Board Meeting Synopsis for October 16, 2018
The first meeting of the Board of Governors for the 2018-19 year was held October 16, 2018 at the University of Guelph Arboretum, chaired by Board Chair Kevin Golding.
The meeting began with a territorial acknowledgement offered by the Board Chair. The President offered oral remarks and a welcome to the Board of Governors.
As per the Board’s standard practice, the Chair of each standing committee of the Board provided an update on recent activities of their respective committees, bringing forward items for information or approval, as appropriate.
An update was provided on recent activities of the Audit & Risk Committee by the Board Chair. The Board of Governors approved the University of Guelph’s Audited Financial Statements for the year ending April 30, 2018.
An update was provided on recent activities of the Finance Committee by the Committee Chair, Nancy Brown Andison. The Board received for information a semesterly financial report from the University of Guelph-Humber, as well as the 2017-18 Senate Committee on Quality Assurance Annual Report. Amendments to the University’s Expendable Fund Policy were approved by the Board of Governors. The Committee Chair also provided an update on activity of the ad hoc Committee on Special Action Requests on a response to a request for divestment from fossil fuel companies, made under the University’s Special Action Policy. Members of the group that submitted the request were invited to speak to the Board. The Chair of the ad hoc Committee on Special Action Requests provided an update on next steps.
An update was provided on recent activities of the Governance and Human Resources Committee by the Committee Chair, Shauneen Bruder. The Board of Governors received an update on the University’s response to Cannabis Legalization as well as the development of a University Policy on Freedom of Expression. The Board of Governors approved amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Board’s Standing Committees as well as Competency Matrices setting out the skillsets for the Board of Trustees and Investment Subcommittee.
An update was provided on recent activities of the Pensions Committee by the Committee Chair, Paul Gallagher, including the continued development of a jointly sponsored pension plan for Ontario universities – the Ontario University Pension Plan
An update was provided on recent activities of the Physical Resources and Property Committee by the Board Chair.
The complete open session meeting package is available on the University Secretariat website. The official record of the meeting are the meeting minutes, which will be available following their approval at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting, to be held on January 23, 2018.