Board of Governors Highlights

Highlights from the May 22, 2025 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:22:27 +0000

Highlights from the May 22, 2025 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Thu, 06/05/2025 - 08:22

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership.

The Board of Governors held the fifth regular meeting on May 22, 2025. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on October 2, 2025. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the President and Vice-Chancellor, approved the appointment of Professor Tony Mittermaier as 91ֱ��’s Dean of Students for a five-year renewable term beginning on June 1, 2025. Read the full announcement.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of Senate, approved the following:

Revisions to the Policy on Harassment and Discrimination. The revisions ensure that the Policy continues to abide the law, meet the needs of the University community, and support the University’s commitments in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Revisions to the Policy Concerning the Rights of Students with Disabilities. Revisions include, among others, clarifying scope and language to articulate a framework for establishing academic accommodations for students with disabilities, as well as specifying roles and responsibilities of students, instructors, staff, and academic leadership.
Revisions to the Statutes of 91ֱ��. Notable revisions include: an increase in Senate’s composition from 111 to 114 members and approval to develop electoral procedures relating to the election to and service on Senate for certain constituents.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, approved the revisions to the Policy on the Approval of Contracts and Designation of Signing Authority. The review was undertaken one year ahead of schedule to reflect structural changes within the University and to support broader governance and operational streamlining initiatives.

Also on the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board approved the submission of Annex 3 Déclaration du dirigeant de l’organisme for FY2024 to the Quebec Treasury Board, in which the University affirms that it has complied with the relevant reporting obligations relating to public procurement contracts governed by the Act respecting contracting by public bodies and its regulations.

The Board received the Annual report on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) activities. The 2025 Institutional Risk Register identifies a series of strategic risks, reflecting the University’s rapidly evolving context and strategic priorities.

The Board also received a presentation on the UniForum Initiative supporting Horizon 91ֱ��, which provided the methodology employed to advance this transformational project.

On the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics (NGE) Committee, the Board approved the recommendations contained in the report of the Working Group on Phase II of the Board Efficiency and Effectiveness Project, which aims to enhance the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Board’s governance functions and operations. The recommendations will also lead to a revised composition for advisory committees for the selection or reappointment of Vice-Presidents.

Also on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, the Board of Governors approved a series of appointments and reappointments to Board standing committees, external non-board bodies, health board bodies, and the Research Ethics Board.

President’s Remarks

President Deep Saini provided updates pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��.

Government Relations

The President began with an update on Bill 95, which was tabled by the Government of Quebec in March and proposes a 50% cap on subsidized daycare spots reserved for specific communities. The Bill would, therefore, potentially affect 91ֱ��’s campus daycares, which serve the children of students, faculty, and staff. The University has submitted a mémoire detailing the specificities of university campus daycares, advocating that full access should remain reserved for 91ֱ�� community members.

The President also shared that An Act to foster the practice of medicine in the public health and social services network (previously Bill 83) was adopted in April. The Act mandates that medical graduates practice in Quebec’s public system for a minimum of five years or risk a financial penalty. It, moreover, allows Santé Québec to evaluate private practice requests based on various criteria, such as regional needs. 91ֱ�� has raised the concern that these measures may adversely impact applicants and residency recruitment in Quebec. The University continues to monitor the situation closely.

The President noted that a provincial committee was established in March to examine adherence to Quebec’s Act on State religious neutrality in public institutions. Although universities are not considered state institutions, Minister Roberge’s public comments have suggested the law’s potential extension to higher education. In collaboration with Université Laval, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke, 91ֱ�� will submit a joint letter highlighting essential considerations linked to the autonomy and mission of universities, particularly in terms of institutional neutrality, academic freedom and pluralism.

Finally, President Saini shared commentary on the recent federal election, which resulted in a Liberal minority government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. The President expressed pride in the fact that over 20 91ֱ�� alumni were elected to Parliament, several of whom have been appointed to Cabinet.

Community Relations

In May, the University launched Make Your Mark, the next phase of its philanthropic campaign. The President shared that this initiative builds on the success of Made by 91ֱ��, which raised over $2 billion from nearly 114,000 donors. In response to global challenges—from disinformation to climate change and AI—the University is increasing its goal to $3 billion. The campaign will continue to focus on its four original pillars and will introduce the transversal themes of: sustainability, AI, student support and services, innovation and entrepreneurship, and Indigenous initiatives.

The President also signaled that Spring Convocation will take place May 27 to June 4, with downtown ceremonies taking place in the Tomlinson Fieldhouse. Given the venue’s capacity constraints, two additional ceremonies were added to accommodate graduates from larger faculties. This year, 91ֱ�� conferred honorary degrees on 10 remarkable individuals, whose profiles are featured in The 91ֱ�� Reporter.

Selected Kudos

Finally, the President concluded his remarks by offering his congratulations to a selection of individuals in the 91ֱ�� community for their recent achievements.

91ֱ�� celebrated the 2025 Equity and Community Building Awards, honouring nursing student Gislaine Batubenge, Fatima Nabi from the Student Wellness Hub, Prof. Kimani Daniel from the Ingram School of Nursing, and the POWER Hub team.
Twenty-eight 91ֱ�� professors were recognized with Distinguished James 91ֱ�� Professor, James 91ֱ�� Professor, and William Dawson Scholar awards.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, 91ֱ�� physician and Super Bowl champion, has been named a recipient of the Order of Montréal.
Milda Graham, a 59-year-old 91ֱ�� master’s student and yoga instructor, will represent Canada at the world’s largest gymnastics festival in Germany.

The Board of Governors received the following reports

Highlights from the April 24, 2025 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:52:08 +0000

Highlights from the April 24, 2025 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Thu, 05/08/2025 - 09:52

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

The Board of Governors held the fourth regular meeting on April 24, 2025. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on May 22, 2025. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the President and Vice-Chancellor, approved the appointment of Professor Salwa Karboune to the position of Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. In this role, Professor Karboune will also hold the position of Associate Vice-President of Macdonald Campus. Professor Karboune’s five-year renewable term will begin on August 1, 2025. Read the full announcement.

On the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee (FIC), the Board approved the University’s budget for FY2026, which features a balanced budget and a $10-million contingency, owing to a $45-million budget correction undertaken by the University. Updated budget projections suggest that the University’s operating deficit would reach $30 million in FY2027 and $73 million in FY2028; therefore, additional revenue generating initiatives and expense reduction measures will need to be strategic and recurrent. Read the full report.

As recommended by the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR), the Board of Governors approved 91ֱ��’s second Annual Report under the Act to Enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains for submission to the federal government. The report outlines the measures taken by the University, between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025, to mitigate the risk of forced labour and child labour in its supply chain.

The Board also reviewed the Annual Progress Report on Key Performance Indicators, presented by the Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic). 91ֱ��’s KPIs are a set of 33 metrics developed by the University to chart its progress on core activities, while allowing the University to set targets and track its progress towards realizing its strategic priorities. For 2025, in addition to historic KPIs, supplementary KPIs that focus on the recent government tuition measures impacting university funding have been added.

The Board of Governors also received as information the 2024 Investment Committee Report on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), which describes the 91ֱ��’s SRI Phase II Commitments, now in place to be achieved by 2029, and the strong progress made over the last year toward meeting these commitments.

The Board was informed of the topic of the next annual Joint Board-Senate meeting, scheduled for November 6, 2025. The focus of the joint meeting will be: “Strategic Transformations: Shaping 91ֱ��’s Third Century.”

President’s Remarks

President Saini provided updates pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��.

Government Relations

The President opened his remarks with an overview of the Quebec Budget 2025-2026, which projects a $13.6 billion deficit and outlines a plan to restore fiscal balance by 2029–2030.

For the university sector, the $4.2 billion allocated budget represents a 0.7% ($27 million) decrease compared to 2024–2025, with investments of $37.5 million over five years to train more doctors and $22 million over two years to continue funding Mila.

The President also provided an update on:

The S&P Global Ratings' decision to lower Quebec's credit rating from 'AA−' to 'A+'. Despite this, S&P affirmed 91ֱ��'s 'AA−' long-term issuer credit rating and senior unsecured debt ratings, citing the University's operational independence. However, the negative outlook remains, reflecting concerns over potential financial pressures from recent government policy changes.
The provincial immigration planning, noting that the Government has postponed its multi-year exercise to later in the year. For the first time, planning will include both permanent and temporary immigration, impacting international students and faculty. The University continues to monitor the situation closely and will keep the community informed.

The President also encouraged all eligible members of the 91ֱ�� community to cast their vote in the federal election, which took place on April 28.

External Relations

From April 9-10, President Saini attended the Universities Canada Spring Meeting in Halifax, which featured discussions on the role of universities in the context of financial challenges and shifting geopolitics, as well as a keynote address by The Honourable Jean Charest entitled, “Securing Canada's Future in an Insecure World.”

From April 22-23, the President and Vice-President (Global Engagement) Anja Geitmann attended the 7th annual U7+ Alliance Summit, hosted by the University of Ottawa. The U7+ Alliance brings together 54 international universities to address the world’s most pressing challenges through education and research. During the Summit, a joint statement on “The Role of Universities in Advancing AI” was formally presented to the Canadian government.

Finally, the President also signaled his participation from April 27-28 at the spring membership meeting of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization of 71 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada. The spring meeting focused on the complex political climate in the US and its impact on university activities, particularly on research.

Selected Kudos

Finally, the President concluded his remarks by offering his congratulations to a selection of individuals in the 91ֱ�� community for their recent achievements.

The Government of Canada announced over $153M in funding for 179 Canada Research Chairs across institutions. 91ֱ�� received $8.7M in funding, which supports nine renewed CRCs and one new CRC, including Professors Jeffrey Bergthorson and Xiaonan Lu who were named new Tier 1 Chairs.
Professor Simon Caron-Huot (Canada Research Chair in High-Energy Physics) was awarded a 2025 Dorothy Killam Fellowship—one of only eight awarded nationally.
Twenty-eight 91ֱ�� researchers, including Professors François Corriveau, Brigitte Vachon, and Andreas Warburton, are among the winners of the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their contributions to the ATLAS Collaboration at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

The Board of Governors received the following reports:

Highlights from the February 6, 2025 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:16:12 +0000

Highlights from the February 6, 2025 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Wed, 02/19/2025 - 14:16

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

The Board of Governors held the third regular meeting on February 6, 2025. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on April 24, 2025. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

The Board received an update from the President on the University’s financial situation, which projects operating deficits over the next three fiscal years: $45 million in 2025-26, and $16 million and $14 million in the following two fiscal years, respectively. To address the situation, a variety of corrective measures are being implemented by the University under the Horizon 91ֱ�� program -- a university-wide initiative aimed at restoring 91ֱ��’s finances to protect its academic mission.

On the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance, and Ethics Committee, the Board approved the appointment of Mr. Fred Headon as member of the Board of Governors on the Advisory Panel on Campus Expression. The panel will serve as a sounding board and provide counsel as needed to 91ֱ�� senior leadership on matters related to controversial speech and expression.

The Board of Governors received as information the report from the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) on the special mandate to evaluate the question of divestment from direct investments in companies that derive a dominant portion of their direct revenues from the production of military weapons, regardless of the countries in which they operate. Following consultations with 91ֱ�� community members and careful consideration, the CSSR did not recommend further action with respect to the mandate. Read the full report.

From the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors, the Board received as information the following:

On the recommendation of the Vice-President (University Advancement), the revised Gift Acceptance Policy, which provides greater clarity on the practice of accepting gifts by the University.
On the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, budget increases for three infrastructure projects across 91ֱ��’s campuses.

From the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, the Board of Governors received as information: the fourth Annual Report on the Strategic EDI Plan, the fourth Annual Report on the Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism, and the second progress report from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. View the three reports.

From the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board of Governors received as information the following updates:

The approval of the External Audit Plan for the year ending April 30, 2025, as presented by Deloitte LLP.
The Special Task Force’s response to the recommendations from the Internal Audit investigation into the events surrounding the asbestos-related closure of buildings on Macdonald Campus in Winter 2023. The update confirmed that all action items have been completed, ensuring full implementation of the audit recommendations to strengthen asbestos management and related processes across the University.

The Board of Governors received presentations from:

Dr. Lesley Fellows, Vice-President (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) on Bill 15 and Santé Québec, as it relates to 91ֱ��’s FMHS.
Professor Viviane Yargeau, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, on the Faculty’s recent activities, initiatives and developments. View the presentation.
Dymetri Taylor, President of the Student Society of 91ֱ�� (SSMU), on the SSMU’s operating structure, finances, and activities, as well as the current issues affecting 91ֱ�� students. View the presentation.

President’s Remarks

President Saini provided remarks pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��.

Government Relations

The President opened his remarks with an update on An Act mainly to improve the regulatory scheme governing international students (previously Bill 74), which regulates international student admissions, including in Quebec’s universities. A proposal to reduce the number of international students is expected to be submitted by the Minister of Higher Education in mid-February. The University continues to monitor the impacts of this new legislation closely.

The President also provided an update on Bill 83, which would require Quebec-trained doctors to work in the public healthcare system for five years, with potential fines for non-compliance. Consultations for the Bill will be held by the National Assembly’s Commission de la santé et des services sociaux in February. 91ֱ��, along with Université Laval, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke, will submit a joint written response to the Committee.

Finally, the President shared that Moody’s has reaffirmed 91ֱ��’s Aa2 rating with a negative outlook, reflecting the pressures arising from the tuition and immigration policy revisions. 91ֱ��’s academic reputation, particularly on an international level, continues to be noted as a key strength.

External Relations

From January 20 to 24, the President participated in the 55th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, which was convened under the theme of Collaboration for the Intelligent Age. The President noted that Canada and Quebec had minimal representation, while the U.A.E., India, and Saudi Arabia had the strongest presence at the meeting. AI and its applications were widely discussed, while meetings with key 91ֱ�� supporters further confirmed the University’s strong global brand.

In late-February, the President will travel to Asia to strengthen the University’s global engagement and alumni connections. On March 4, 91ֱ�� will honor Professor Anna Pao Sohmen (MSW ’69) with a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at a special ceremony in Ningbo City, China celebrating her remarkable life and career.

Community Relations

The President highlighted recent events marked by the 91ֱ�� community, including International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia, and the launch of Black History Month.

Selected Kudos

Finally, the President concluded his remarks by offering his congratulations to a selection of individuals in the 91ֱ�� community for their recent achievements.

Twenty-five 91ֱ�� community members were awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
91ֱ�� made the Times Higher Education Top 50 list globally in six subjects: Psychology (21st), Medical and Health (29th), Law (33rd), Education Studies (38th), Life Sciences (40th), and Social Sciences (41st).
Finally, the President congratulated Professor Robert Leckey on his appointment to the Superior Court of Quebec and thanked him for his leadership and years of service to the Faculty of Law and 91ֱ��.

The Board of Governors received the following reports:

Highlights from the December 12, 2024 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:23:07 +0000

Highlights from the December 12, 2024 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Thu, 12/19/2024 - 12:23

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

The Board of Governors held the second regular meeting on December 12, 2024. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on February 6, 2025. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

On the recommendation of the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Board of Governors approved a one-year extension of Professor Josephine Nalbantoglu’s term as Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The Board of Governors was also informed of the extension of Professor Angela Campbell’s appointment as Interim Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) until May 31, 2026. Read the full announcement.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, approved the final FY2025 Budget. A provisional FY2025 budget, developed in response to the uncertainties related to changes in the Quebec tuition and funding policies, was approved by the Board of Governors last April and contained a $12M deficit, including a $10M contingency. The final FY2025 Budget provides for a $15M deficit with a $5M contingency. Despite unforeseen expenses in FY2025, which contributed to the deficit, the University has made progress in implementing previously adopted budget measures. The Board also received the first of three reports on budget planning for FY2026.

Also on the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, the Board approved three construction and renovation projects, as well as the submission of the Plan décennal des investissements universitaires (PDIU), 2025-2035, to the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE). The Government of Quebec mandates all universities to submit a PDIU, which outlines major capital projects that may be executed over the next ten years.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR), endorsed 91ֱ��’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy 2025-2030, which aims to advance the University’s efforts to address environmental challenges. It is structured around four categories: (i) learning and research; (ii) physical environment; (iii) resource management; and (iv) community building.

The Board of Governors also received, for information, the CSSR Committee’s report pertaining to the Expression of Concern received on June 25, 2024, which called for divestment from more than 40 companies with ties to Isreal. After extensive consideration, the Committee determined that the Expression of Concern had not shown that the companies met the criterion of “social injury,” per the Committee’s Terms of Reference. Read more in the 91ֱ�� Reporter.

Also from the CSSR Committee, the Board received an update on the mandate given to explore divestment from companies that derive a dominant portion of their direct revenues from the production of military weapons, regardless of the countries in which they operate. The Committee has undertaken consultations and will continue its work in the coming months, with a report to be submitted to the Board in February 2025.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of Senate, approved the following:

The appointments of Stephen Yue and Charles Gale as members of the Committee on Staff Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures, effective immediately and ending on August 31, 2027.
Revisions to the Policy on Hazing and Inappropriate Initiation Practices, which include updates to the Policy’s content to reflect how the University addresses hazing in the present day, as well as a change in name to the Policy on Hazing.

The Board of Governors also received an update from Senate regarding a recent open discussion held with Senators. The discussion was guided by a case study on freedom of expression and assembly in instances where controversial speakers either appear, or are requested to appear, on campus.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Investment Committee, approved the revisions to the Statement of Investment Policy (SIP), which will take effect as of February 1, 2025. The revisions aim to ensure continued alignment with the SIP’s return objectives.

From the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, the Board received an update on the New Vic Project, which outlined the next steps considered to ensure appropriate funding for the realization of the project’s academic goals and mission.

For discussion and input, the Board received a report on supplementary Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which will help the University monitor the impact of recent government tuition and funding policy changes; the supplementary KPIs are put forward in addition to the existing metrics developed by the University to chart its progress on core activities.

On the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance, and Ethics Committee, the Board approved a series of appointments to Board standing committees, advisory committees, and to internal and external non-Board bodies.

Finally, the Board received presentations on (i) the key priorities of the Vice-President, Global Engagement’s portfolio and an update on 91ֱ��’s ongoing efforts to advance global initiatives and opportunities, and (ii) University Advancement’s Annual Report, which outlines UA’s financial achievements and campaign progress in FY24, along with other highlights.

President’s Remarks

President Saini provided remarks pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��.

Government Relations

The President opened his remarks with an update on Bill 74, which was adopted on December 5 and aims to regulate international student admissions into Quebec. Despite the concerns jointly raised during consultations by 91ֱ��, Université Laval, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke, exemptions were not made for universities.

On the same day that the Bill was adopted, an opinion editorial spearheaded by 91ֱ�� and co-signed by 70 researchers and professors was published in La Presse; the op-ed expanded on the concerns about the Bill’s negative impacts on attracting international talent, research & innovation, and academic autonomy.

Minister Pascale Déry is expected to propose a plan to the Prime Minister targeting a reduction in international student intake across Quebec's university network, with an announcement anticipated in early 2025. The University continues to follow this file closely and will inform the community of further developments.

The President also addressed Bill 83, which was introduced on December 3 and mandates Quebec-trained doctors to work in the public healthcare system for the first five years of their career, with significant non-compliance fines. The Bill may also require medical students and residents to sign formal commitments at the start of their education to practice in Quebec for the specified period. 91ֱ�� is studying the Bill and consulting peers to understand its implications for the University and its affiliated institutions.

Community Relations

The President next shared an overview of the Fall 2024 Convocation ceremonies, which were held on December 2 at Place des Arts and featured the installation of Pierre Boivin as 91ֱ��’s 21st Chancellor, as well as the introduction of Cynthia Price-Verreault as inaugural Deputy Chancellor. During the ceremonies, Joan Ivory (BA'54) received an honorary doctorate, while Dr. Mark Yaffe, Prof. Chandra Madramootoo, and Prof. Ratna Ghosh were also recognized with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

From December 4-6, the President joined a 91ֱ�� delegation in Barbados to mark the 70th anniversary of the Bellairs Research Institute, Canada’s only tropical teaching and research facility. Events included presentations from students in the Barbados Field Study Semester, a symposium at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados, and a community event for school children. The delegation also engaged with Barbadian government officials, business leaders, and academic community partners to strengthen further strategic collaborations, particularly around environmental sustainability.

Selected Kudos

Finally, the President concluded his remarks by offering his congratulations to a selection of individuals in the 91ֱ�� community for their recent achievements.

Vincent Wong (Honours in Neuroscience) is among the 11 students from across Canada to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, bringing 91ֱ��’s total of Rhodes Scholars to 149, the most in Canada.
Three 91ֱ��ians were honoured by the Fonds de recherche du Québec’s Prix Grands Sages. Emeritus Professor Dr. Phil Gold was named a Grand Sage for 2024, while Ph.D. candidates Jennifer Maxwell and Mohan Du each received a Prix Grands Sages scholarship.
Professor Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey (Department of History and Classical Studies) has been honoured with the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Scholarly Research for his book, Cross-Border Cosmopolitans: The Making of a Pan-African North America.
Professor Audrey Moores (Department of Chemistry) was appointed as the President of the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada for a two-year term.
A total of 304 91ֱ�� student-athletes have been named to the 2024 President's Student-Athlete Honour Roll; to qualify, students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 while registered on a varsity team roster.

The Board of Governors received the following reports:

Highlights from the October 9, 2024 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:25:24 +0000

Highlights from the October 9, 2024 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Fri, 10/25/2024 - 10:25

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

The Board of Governors held the first regular meeting on October 9, 2024. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on December 12, 2024. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,
Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor
Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics (NGE) Committee, approved the appointment of Governor Emerita Cynthia Price Verreault as Deputy Chancellor of 91ֱ�� for a two-year term, effective immediately and ending on December 31, 2026.

A new role approved by the Board in December 2023, the Deputy Chancellor will support the Chancellor and represent 91ֱ�� with the highest level of integrity, providing strategic advice and support, and leveraging and broadening university relationships, among other functions.

Ms. Price Verreault was selected both for her longtime dedication to 91ֱ�� and for her distinguished community leadership, notably in the healthcare, arts, and education sectors. Read the full announcement.

The Board of Governors, also on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, approved the following reappointments:

Mr. Fred Headon as a member-at-large of the Board of Governors of 91ֱ�� for a four-year term, commencing July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2029. In addition to serving as a member of the Executive Committee, Mr. Headon will chair the Board’s Nominating, Governance and Ethics Committee for a three-year term, commencing July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2028.
Mr. Pierre Matuszewski as Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors for a further one-year term until June 30, 2027, to coincide with the end of his term on the Board, and with the understanding that he will also continue to serve as the Chair of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee and as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board.
Ms. Maarika Paul as Vice-Chair of the Board for a further three-year term until June 30, 2028, to coincide with the end of her term on the Board and as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

On the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board also approved: (i) the 2023-2024 Financial Report to the Board of Governors, which includes the external auditor’s report and Audited Financial Statements of The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/91ֱ�� for the year ended April 30, 2024, and (ii) the appointment of Deloitte as external auditors of the University for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025.

The Board received an update from the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) on the progress made regarding the mandate to explore divestment of the University endowment from direct investments in companies that derive a dominant portion of their direct revenues from the production of military weapons, regardless of the countries in which they operate. The Committee also provided an update on its review of the expression of concern received from members of the 91ֱ�� community.

On the recommendation of the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Board of Governors approved the revised By-laws of the McCord Stewart Museum, as approved by the Museum Board of Trustees on September 16, 2024. Among the amendments is a reduction in the number of Museum Board members from 27 to 22.

The Board also approved, on the recommendation of Senate, the appointment of Professor Andrew Kirk (Faculty of Engineering) as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Staff Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures for a term beginning September 1, 2024, and ending August 31, 2027. A notice of the annual Joint Board-Senate meeting was also presented for information; this year’s meeting, to be held on November 7, will provide an opportunity to discuss the transformational initiatives that will underpin the development of 91ֱ��’s vision for 2050.

Per the recommendation of the NGE Committee, the Board of Governors also approved:

An amendment to article 2.6 of the University Statutes to allow for the alignment of the term of the Chair of the Board of Governors with their term as Member-at-large. The revised article reads: “The Chair shall normally serve a term of up to four years. If the Chair’s term exceeds the maximum term limit for members-at-large, that limit shall be extended by number of years necessary to complete the full term as Chair.”
Amendments to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Members of the Board of Governors of 91ֱ�� and Trustees of the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning. The amendments to the Code include housekeeping changes standardizing the language and implementing updates that reflect current practices.

The Board received as information from the NGE Committee an update on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Report of the Special Project on Board Efficiency and Effectiveness. The Committee approved the implementation of Phase II of the Project, which proposes a systematic review of the policies and decisions that currently require Board approval or intervention, with the broader aim of enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.

The Board also received the 2023-2024 91ֱ�� Endowment Fund Annual Report, which provides an overview of various features of the 91ֱ�� Investment Pool for the University’s fiscal period ending April 30, 2024.

Finally, the Board received presentations from (i) Philippe Gervais, Vice-President (Communication and Institutional Relations) on the future directions of CIR and (ii) Dr. Lesley Fellows, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Vice-President (Health Affairs) on the activities, initiatives, and developments of the Outaouais Campus.

President’s Remarks

President Saini provided remarks pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��’s campuses as follows.

Enrolment

91ֱ��’s latest enrolment is at 39,838 students (up from 39,316 last year), with the Faculties of Engineering, Management, and Science seeing the largest increases. The top five countries of citizenship among international students enrolled in credit-seeking programs are: China, U.S.A., France, India, and Iran, which is consistent with previous years.

For CEGEP students admitted into Bachelor’s programs, an increase of 5.2% was further noted, while new registrations from Canadian high schools outside of Quebec are up by 11%, despite a $3,000- tuition-increase for Canadian, non-Quebec resident students. The Canada Award, designed to offset this tuition increase in select programs, contributed to this result; a more sustainable, long-term replacement for the Award is in development.

The President also shared that, beginning in 2025, the Government of Canada is planning a further 10% reduction in international study permits, which would include master’s and doctoral students who were previously exempt in the initial cap. Given the potential impacts on 91ֱ��'s research excellence and financial stability, the University is engaging with Universities Canada and the U15 to advocate for the continuation of the graduate student exemption.

Government Relations

Last August, the Government of Quebec announced its intention to reduce Quebec’s temporary immigration numbers through a six-month suspension of new requests and admissions to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The suspension would apply to jobs earning less than $57,000/year; postdoctoral fellows would, however, be unaffected.

In addition, the Government recently tabled Bill 74, which would restrict the amount of incoming international students based on factors, such as: the type of post-secondary institution and its location, the number of international students at the institution, and the program of study. 91ֱ�� will be submitting a memoire to the National Assembly.

Community Relations

The President shared reflections on some of the campus activities and events that he attended this fall, which have included a celebration of The Neuro’s 90th anniversary and staff appreciation, as well as the launch of 91ֱ��’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks.

He also expressed anticipation for 91ֱ��’s annual Homecoming celebrations, which will take place from October 24-26 and included yesterday's comedy show by Sugar Sammy.

Rankings

The President also provided an update on 91ֱ��’s latest performance in various international rankings:

Times Higher Education: Ranked 45th (up 4 spots).
Shanghai Academic Rankings: Ranked 74th (down from 70th), 3rd in Canada.
QS World Rankings: Ranked 29th (up 1 spot), top 13 in sustainability and top 24 in employability.

Selected Kudos

Finally, the President concluded his remarks by offering his congratulations to a selection of individuals in the 91ֱ�� community for their recent achievements.

Sixteen 91ֱ�� graduate students and four postdoctoral fellows earned Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Fellowships, respectively.
Professors Myrna Lashley and Dan Poenaru of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences were appointed to the Order of Canada.
Twelve 91ֱ�� inductees to the Royal Society of Canada, including two new members to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, and ten new Fellows.

The Board of Governors received the following reports:

Highlights from the May 16, 2024 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:00:08 +0000

Highlights from the May 16, 2024 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Mon, 06/03/2024 - 09:00

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

The Board of Governors held the fifth regular meeting on May 16, 2024. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on October 9, 2024. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics (NGE) Committee, approved the appointment of Mr. Bertrand Cesvet (BA’86, MBA’88, DLitt’16) as a member-at-large of the Board of Governors of 91ֱ�� for a four-year term, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028, as well as his appointment as a member of the Human Resources Committee for a three-year term, from July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2027.

A Canadian business leader with a strong track record in the fields of branding, creative management, marketing, and international business, Mr. Cesvet is the former chairman and senior partner at the commercial creativity firm Sid Lee, which developed the Made by 91ֱ��/Forgé par 91ֱ�� brand platform and anthem video. Under his leadership, Sid Lee has grown into an international powerhouse known for its creativity and unique business model. The University looks forward to continuing to work with Mr. Cesvet, a dedicated member of our community, in his new functions.

In addition, as recommended by Senate, the Board of Governors approved the following three policies: (i) Policy on Student Safety Abroad, (ii) Policy on Indigenous Membership/Citizenship Validation, and (iii) revisions to the Policy for the Accommodation of Holy Days.

The Policy on Student Safety Abroad replaces the International Mobility Guidelines and responds to the need to formalize and enhance the University’s governance framework for international experiential learning activities.
The Policy on Indigenous Membership/Citizenship Validation is intended to support a more robust and equitable approach to validating claims to Indigenous citizenship/membership, based on clear evidence and grounded in Indigenous knowledge, lived experiences, and community recognition. Read more about the Policy’s significance.
The revisions to the Policy for the Accommodation of Holy Days includes a change in title to “Policy for the Academic Accommodation of Religious Observances.” The Policy outlines how scheduling accommodations for religious observances can be made for students in the context of the University’s academic requirements, and speaks to the responsibilities of students, instructors, and academic administrators.

The Board of Governors, in accordance with the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Tenure Track and Tenured Academic Staff (Regulations), approved the granting of tenure to four academic staff, the promotion to the rank of Associate Professor with Tenure for 49 candidates, and the promotion to the rank of Full Professor for seven candidates.

The Board also approved the delegation of authority to the President and Vice-Chancellor to act on behalf of the Board of Governors in the granting of tenure and promotions under sections 1.3 and 7.29.1 of the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Tenure Track and Tenured Academic Staff; section 2.1.2.2 of the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Librarian Staff; and section 5.36 of the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Contract Academic Staff.

From the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board received the Annual Report on the University’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). The report provides an overview of the progress of the 2024 Enterprise Risk Assessment (ERA), which includes, among other items, a re-assessment of the University’s previous top institutional risks. The Board also received, from the Audit and Risk Committee, the Report on Internal Audit Functions and Activities for Fiscal Year 2024, which provided an overview of the main highlights of FY2024 Internal Audit Recommendations.

As recommended by the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR), the Board of Governors approved 91ֱ��’s annual report under the Act to Enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024 for submission to the federal government. The report includes specific details about the steps taken by the University, during the period of May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024, to prevent and reduce forced labour.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, approved the submission of a declaration of compliance to the Quebec Treasury Board for public procurement contracts for FY2024, in accordance with the reporting obligations outlined in the Directive concernant la reddition de comptes en gestion contractuelle des organismes publics.

Finally, on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, the Board approved the appointments or reappointments of Board members to various standing committees.

President’s Remarks

President Saini shared remarks pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��’s campuses. First, he opened by acknowledging and thanking the following outgoing members of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors for their service and dedication to the University: Alexandre Ashkir, Bob Babinski, Celia Greenwood, Chancellor John McCall MacBain, Ram Panda, Adrienne Piggott, and Amanda Rosenberg.

Campus Climate

The President then gave an update on the encampment on 91ֱ��’s downtown campus. While he reiterated that 91ֱ�� recognizes and steadfastly upholds the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, he further specified that an encampment is not a usual form of protest and raises serious concerns regarding safety, health, and sanitation. President Saini closed by expressing that the University continues to work to find a peaceful and timely resolution to this crisis.

Convocation

The President also shared an update regarding 91ֱ��’s Spring 2024 Convocation, taking place over May 28 – June 5, 2024. Given the major significance of this milestone for graduating students, as well as for their families and friends, 91ֱ�� will proceed with holding Convocation as planned; in order to do so, all ceremonies scheduled to take place on 91ֱ��’s Lower Field will move to an alternate location, while the events at Macdonald Campus will proceed without adjustment.

Throughout the Spring Convocation celebrations, the 91ֱ�� community will honour the life and work of ten inspiring honorary doctorate recipients; read more here about their contributions to society, which span disciplines, industries, and continents.

Finally, the President concluded his remarks by offering kudos to a selection of individuals in the 91ֱ�� community for their recent achievements.

Five 91ֱ�� faculty members were inducted into the Canadian Academy of Engineering: Tal Arbel, Benoit Boulet, Arun Mujumdar, Maryam Tabrizian, and Viviane Yargeau.
Prof. Emeritus Michael Meaney (Department of Psychiatry), a pioneer in behavioral epigenetics, was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
91ֱ��’s Office for Science and Society (OSS), led by Prof. Joe Schwarcz, celebrated its 25^th anniversary in May.

The Board of Governors received the following reports

Highlights from the April 25, 2024 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Wed, 08 May 2024 14:42:23 +0000

Highlights from the April 25, 2024 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Wed, 05/08/2024 - 10:42

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

The Board of Governors held the fourth regular meeting on April 25, 2024. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on May 16, 2024. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the President and Vice-Chancellor, approved the appointment of Professor Fabrice Labeau to the role of Vice-President (Administration and Finance) for a five-year, renewable term beginning on June 1, 2024. The Board also approved the President’s recommendation to appoint Professor Vivek Venkatesh to the role of Dean of the Faculty of Education for a five-year, renewable term beginning on June 1, 2024. Read the full announcement.

Based on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance, and Ethics (NGE) Committee, the Board of Governors approved the following:

The reappointment of Mr. Pierre Matuszewski as Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of 91ֱ�� for a two-year term commencing July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026, with the understanding that he will continue to serve as a member and Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board.
The appointment of Chancellor John McCall MacBain to the rank of Chancellor Emeritus, effective July 1, 2024. As Chancellor, Mr. McCall MacBain has represented 91ֱ�� with integrity and passion, and has provided exemplary leadership and support. The 91ֱ�� community thanks him for his dedication and distinguished service to the University.
The appointment of Mr. Ram Panda to the rank of Governor Emeritus commencing July 1, 2024, in recognition of his numerous contributions as member of the Board of Governors and Chair Emeritus. The University thanks Mr. Panda for his exemplary service and dedication to the 91ֱ�� community, particularly in the area of sustainability.
The appointment of members of the Board to the Advisory Committee for the Selection of the Dean of the Faculty of Science, as well as to a number of other standing committees.

The Board received, from the NGE Committee, a notice of motion for the approval of a new member-at-large of the Board of Governors. It is anticipated that the Board will vote on the motion at its next meeting.

In accordance with the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Tenure Track and Tenured Academic Staff, the Board also approved one appointment to the rank of Full Professor with tenure, one promotion to the rank of Full Professor, and the granting of tenure to one academic staff member.

On the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee (FIC), the Board approved the University’s provisional budget for FY2025. Given the uncertainty regarding enrolment-driven revenues and the level of Quebec grant revenues the University will receive in light of changes to the funding policies, the provisional budget projects a $12-million deficit, including a $10-million contingency. It is anticipated that a final budget and a recovery plan will follow in fall 2024 for approval. Read the full report.

The Board of Governors also approved the FIC’s recommendation to (i) adopt the Policy for the Management of Moveable Assets, which establishes a framework for the University to manage, maintain, and track its moveable assets for the lifecycle of the asset, and (ii) to proceed with Lot 2B of the McConnell Arena Upgrade, which will address deferred maintenance repairs, increase the Arena’s electrical infrastructure, as well as improve the ventilation and cooling systems.

The Board of Governors received a presentation of the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement (CSE) Strategy for review and input. The CSE strategy outlines 91ֱ��’s communication objectives and proposes initiatives to advance the University’s priorities in Quebec to help reverse the financial impacts of the Government’s revised tuition policy and to strengthen 91ֱ��’s reputation as a world-class university.

Following its presentation to Senate, the Board received the 2023 Annual Report on Research and Innovation, which provides a review of 91ֱ��’s performance in major funding programs and progress in areas related to innovation and partnerships in FY2022.

The Board also received the 2023 Investment Committee Report on Socially Responsible Investing, which outlines the progress made by the University toward meeting its commitment to advance sustainability through its investment policies and practices.

Per the recommendation from Senate, the Board approved the appointments of academic staff members to the following committees: the Committee on Staff Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures; and the University Appeals Committee.

President’s Remarks

President Saini shared remarks pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��’s campuses.

Government Relations

The President provided an overview of the federal budget, which was adopted last April. The budget proposes a substantial and welcome $3-billion investment in research over the next five years, including significant increases to granting council budgets, investment in research facilities, and increases to federally-funded scholarships and fellowships.

The President further elaborated on the projected financial impact of the Government of Quebec’s changes to the tuition policy. Assuming that enrolment levels and the distribution among different student populations remain the same, the University anticipates that operating revenue will drop by $9 million in fiscal year 2025, gradually increasing to a $37 million annual loss in fiscal year 2028. As previously announced, 91ֱ�� has launched a legal challenge against the revised tuition policy; the community will be kept informed of any related developments.

External Relations

President Saini recently attended the spring membership meeting of the Association of American Universities (AAU) in Washington D.C. The AAU is an organization of 71 leading public and private research universities in the United States, including two in Canada (91ֱ�� and the University of Toronto). The meeting addressed a number of themes, including strengthening political advocacy for higher education and the reimagining of university policies on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Selected Kudos

The President shared that the following subjects at 91ֱ�� placed among the Top 10 in the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject: Mineral & Mining, Library Information & Management, and Anatomy & Physiology, with an additional seven subjects ranked in the Top 20.
He reported that 91ֱ�� earned a platinum STARS sustainability rating (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System), which places the University among a select group of 14 universities worldwide.
He congratulated Professor Henri Darmon (Department of Mathematics and Statistics) and Prof. Jonathan Sterne (Department of Art History and Communication Studies) for being named among the 2024 Guggenheim Fellows.
Lastly, the President expressed appreciation to the Trottier Space Institute and all others who volunteered and helped organize 91ֱ��’s three solar eclipse viewing events on downtown campus, the Gault Nature Reserve, and on the West Island.

Reports and Presentations

The Board received the following reports:

Highlights from the February 8, 2024 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:02:31 +0000

Highlights from the February 8, 2024 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Thu, 02/22/2024 - 10:02

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its Board of Governors website.

The Board of Governors held the third regular meeting on February 8, 2024. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on April 25, 2024. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor
Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

Appointment of New Chancellor

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance, and Ethics (NGE) Committee, approved the appointment of Mr. Pierre Boivin as the twenty-first Chancellor of 91ֱ�� for a three-year term starting July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2027.

Mr. Boivin is a respected Canadian businessperson who has made significant contributions to the sports and entertainment industry, while also demonstrating a strong commitment to the community through philanthropy. Reflecting the values and mission of 91ֱ��, Mr. Boivin exemplifies the unwavering integrity and esteemed public stature required for the position of Chancellor. Read the full announcement.

Mr. Boivin will succeed Chancellor John McCall MacBain, whose term will end on June 30, 2024. The 91ֱ�� community expresses gratitude to Chancellor McCall MacBain for his three years of exemplary service and for being a dedicated ambassador for the University.

Other Key Updates

The Board was informed that the NGE Committee established a description for the role of Deputy Chancellor, a new position that was approved by the Board of Governors at its December 14, 2023 meeting. Through this position, the University will be able to strengthen support for key universities activities, including community relations, that form part of the Chancellor’s role.

On the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, the Board of Governors approved: (i) proceeding with the construction phase for the revamp and upgrade of Pollack Hall, and (ii) proceeding with the construction phase for the rehabilitation of the envelope of the Strathcona Music Building, and completing the design phase for the building’s window replacement and landscaping.

On the recommendation of Senate, the Board of Governors approved (i) revisions to the Regulation on Conflict of Interest, which are intended to render the reporting and review processes clearer and more efficient and (ii) revisions to the Policy on the Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Human Participants, which are intended to remove outdated processes, among other improvements.

The Board of Governors received as information the Report of the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR), which provided an overview of the Committee’s recent activities. The report also noted a human calculation error pertaining to the 91ֱ�� Investment Pool’s (MIP) exposure to fossil fuel holdings in the Carbon Underground 200 (CU200).

Following the CSSRS’s review of 91ֱ��’s socially responsible investment commitments, which resulted in the Committee’s 2023 SRI Commitments, the original analysis indicated that direct investments in CU200 firms constituted 0.5% of the MIP assets on December 31, 2022, while indirect investments represented 0.4%. During a detailed review in January 2024, 91ֱ��’s Office of Investments discovered that direct CU200 holdings on December 31, 2022 had in fact constituted 1% of MIP holdings, with a further 0.7% in indirect holdings.

While this error is regrettable, it does not compromise the viability of 91ֱ��’s goal to divest completely from all direct investments in the CU200 by 2025.

The Board also received as information the Report of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, which included, among other items, an update on the development of 91ֱ��’s Accessibility Strategy (MAS), which aims to strengthen and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities at 91ֱ��.

Finally, the Board of Governors was informed that the Audit and Risk Committee approved the External Audit Plan for the year ending April 30, 2024, as presented by the external auditors of Deloitte LLP.

President’s Remarks

President Saini shared remarks pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��’s campuses.

Government Relations

On February 5, President Saini and Pierre Matuszewski, Vice-Chair of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors, met with Premier François Legault and Minister Pascale Déry to discuss further the revised tuition policy and francization program. In a frank discussion, the University reiterated the various ways in which the new policies will adversely impact 91ֱ��’s ability to fulfill its mission, as well as Quebec’s university network and economy more broadly.

The President also addressed the federal government’s cap on the number of new undergraduate international students admitted into Canada. Under this policy, each province and territory will be allocated a portion of the total amount of study permits, which will then be distributed across the universities and colleges. 91ֱ�� continues to monitor the impacts of this policy closely.

On February 2, Eric Girard (BCom’89), Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for English-Speaking Quebecers visited the Desautels Faculty of Management for a fireside chat with President Saini. Students had the opportunity to learn more about Quebec’s economic priorities and policies, and to exchange directly with the Minister following the event.

External Relations

President Saini also shared updates from the latest U15 Meeting in Ottawa where he met with and heard presentations from David Cohen, United States Ambassador to Canada; François-Philippe Champagne, Minister, Innovation, Science and Industry; Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development; and Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The U15 meeting addressed a variety of topics including the importance of bolstering Canada’s research competitiveness as a means of national security.

The President also shared an overview of his first participation in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos from January 15-19, which was convened under the theme of “Rebuilding Trust.” While in Davos, the President moderated a panel on biodiversity and attended meetings of the Global University Leaders Forum (GULF) as the only Canadian university member. 91ֱ�� looks forward to continuing to strengthen its productive relationship with the WEF.

Community Relations

On January 25, the 91ֱ�� community held its second annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day and, on January 29, the University also hosted its seventh annual National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. The commemoration of both days grows out of the commitments set forth in 91ֱ��’s Initiative Against Islamophobia and Antisemitism.

Throughout the month of February, 91ֱ�� is celebrating Black History Month through a series of events held across its campuses, including a keynote lecture by Professor Melanie Newton of the University of Toronto.

The President also signaled the upcoming ninth edition of 91ֱ��24 on March 13 in support of numerous initiatives across the university and encouraged all members of the Board to continue to participate as in previous years.

Finally, the President highlighted that the 91ֱ�� community raised $413,000 in support of Centraide of Greater Montreal; he thanked all members of the Board who generously contributed to the fundraising efforts, as well as Vice-Presidents Martha Crago and Anja Geitmann for their leadership of this year’s campaign.

Selected Kudos

Five 91ֱ��ians were named to the Order of Canada, including Dr. Raquel Zegarra del Carpio-O’Donovan, Professor of Radiology, Neurology and Neurosurgery.
Three 91ֱ��-led initiatives made the Québec Science Top 10 list for 2023. The three projects address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as seawater quality, extreme climate change, and cancer treatments.
91ֱ�� Governor Emerita Cynthia Price Verreault was appointed by The Hon. Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, as the next Chairperson of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax.
Associate Provost Angela Campbell was appointed as Chairperson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Management Advisory Board.

Reports and Presentations

The Board received the following reports and presentations.

Highlights from the Dec. 14, 2023 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:08:43 +0000

Highlights from the Dec. 14, 2023 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Tue, 12/19/2023 - 15:08

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

The Board of Governors held the second regular meeting on December 14, 2023. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting, on February 8, 2024. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.principal [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]principal[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor
Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Key Updates

Per the recommendation of the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Board approved the following senior leadership appointments and renewals. The full announcement is available online.

The appointment of Professor Dominique Bérubé as Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of 91ֱ�� for a five-year term, commencing 1 July 2024 and ending 30 June 2029;
The reappointment of Marc Weinstein as Vice-President (University Advancement) of 91ֱ�� for a further term, commencing July 1, 2024 and ending on June 30, 2031;
The extension of Professor Christopher Manfredi’s appointment as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) by one year, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. The Provost’s title has been adjusted to “Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic)” to reflect the senior nature of the position as the University’s chief academic and budget officer.

On the recommendation of the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility, the Board of Governors approved a second phase of socially responsible investment commitments for the 91ֱ�� Investment Pool (MIP), the University’s endowment fund. Among the series of commitments approved for implementation was the divestment from all direct holdings in fossil-fuel firms listed in the Carbon Underground 200 (CU200). Read more about 91ֱ��’s new socially responsible investment commitments.

The Board also received, for information, notice that the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) completed its review of an expression of concern and submitted its report to the Board of Governors, for information.

In accordance with the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Tenure-Track and Tenured Academic Staff, the Board also approved the appointment of eight academic staff members to the rank of Full Professor.

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics (NGE) Committee, approved the revised Board-Community Engagement model, which replaces and enhances the previous model through three key measures: i) the continued practice for thebog.mcgill [at] mcgill.ca ( Board) to receive correspondence and questions from community members; ii) an annual Board of Governors Open House meet and greet event; and (iii) an annual Governance 101 webinar.

Also on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, the Board of Governors approved the appointments of Board representatives to several Board and non-Board bodies including the (i) Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility; (ii) the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee; (iii) the Pension Administration Committee; and (iv) various Research Ethics Boards.

The Board of Governors also considered and approved the following three policy-related proposals:

On the recommendation of Senate, the Board approved the repeal of the Policy on Research Centres, which will be replaced by the new Policy on Research Entities to meet the evolving needs for oversight of research entities.
On the recommendation of the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility, the Board approved the revisions to the Sustainability Policy to reflect the introduction of 91ֱ��’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy and to reinforce the sustainability considerations contained in 91ֱ��’s Strategic Academic Plan.
On the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, the Board approved the revisions to the Procurement Policy. Under the Policy’s new title, Sustainable Procurement Policy, the revisions address a number of new considerations, including updated legislation and findings of annual reports produced by the Government of Quebec.

The Board received from the Finance and Infrastructure Committee the first of three presentations regarding the budget planning exercise for FY2025, which outlined the major considerations shaping the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, notably the adverse impacts of the Government of Quebec’s revised tuition policy.

Also from the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, the Board received an update on the implementation of the 91ֱ�� Master Plan, a dynamic framework that aims to guide the physical evolution of 91ֱ�� over the short, medium, and long term. The Board was also informed that the five-year review of the Master Plan will begin in 2024.

President’s Remarks

President Saini shared remarks pertaining to a range of recent developments from across 91ֱ��’s campuses.

Campus Climate

In the closed session, President Saini offered an update on 91ֱ��’s campus climate with regards to the ongoing war in the Middle East. He reemphasized the University’s stance that, while it is essential to give a wide berth of protection to the freedoms of expression, assembly, and opinion, the exercising of these freedoms is not unbridled and can cross a line. The President reiterated the University’s steadfast commitment to maintaining a peaceful and inclusive environment for all members of its community.

Government Relations

As announced on December 14, the revised tuition measures put forward by the Government of Quebec will entail: (i) A new objective for anglophone universities to have at least 80% of students from outside Quebec reach a level 5 (intermediate) proficiency in French by graduation. This will apply to students beginning their studies in Fall 2025; (ii) An increase in tuition fees to $12,000 for Canadian undergraduate students from outside Quebec. This will apply to students beginning their studies in fall 2024; (iii) A clawback of tuition paid by international students from most countries.

The President stressed that these measures are unrealistic and will have devastating effects on the Quebec economy and its university network. Compared to the same time last year, 91ֱ�� has already seen a 20 per cent decline in applications from Canadian students outside Quebec. These measures will likely further deter both international and Canadian students from outside Quebec from pursuing their degrees at 91ֱ��. As a result, the financial impact will likely exceed the $94 million deficit that was previously estimated.

In closing, President Saini emphasized that 91ֱ�� will continue to urge Premier Legault to reconsider these new measures in order to find a solution that will promote and protect the French language without harming the Quebec economy or its universities.

On November 22, 91ֱ�� hosted an Advocacy Day in Ottawa. Martha Crago, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Lesley Fellows, Vice-President (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences met with key stakeholders and reiterated 91ֱ��’s science and research priorities on the federal level.

President Saini also shared an update on a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of Universities Canada, for which he has served as Chair since October. The meeting covered diverse topics in higher education, including: the attraction, retention, and training of talent, investing in research and innovation, funding for graduate and post-graduate research, and enhancing support resources for student mental health.

Rankings

The President also shared some recent ranking news. 91ֱ�� placed 31st out of more than 1,000 universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education Graduate Employability Ranking. The University also performed well in the QS Sustainability Ranking, placing 13th in the world out of almost 1,500 institutions and 5th in the Americas out of 342 institutions.

Selected Kudos

The architectural firm Diamond Schmitt & Lemay Michaud won the Canadian Architectural Award of Excellence for their design of 91ֱ��’s New Vic Project.
16 91ֱ�� researchers have been included on the Highly Cited Researchers list by Clarivate, a group of researchers who are among the top 1% worldwide in the Web of Science index.
Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, a recent 91ֱ�� Medicine graduate and current Ophthalmology Resident in Toronto, is among the 11 students from across Canada to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship this year.
Kudos to all members of the 91ֱ�� community who have donated to this year’s Centraide Campaign. To date, 91ֱ�� has raised $350,000 of its $425,000 goal. The online donation platform remains open until December 31.

Reports and Presentations

The Board received the following reports and presentations.

Highlights from the Nov.10, 2023 Board of Governors meeting

deidre.mccabe@91ֱ��.Ca — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:25:51 +0000

Highlights from the Nov.10, 2023 Board of Governors meeting deidre.mccabe@… Mon, 11/20/2023 - 15:25

Dear members of the 91ֱ�� Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of 91ֱ��’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its website.

91ֱ��’s Board of Governors held a special closed meeting on November 10, 2023. We would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write mcgill.principal [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]principal[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely,

Deep Saini, Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Maryse Bertrand, Chair, 91ֱ�� Board of Governors

Principal’s Remarks

Principal Saini provided an update on the climate on 91ֱ��’s campuses in light of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, reiterating the University’s multiple calls for respectful discourse and compassion under the current circumstances. He further emphasized the University’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of every member of the 91ֱ�� community, while underscoring that acts of harassment or intimidation, or threats of violence on our campuses will not be tolerated.

The Principal also provided an update on 91ֱ��’s ongoing response to the Government of Quebec’s revised tuition measures that would affect the University’s student enrollment and financing. On November 6, Principal Saini, along with President Graham Carr (Concordia University) and Principal Sébastien Lebel-Grenier (Bishop’s University), met with Premier François Legault and the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, to discuss further the adverse effects of the proposed tuition measures.

At this meeting, a joint proposal by the three universities was presented, which outlined an initiative to help non-francophone students from outside the province integrate linguistically and culturally into the Quebec workforce and society. The leaders of the three universities also advocated for maintaining the current tuition for Canadian students from outside Quebec, as well as to work with other Quebec universities to find alternative ways to balance university financing with regard to international student tuition. The Government committed to reflecting on the proposal and to communicating accordingly in due course.

While 91ֱ�� continues to work with the government to reach a more favorable alternative, the Principal emphasized the need to shift the focus to the longer-term and to begin exploring avenues for the University to diversify its sources of revenue and assets, thus making it more financially resilient in the face of potential future challenges.

Approval Item

On a motion duly proposed and seconded, the Board of Governors authorized the Principal to explore, in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Governors, all avenues necessary to maintain the University’s standards of excellence in support of its mission, and to report back to the Board of Governors in due course with any suggestion or proposal.