree Recipients were announced - Dr. John Evans, Mr. Richard Stallman, and Dr. Gwynne Dyer.

18. In Camera Meeting

Moved by Ms. Dumyn, seconded by Mr. Dennison that Mr. Pawlowski remain for on item of the in camera meeting.

Carried unanimously.

The meeting, which began at 4:10 p.m., was adjourned at 6:05 p.m., on a motion by Mr. Campbell and seconded by Mr. Babay. The meeting moved in camera.