Concordia University releases report by External Governance Review Committee
Version française
Concordia University has released the report of its External Governance Review Committee, and invites members of the university community to provide input on the report’s recommendations.
In early 2011, Concordia University’s Board of Governors asked President and Vice-Chancellor Frederick Lowy to consider the governance of the university in broad terms.
Following discussions with the university community, an External Governance Review Committee comprised of three independent experts was formed to conduct a review of governance issues.
The Committee, which was chaired by Dr. Bernard Shapiro and included Dr. André C. Côté and Dr. Glen A. Jones, made recommendations on the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Governors, Senate and the President.
“I thank the committee members for their diligence and efficiency in producing these recommendations,” says Lowy. “This is one of the rare instances in which a Canadian university has asked an independent committee to provide input on the subject of governance.”
The Executive Committee of the Board and the Steering Committee of Senate met today with the External Governance Review Committee to learn firsthand about the contents of the report.
“By design, an external review of this type focuses on things we can improve rather than just our strengths. We have chosen to do so because we expect that the process will make us better. Concordia aspires to be a leader in governance and I think that our ongoing efforts will produce positive results for the university, its community and society at large,” says Lowy.
Members of the Concordia community are invited to a June 28 open meeting hosted by Lowy to allow for a full discussion of the report and its recommendations. The meeting will be held at the J.A. de Sève Cinema, in the J.W. McConnell Building, 1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Comments on the report are welcome by July 31 and should be forwarded to Andrea Renaud at andrea.renaud@concordia.ca or by fax at 514-848-4550.
A full copy of the report, as well as details about the composition and mandate of the Committee, are available for download:
About the External Governance Review Committee
The creation of the External Governance Review Committee stemmed from an initiative by the Concordia Senate and Board of Governors. Its mandate included considering the appropriate roles of members of these bodies, as well as the selection process and terms of office for them. The committee also reviewed the appropriate relationship between the Board of Governors and Senate, and ways to ensure effective communication between the Board of Governors and the overall university community.
About the members of the External Governance Review Committee
Dr. Shapiro is the former principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, and was Canada’s first ethics commissioner. Dr. Côté served as Quebec’s first lobbyists commissioner and was formerly dean of the Faculty of Law and then secretary-general at Université Laval. Dr. Jones is professor, associate dean academic and Ontario research chair on Post-secondary Education Policy and Measurement at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto.
Related links:
• External Governance Review Committee
• A message from Concordia President Frederick Lowy - NOW, June 16, 2011