Board Meeting Synopsis for October 19, 2022
The first regular meeting of the Board of Governors for the 2022-23 year was held October 19, 2022, at the University fo Guelph Arboretum. The meeting was chaired by Board Chair Nancy Brown Andison.
The meeting began with a welcome to Governors offered by the Board Chair, and a welcome to guests in attendance and to those watching online.
President Charlotte Yates offered oral remarks, including an update on fall activities on campus. A presentation on the University’s Global Engagement Plan was provided by the Assistant Vice-President, International.
The Board held a strategic discussion on the University of Guelph’s new Strategic Plan. Following approval by the University’s Senate on October 3rd, the Board of Governors unanimously approved the University of Guelph Strategic Plan 2022-27 at the October 19th meeting. The strategic plan lays out U of G’s vision for its future and charts its course forward, including through clearly articulated values, goals and objectives.
The Board of Governors approved the University’s audited statements for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2022. The statements were reviewed by the Board’s Audit & Risk Committee and by the Finance Committee and were audited by the University external audit firm, Ernst & Young.
The Board approved several capital projects, including the Honeybee Research Centre, residence cladding projects and a heat recovery project in the University Center. The University’s full capital plan will be considered by the Board at its January 25, 2023 meeting.
The Board received an update on work relating to financial sustainability and the path to return to a balanced operating budget for the University. This also included an update on fall enrolment. The Board also approved the setting of International Tuition fees for 2023-24 and an updated Compulsory Non-Tuition Ancillary Fees Protocol.
The Board of Governors received an update on work relating to preventing and addressing sexual violence, and received the Sexual Violence Support, Response, and Education Annual Report.
The Board also received additional written reports for information, including reports from standing committee chairs on recent committee activities, the University’s annual freedom of expression report, and regular financial reporting.
The complete open session meeting package is available on the University Secretariat’s Governance Portal. The official record of the meeting is the meeting minutes, which will be available following their approval at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting, to be held on January 25, 2023.