Board receives financial update

A review of the university’s operating budget, at the end of the second quarter, and committee appointments were on the agenda at the December 8 meeting of Concordia’s Board of Governors.

Review second quarter of operating budget
Concordia’s Chief Financial Officer Patrick Kelley reported on the second quarter of the university’s operating budget. The budget is expected to break even by the end of the fiscal year (April 30, 2012), despite a shortfall after the second quarter.

Kelley explained that the winter term’s enrolment figures will impact the fiscal year’s total revenues. Approximately 77 per cent of operating budget revenues come from the provincial government based on the number of registered full-time equivalents (FTEs —one student taking the equivalent of 30 credits). The government’s allocations for FTEs are calculated according to a complex formula related to the courses being taken. Total revenues will depend on winter enrolment figures calculated after the January 2012 deadline to drop courses.

In addition, Kelley reported that Concordia’s accumulated deficit is by far the lowest for any university in the province.

Changes in leadership in research administration
President Frederick Lowy informed the Board that Graham Carr has been appointed Interim Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, and Justin Powlowski will assume the role of Interim Associate Vice-President, Strategy and Operations, and Interim Director of the Office of Research. Carr will continue in his role as Dean of Graduate Studies.

Carr takes on his new role from Louise Dandurand who, as previously announced, is retiring at the end of December. Powlowski replaces Carole Brabant, who leaves Concordia on December 23 to join McGill University as Assistant Vice-Principal, Strategic Planning and Research Development, in the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and International Relations.

The Board approved the profile of the ideal candidate for the position of Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies. The Advisory Search Committee had developed the profile and had circulated it for comments to members of relevant constituencies, including Faculty Councils, the Executive Committee and Senate.

Appointments
The Board ratified the appointment of Tim Brodhead to the special committee to review the President Search Committee’s shortlisted candidates. Brodhead, who had been appointed as a representative of the community at large by the Board at its last meeting, replaces Rita Lc de Santis, who is expected to retire from the Board in June 2012.

The Board approved the appointment of part-time faculty members to evaluation committees, established at the last Board meeting, for the positions of Provost, University Librarian, and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. All three senior academic administrators have indicated they will seek a second term when their respective mandates end June 30, 2013.

The Electoral College’s appointment of Desmond O’Neill as a representative of administrative and support staff to the Employee Benefits Committee was also ratified by the Board. O’Neill will serve a two-year term from January 1, 2012, to December 30, 2013.

Norman Hébert Jr. replaces Annie Tobias as the External Vice-Chair of the Board. Tobias has stepped down from that position but remains a Board member.

The next meeting of the Board is Thursday, January 12, 2012, at 8 a.m.

Related links:
•  “Changes in Leadership of Concordia’s Research Administration” — NOW, December 8, 2011
•  Board of Governors