Concordia University will be observing a holiday schedule on Monday, June 24, and Monday, July 1, 2013. No classes or other instructional activities will be held. Only staff, faculty and graduate students with proper identification will have access to offices, studios and laboratories. Undergraduate students will require a letter from their respective departments.

The following will be closed:
•    Concordia Libraries
•    Chartwells food service units
•    Le Gym (Sir George Williams Campus)
•    Le Centre (Loyola Campus)
•    Shuttle buses will not be operational

Parking:
•    Parking in the J.W. McConnell Library Building will be closed
•    Loyola parking will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight
•    Faubourg Tower parking will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight

Tunnel access:
•    Tunnels on the Sir George Williams Campus will be closed Sunday, June 23 from 11 p.m. until Tuesday, June 25 at 7 a.m., as well as from Sunday, June 30 from 11 p.m. until Tuesday, July 2 at 7 a.m.

Related links:
•    University holidays and closures
•    Policy on working outside the hours of operation or in isolation (VPS-6)

2013-2014 operating budget approved
At its meeting on June 7, following a brief presentation by Concordia’s Chief Financial Officer Patrick Kelley, the Board of Governors approved a balanced operating budget for 2013-14. In a separate message to the Concordia community, President Alan Shepard explains the factors that influenced budget decisions. Read more.

Refinements to HR policies for senior administrators adopted
The board adopted key changes to the university’s human resources policies that sharpen appointment, remuneration and evaluation practices related to senior administrators and other employees not covered by a collective agreement.

To make the staff hiring and retention process more efficient, reforms include eliminating the public presentation of prospective candidates for senior positions, and simplifying the structure of search and evaluation committees.

The rationale for the revised policies stems mainly from the work of the board’s Human Resources Committee and the report of the External Process Review of Settlements with Senior Management Personnel, which was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

In September 2012, the board ordered the timely implementation of the report’s recommended policies and practices. As well, the revised policies implement some of the remaining recommendations from the External Governance Review Committee report of June 2011.

CREPUQ reorganizes
In his report to the Board of Governors, President Alan Shepard advised them that the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ) has announced plans for a major reorganization. This involves maintaining membership services and data analyses, and discontinuing its lobbying and advocacy efforts.

Board welcomes new members, thanks outoing members
The June 7 meeting was the final one for the board in the 2012-13 academic year. Governors bid farewell to several outgoing members, and thanked them for their service to the university.

The outgoing external members are: Howard Davidson, president and trustee of the R. Howard Webster Foundation, and Tony Meti, president of G.N.D.P Consulting Services Inc. The outgoing internal members are Daniel Cross, chair of the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema; Lawrence Kryzanowski, professor in the Department of Finance; and undergraduate student representatives Lex Gill and Andrew Roberts.

The board also welcomed the following new external members: Georges Paulez, managing director and chief executive office of MIRABAUD Canada Inc.; and Suzanne Sauvage, president and chief executive officer of the McCord Museum. New internal board members are: Melissa Kate Wheeler, president of the Concordia Student Union; and Sandra Betton, professor in the Department of Finance.

Board members reappointed for a second term include: Jacques Lyrette, president of Gestion Jacma Management Inc; Tim Brodhead, senior fellow with Social Innovation Generation (SiG National); and Erik Chevrier, representative for the Graduate Students Association.

The terms of board vice-chairs Me Marie-José Nadeau and Shimon Amir were extended for another year, ending June 30, 2014. University Chancellor L. Jacques Ménard was reappointed for a three-year term ending December 31, 2015.

Related links:
•    Board of Governors
•    2013-14 Budget


 

Lisa Ostiguy sera nommée au nouveau poste de vice-rectrice exécutive déléguée aux affaires académiques, sous l’autorité de Benoit-Antoine Bacon, vice-recteur exécutif aux affaires académiques, à partir du 1er juillet 2013. | Photo par l'Université Concordia

Afin de renforcer le secteur académique et de rationaliser les activités administratives à Concordia, Alan Shepard, recteur de l’Université, apporte des modifications au sein de la haute direction.

« Au cours de la dernière année, j’ai eu la chance d’apprendre à connaître notre communauté. Je suis maintenant convaincu que l’avenir de notre université s’annonce des plus prometteurs, déclare M. Shepard. Pour réaliser ce potentiel extraordinaire, il importe d’harmoniser au mieux l’équipe de direction et les fonctions clés de l’Université. Les changements que j’annonce aujourd’hui visent trois objectifs : renforcer le secteur académique à Concordia, rationaliser notre structure administrative et exploiter nos ressources financières plus efficacement. »

En vue d’appuyer la mission académique de Concordia :

• Lisa Ostiguy sera nommée au nouveau poste de vice-rectrice exécutive déléguée aux affaires académiques, sous l’autorité de Benoit-Antoine Bacon, vice-recteur exécutif aux affaires académiques, à partir du 1er juillet 2013;
• les Effectifs étudiants et services aux étudiants ne relèveront plus du Vice-rectorat aux services, mais du Vice-rectorat exécutif aux affaires académiques, sous l’autorité de la vice-rectrice exécutive déléguée, à partir du 1er juillet 2013. Le secteur académique supervisera ainsi l’ensemble de l’expérience étudiante;
• le départ d’Ollivier Dyens, vice-recteur adjoint aux études, permettra à l’Université de revoir la configuration des responsabilités au sein du Vice-rectorat exécutif aux affaires académiques. Le poste de vice-recteur adjoint aux études sera bientôt pourvu et assorti d’un mandat renouvelé;
• Robert Roy quittera son poste de vice-recteur adjoint aux installations d’enseignement et de recherche pour devenir doyen associé aux installations d’enseignement et de recherche à la Faculté des arts et des sciences;
• un vice-recteur adjoint aux affaires facultaires sera également nommé sous peu; il gérera les questions touchant le corps professoral.

« Lisa a travaillé harmonieusement avec les professeurs et le personnel sur le budget et d’autres questions cruciales au cours des derniers mois, explique M. Shepard. Je suis ravi qu’elle ait accepté d’occuper la fonction de vice-rectrice exécutive déléguée aux affaires académiques. »

Membre du corps professoral à temps plein depuis 1992, Lisa Ostiguy est vice-rectrice exécutive aux affaires académiques par intérim depuis le 1er septembre 2012. Elle était auparavant vice-rectrice adjointe intérimaire aux études.

Dans son nouveau rôle, Mme Ostiguy fournira un soutien et des conseils de haut niveau au vice-recteur exécutif aux affaires académiques sur des questions opérationnelles et stratégiques. Elle supervisera en outre l’éventail complet des services aux étudiants et des activités de recrutement des étudiants, notamment la Direction de la vie étudiante ainsi que le Service des loisirs et des sports. Mme Ostiguy collaborera également avec le vice-recteur adjoint aux études afin de favoriser l’engagement communautaire et l’apprentissage expérientiel à Concordia.

« Je suis très impressionné par le travail que Lisa a accompli en tant que vice-rectrice exécutive aux affaires académiques par intérim au cours de la dernière année. Je me réjouis à l’avance de collaborer avec elle pour que nous continuions à respecter nos priorités et nos engagements en matière d’enseignement et de recherche, affirme Benoit-Antoine Bacon, nouveau vice-recteur exécutif. La mise en œuvre de plusieurs aspects clés du plan directeur de Concordia va déjà bon train, et Lisa et moi sommes tous deux résolus à optimiser l’expérience étudiante à Concordia à tous les niveaux. »

Afin de rationaliser les activités administratives de l’Université :

• Marie Claire Morin terminera son mandat de vice-rectrice au développement et aux relations avec les diplômés;
• le Bureau du développement et des relations avec les diplômés passera sous la responsabilité de Bram Freedman, qui devient vice-recteur au développement et aux relations extérieures et secrétaire général, à partir du 1er juillet 2013. M. Freedman cédera la responsabilité du Service des ressources humaines à Roger Côté, vice-recteur aux services, à partir du 1er juillet 2013.

« Je suis très reconnaissant à Marie Claire de sa contribution à notre communauté. Elle a apporté un soutien indéfectible à Concordia depuis son arrivée à l’Université, déclare Alan Shepard. Je lui souhaite tout le succès possible dans ses futures entreprises. »

Bram Freedman est depuis longtemps membre de la haute direction à Concordia. Ces trois dernières années, il a en outre présidé la Fondation de l’Université Concordia. Il possède une expérience considérable en matière de collecte de fonds grâce à ses nombreuses activités communautaires, et a par ailleurs été chef de l’exploitation ainsi que directeur des relations extérieures à la Fédération CJA durant cinq ans.

Roger Côté, vice-recteur aux services depuis juin 2011, sera notamment responsable du Service des ressources humaines, du Service de gestion immobilière, du Service des technologies de l’information et de l’enseignement, du Service de sécurité du campus ainsi que du Service Environnement, santé et sécurité.

« Bram et Roger ont été d’une aide inestimable dans l’établissement de nos priorités et la gestion des mouvements dans nos fonctions clés », ajoute M. Shepard.

Autres nominations à des postes universitaires importants :

• Brian Lewis, doyen de la Faculté des arts et des sciences, deviendra doyen de l’École de formation continue. Son mandat de deux ans commencera le 1er juillet 2013;
• Joanne Locke, doyenne associée de la Faculté des arts et des sciences, sera nommée doyenne intérimaire de la faculté à partir du 1er juillet 2013. Un comité de recrutement sera bientôt établi afin de pourvoir ce poste.
• Guylaine Beaudry occupera le rôle de directrice intérimaire des bibliothèques à partir du 1er juillet 2013. Un comité de recrutement sera établi sous peu afin de pourvoir ce poste;
• William Cheaib est confirmé dans ses fonctions de chef du cabinet du recteur. Il continuera de gérer le dossier des relations internationales.

Selon Alan Shepard, un objectif clé de Concordia est de répondre plus efficacement aux besoins de ses étudiants en matière d’enseignement et de recherche.

« Concordia possède une communauté extraordinaire, conclut M. Shepard. Ensemble, nous pouvons optimiser notre mission d’enseignement et de recherche afin de servir la collectivité et la société. »

Le recteur, Alan Shepard, affirme que les décisions budgétaires s’articulent autour de quatre grandes priorités. | Photo par l'Université Concordia

Le 7 juin, le conseil d’administration de Concordia a approuvé pour 2013 2014 un budget équilibré fondé sur des revenus totaux de 394,8 millions de dollars. La présente expose plus en détail le processus et les perspectives budgétaires de l’Université.

Je tiens d’abord à remercier la vice-rectrice exécutive aux affaires académiques, Lisa Ostiguy, et le chef de la direction financière, Patrick Kelley, pour leur formidable encadrement du processus d’examen budgétaire. Afin d’établir le budget de Concordia pour 2013 2014 ainsi que des prévisions pour les deux années suivantes, ils ont mené une vaste consultation de la communauté et collaboré avec des chefs de section de l’ensemble de l’Université. Notre but, dans ce processus, consistait à tout mettre en œuvre pour assurer la mission pédagogique de l’Université et préserver la qualité de son expérience étudiante.

Depuis quelques années, Concordia réussit à atteindre son objectif d’équilibre budgétaire. Nous étions en voie de faire de même pour l’exercice qui s’est terminé le 30 avril 2013. Or, c’était sans compter la décision du gouvernement du Québec de réduire ses subventions de fonctionnement aux universités. Pour Concordia, cette compression représente un manque à gagner total de 26,4 millions de dollars pour 2012-2013 et 2013-2014.

En conséquence, l’Université a enregistré un déficit pour 2012-2013. Compte tenu de la situation financière actuelle, nous nous verrons en outre dans l’obligation de restreindre nos dépenses en 2013-2014 pour atteindre l’objectif imposé et nous préparer aux années à venir. Il faut ainsi réduire nos coûts pour 2013-2014 de 2,5 pour cent dans le secteur de l’enseignement et de la recherche ainsi que de 6,6 pour cent dans les autres secteurs.

Certes, le gouvernement permet aux universités d’imputer jusqu’à 50 pour cent des restrictions de 2012-2013 à un déficit, mais celui-ci doit être assorti d’un plan de remboursement clair comprenant un échéancier précis. Le gouvernement a également mis en œuvre des mesures d’aide afin que les universités puissent étaler les restrictions de 2013-2014 sur une période de sept ans.

Ces mesures ne changent toutefois rien à la réalité des compressions, qui s’opposent à un éventail de dépenses clés toujours croissantes. Il importe que nous continuions à gérer prudemment nos finances afin d’être en mesure d’effectuer les investissements stratégiques nécessaires au soutien et à la réalisation de notre mission pédagogique.

Quatre facteurs clés
Quatre facteurs clés ont influencés nos décisions budgétaires pour 2013-2014.

1.    Rembourser le déficit de l’exercice 2012-2013 et étaler sur plusieurs années la réduction des coûts de fonctionnement de 13,2 millions de dollars imposée par le gouvernement pour 2013-2014.

2.    Équilibrer revenus et dépenses en tenant compte de l’augmentation annuelle des coûts liés aux salaires, aux avantages sociaux et aux régimes de retraite ainsi que d’autres facteurs clés comme les services publics.

• Soulignons que seule une partie des hausses salariales annuelles est compensée par les augmentations au titre du coût de la vie intégrées dans les subventions, à l’enseignement notamment, que nous recevons du gouvernement du Québec.
• En outre, les coûts des services publics ne sont pas indexés.

3.    S’adapter au retrait des mesures d’aide temporaires du gouvernement du Québec pour les difficultés financières des régimes de retraite, défi auquel doit faire face la vaste majorité des organismes publics et des municipalités de la province.

• Mises en place à la suite de la crise mondiale des marchés financiers de 2008-2009, ces mesures d’aide prendront fin le 31 décembre 2013. Ainsi, chaque année à compter de 2014-2015, nous devrons consacrer à ces coûts 14,2 millions de dollars de notre budget de fonctionnement.

4.    Réduire notre dépendance par rapport à l’accroissement des inscriptions pour équilibrer notre budget.

• Nos revenus attendus doivent dépendre moins de la croissance des inscriptions et davantage d’une forte demande pour nos programmes, résultat de notre engagement à l’égard de l’excellence et de l’innovation en enseignement, en recherche et en apprentissage.
• Notre budget pour 2013-2014 prévoit une hausse des inscriptions d’environ un pour cent.

Une approche équilibrée
Certaines réductions de coûts seront immédiates, tandis que d’autres s’appliqueront progressivement au cours des prochaines années. Nous mènerons par exemple un examen sérieux des plans de recrutement et du nombre de sections de cours. De même, des postes vacants ne seront pas pourvus, en particulier dans le secteur administratif, dont les coûts seront ainsi restreints. De plus, les occasions de voyage et de financement d’activités seront revues.

Dans la poursuite de ces objectifs, une des forces de Concordia demeure la prudence de sa gestion financière. Cette caractéristique est reconnue par des organismes indépendants comme l’agence de notation DBRS (Dominion Bond Rating Service), qui a récemment confirmé la cote de crédit A (perspective stable) de l’Université. L’obtention d’une cote stable nous procure une certaine souplesse financière, nous assurant en particulier le maintien de nos frais d’intérêt à un niveau minimal.

Concordia entend continuer de tabler sur ses forces et se concentrer sur ses priorités en matière d’enseignement et de recherche. Nous lançons par exemple de nouvelles initiatives afin de permettre aux étudiants du premier cycle de faire de la recherche; nous facilitons le recrutement stratégique de professeurs; et nous offrons des possibilités de formation plus étendues aux assistants d’enseignement.

Par ailleurs, l’Université accueillera l’an prochain deux événements de marque, soit le congrès de l’Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) ainsi que le colloque et festival Encuentro. Ces honneurs montrent bien tout le prestige dont jouit Concordia dans le milieu de la recherche.

Il s’agit donc d’une période charnière pour l’Université, et les mesures prudentes que nous prenons aujourd’hui seront garantes de l’essor de notre établissement.

Alan Shepard
Recteur

Liens connexes :
•    Budget web page (en anglais)
•    Fiche d’information sur le plan budgétaire de l’Université Concordia pour 2013-2014 (en anglais)

To strengthen the university’s academic sector and streamline its administrative operations, Concordia President Alan Shepard is making changes in the senior leadership team portfolios.

Lisa Ostiguy has been appointed to the newly-created position of deputy provost, reporting to incoming Provost Benoit-Antoine Bacon, effective July 1, 2013. | Photo by Concordia University

“Over the past year, I have had the chance to get to know our community, and I am convinced that our university has a bright and exciting future,” says Shepard. “To realize that tremendous potential, it’s important to have the best match between our leadership team and our key portfolios. The changes I am announcing today will strengthen Concordia’s academic sector, streamline our administrative structure and use our financial resources more efficiently.”

To support Concordia’s academic mission:

• Lisa Ostiguy has been appointed to the newly-created position of deputy provost, reporting to incoming Provost Benoit-Antoine Bacon, effective July 1, 2013.
• The Student and Enrolment Services sector moves from the portfolio of the vice-president, services, to the portfolio of the provost, under the responsibility of the deputy provost, effective July 1, 2013. This will ensure that Concordia’s academic sector has oversight of the complete student experience.
• The departure of Ollivier Dyens, vice-provost, teaching and learning, allows the university to revisit the configuration of responsibilities within the Office of the Provost. The position of vice-provost, teaching and learning, will be filled shortly with a renewed mandate.
• Robert Roy is leaving his position as vice-provost, academic facilities, to assume the role of associate dean, academic facilities in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
• To provide academic oversight of faculty concerns, a vice-provost, faculty affairs, will also be appointed shortly.

“Lisa has worked seamlessly with faculty and staff on budget and other critical matters over these past several months,” says Shepard. “I am thrilled that she has agreed to take on the duties of deputy provost.”

A full-time faculty member since 1992, Ostiguy has been interim provost and vice-president, academic affairs, since September 1, 2012. She was previously interim vice-provost, teaching and learning.

In her new role, Ostiguy will provide high-level support and advice to the provost on operational and strategic issues, and oversee the full range of student services and student recruitment activities. This includes the work of the dean of students, along with recreation and athletics. Ostiguy will also work in conjunction with the vice-provost, teaching and learning, to advance Concordia’s community engagement and experiential learning agenda.

“I am so impressed by what Lisa has accomplished as interim provost over the past year, and I very much look forward to working with her to ensure that we continue to deliver on our academic priorities and initiatives,” says incoming Provost Benoit-Antoine Bacon. “The implementation of several key aspects of Concordia’s Academic Plan is already well underway, and both Lisa and I are fully committed to optimizing the Concordia student experience at all levels.”

To streamline administrative operations:

• Marie Claire Morin is completing her term as vice-president, advancement and alumni relations.
• Responsibility for the Advancement and Alumni Relations portfolio will move to Bram Freedman as vice-president, development and external relations and secretary-general, effective July 1, 2013. Responsibility for the Human Resources portfolio will move from Freedman to Roger Côté, vice-president, services, beginning July 1, 2013.

“I am very grateful to Marie Claire for her contributions to our community. She has been a tireless supporter of Concordia during her time at the university” says Shepard. “I wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

Freedman is a long-serving senior administrator at Concordia and has been president of the Concordia University Foundation for the past three years. He has significant fundraising experience through his many community activities, and served as chief operating officer and director of external relations of the Federation Combined Jewish Appeal for five years.

Leadership responsibilities for Côté, who has been vice-president, services, since June 2011, will include Human Resources, Facilities Management, Instructional and Information Technology Services, Security Department, and Environmental Health and Safety.

“Bram and Roger have been invaluable in advancing our priorities and in managing movement in key portfolios,” says Shepard.
 
In other key appointments:

• Brian Lewis, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, is named dean of the School of Extended Learning, for a period of two years, effective July 1, 2013.
• Joanne Locke, associate dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, is appointed interim dean of the Faculty, effective July 1, 2013. A search committee for dean of Arts and Science will be established shortly for dean of the Faculty.
• Guylaine Beaudry has been appointed interim university librarian, effective July 1, 2013. A search committee will be established shortly for university librarian.
• William Cheaib has been confirmed as chief of staff to the president. He will continue to oversee the international relations portfolio.

Shepard says a key goal at Concordia is to do things better and more efficiently in meeting the academic needs of our students.

“We have great people at Concordia,” adds Shepard. “Together, we can ensure that our teaching and research mission is everything it needs to be to serve our community and wider society.”

President Alan Shepard says four key factors influenced budget decisions. | Photo by Concordia University

On June 7, Concordia’s Board of Governors approved a balanced budget for the university for 2013-14, based on total revenues of $394.8 million. I am writing to provide you with more information on our budget process and fiscal outlook. 

I thank Provost Lisa Ostiguy and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Kelley for their tremendous work in leading our budget review process. In preparing Concordia’s 2013-14 budget and the forecast for the two following years, they consulted extensively with our community and collaborated with section heads across the university. Our objective throughout the budget process has been to do everything possible to protect our academic mission and student experience.

Over the past few years, Concordia has been successful in meeting its goal of a balanced budget. Concordia was again on target to balance its budget in its current fiscal year, which ended April 30, 2013. This was before the Government of Quebec announced cuts in university operating grants, which total $26.4 million for Concordia for fiscal years 2012-13 and 2013-14.

As a result, Concordia incurred a deficit in 2012-13. Within the current financial landscape, we also need to reduce costs in 2013-14 to meet the mandated cut, and to prepare for the years ahead. The cost reductions for 2013-14 represent 2.5 per cent in the academic sector and 6.6 per cent in all other sectors.  

The government is permitting universities to absorb up to 50 per cent of the 2012-13 cuts as a deficit, but with a clear plan to pay down the deficit amount over a specified time frame. The government has also implemented relief measures that allow universities to spread the 2013-14 cuts over a seven-year period.

Nevertheless, these are real funding cuts that are in contention with a range of key costs that continue to rise. It is important that we continue to manage our finances prudently so we can make the strategic investments needed to support and advance our academic mission.

Four key factors
Four key factors affected our budget decision-making process for 2013-14:

1.    Repaying the 2012-13 deficit and spreading the government mandated $13.2 million in operating cost cuts for 2013-14 over several years.

2.    Balancing revenues with rising year-over-year costs for salaries, benefits and pensions, as well as other key inputs such as utilities.

• It is noteworthy that only a portion of annual salary increases are compensated for under cost-of-living increases incorporated into teaching and other grants we receive from the Government of Quebec.
• In addition, there is no indexation for utility charges.

3.    Adjusting to the end of the Government of Quebec’s temporary relief measures for funding deficiencies in pension plans. This is a challenge faced by the vast majority of public organizations and municipalities in the province.

• The relief measures, which the government put in place because of the global financial markets crisis of 2008-09, end on December 31, 2013. As a result, we will need to allocate $14.2 million annually from our operating budget to cover these costs, beginning in 2014-15.

4.    Reducing our reliance on enrolment growth to balance the budget.

• Our revenue expectations must be tied less to enrolment growth and more to strong demand for our program offerings flowing from our commitment to academic excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.
• Our 2013-14 budget anticipates enrolment growth of about one per cent.

A balanced approach
Some of our cuts in costs will be immediate and others will be phased in during the next few years. Measures include a careful review of hiring plans and the number of course sections, with a focus on vacant staff and administrative positions, reducing administrative costs, and revising travel and event funding options.

In striving to achieve these goals, one strength will continue to be Concordia’s prudent management of its finances. This is recognized by independent agencies such as Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS), which recently confirmed the university’s debt rating of “A” with an outlook designated as stable. A stable credit rating is important in maintaining the university’s financial flexibility, particularly in keeping our interest costs as low as possible.

As Concordia continues to build on its strengths, we are focusing on our academic priorities. This includes new initiatives for undergraduates to engage in research. We also want to facilitate the strategic hiring of faculty and provide more comprehensive training opportunities for teaching assistants.

Next year, Concordia will host two important events that recognize our university’s importance in the world of research — the 2014 Congrès de l’Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas), and the Encuentro conference and festival.

This a pivotal time in Concordia’s development. The careful steps we are taking now will best ensure our university’s prospects in the years ahead.

Alan Shepard
President

Related links:
•    2013-14 Budget
•    2013-14 Budget Fact Sheet - June 10, 2013

Members of the Concordia community are invited to an open meeting on June 13 to meet Paula Wood-Adams, the candidate being recommended by the advisory search committee for the position of dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

The open meeting of the Council of the School of Graduate Studies takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. in the York Amphitheatre (Room EV-1.605) in the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex, across from the FOFA Gallery, 1515 Ste-Catherine St. W.

Members of the council will be given initial speaking privileges, as outlined in the Policy BD-5, Rules and Procedures for Senior Administrative Appointments. If time permits, other members of the university may be granted speaking privileges.

The advisory search committee is also accepting written comments about the candidate, which must be submitted no later than no later than 12 p.m. on June 21, 2013. Submissions can be emailed to Andrea Renaud, secretary to the advisory search committee, at andrea.renaud@concordia.ca.

Related links:
•    Paula Wood-Adams – CV
•    Policy BD-5, Rules and Procedures for Senior Administrative Appointments

Many Concordians took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about Concordia’s proposed budget and current fiscal situation at a second round of open conversations, held recently on both campuses.

Hosted by Interim Provost Lisa Ostiguy and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Patrick Kelley, the converations featured a presentation on how the university is addressing the budget reductions, announced by the Government of Quebec last December. For Concordia, the cuts amount to a total of $26.4 million for the fiscal years 2012-13 and 2013-14 ($13.2 million per each year).
 
Ostiguy and Kelley also visited the Faculty Councils, the School of Graduate Studies and the Libraries to provide an update on the proposed budget for 2013-14, noting there has been no change in the situation facing the university since the cuts were first announced, and that long-term funding commitments remain uncertain.

Even though the Government of Quebec has promised to reinvest $1.7 billion in the education sector starting in 2014, Kelley said Concordia has not received instructions from the government about these reinvestments in the coming years.

Despite government cuts in the university’s operating budget, Kelley said Concordia was able to balance its budget for 2012-13; however, the proposed budget for 2013-14 is forecasting a deficit in the range of $7 million.

“Any deficit we have has to be repaid,” Kelley said, adding that the government has allowed universities to spread out the repayment of their deficits over a period of five years.
Concordia’s budgetary challenges resulting from the cuts will be compounded by substantial increases in pension funding costs beginning next year.

“Relief measures that allowed us to spread the funding amounts over a period of five years come to an end on December 31 of this year,” Kelley said.

The proposed budget for 2013-14 includes a 2.5 per cent cut within the academic sector ($5.7 million), while the non-academic sector will face an overall cut of 6.8 per cent.

“Our goal is to protect the academic mission of the university,” Kelley said.

The interim provost noted that other universities across the country are also facing reductions in public funding. “Some provinces have been hit particularly hard. Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan are all taking fairly drastic measures to accommodate their budget reductions,” she said.

Following the presentation, Ostiguy and Kelley fielded questions about how the university was planning to reduce costs. Kelley gave two examples: leaving vacant positions unfilled, as well as reducing the costs of various internal processes where possible. “The choices are going to get tougher to make, but we have to make them,” he said.

Conversation participants gave numerous suggestions for generating additional funds, such as forging stronger connections with Concordia’s alumni, and allowing four-day work weeks for staff members during the summer months.

Following each discussion, Kelley and Ostiguy thanked those who attended and said their concerns and suggestions would be considered during future budget preparations.

“The first time we held these converastions, people gave a number of ideas that we’ve been able to act on and include in the budgets,” Kelley said.

Ostiguy said she was glad the conversations were well-attended and that the audiences represented all sectors of the Concordia community.

“We have been encouraged by the collective response in working together to reduce our costs, examine revenue possibilities, and focus on strategies to attract students to the university and retain our current students,” says Ostiguy. “We certainly plan to keep the dialogue going.”

Related links:
•    “Senate receives budget update” — NOW, April 24, 2013
•    Update on budget process — Message from the President, April 3, 2013
•    Update on operating grant cuts — Message from the President, March 1, 2013

Ollivier Dyens | Photo par l'Université Concordia

Le vice-recteur adjoint aux études de l’Université Concordia, Ollivier Dyens, a été nommé premier vice-principal exécutif adjoint (études et vie étudiante) à l’Université McGill pour un mandat de cinq ans débutant le 1er septembre 2013.

Dans ses nouvelles fonctions, il sera appelé à encadrer des services de soutien essentiels à l’épanouissement intellectuel, social et culturel des étudiants ainsi qu’à leur bien-être physique. Il agira comme défenseur des intérêts des étudiants, participera directement aux décisions de l’administration supérieure liées à la vie étudiante, siégera au Sénat et présidera un certain nombre de comités.

« Chez nous à l’Université Concordia, le Pr Dyens a mis sur pied avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme des projets qui ont enrichi le parcours de nos étudiants et mis notre établissement en valeur, commente la vice-rectrice intérimaire Lisa Ostiguy. J’en veux pour preuve le récent colloque e.SCAPE sur l’enseignement fondé sur les nouvelles technologies, une très belle réussite. Il a également procédé à une refonte du processus d’évaluation des programmes d’études. Je le remercie en espérant collaborer à nouveau avec lui dans les dossiers communs aux deux établissements. »

Ollivier Dyens est devenu vice-recteur adjoint aux études à Concordia en 2008. Il a piloté les dossiers d’élaboration et d’évaluation des programmes d’études et s’est attaché à optimiser les activités d’enseignement et d’apprentissage.

« J’ai eu le privilège de travailler étroitement avec le corps professoral et les étudiants au cours des cinq dernières années, explique-t-il. L’Université Concordia est en excellente position pour continuer à proposer des manières innovantes d’enseigner, d’explorer de nouvelles idées et de nouer un dialogue avec ses publics. »

Le vice-recteur a enseigné au Département d’études françaises de Concordia; il a été nommé au Conseil supérieur de l’éducation du Québec en 2010. C’est également un auteur primé et un artiste œuvrant dans les technologies numériques.

Le Pr Dyens a créé divers sites Web sur la cyberculture et rédigé 11 livres, dont La condition inhumaine : essai sur l’effroi technologique, publié en France chez Flammarion, et Metal and Flesh : The Evolution of Man: Technology Takes Over, paru au presses du MIT. L’artiste a exposé ses œuvres numériques au Brésil, au Canada, en France, au Venezuela, en Allemagne, en Argentine et aux États-Unis.

L’Université, qui procèdera sous peu à la nomination d’une ou d’un nouveau vice-recteur adjoint aux études, informera la communauté de l’avancement du processus au fur et à mesure de son déroulement.

Implementation of Academic Plan continues
Interim Provost Lisa Ostiguy presented a comprehensive summary of Concordia’s progress on the Academic Plan at the May 17 Senate meeting.

The work of implementing the plan began in earnest last September with three main priorities emerging: investments in the libraries, innovative and dynamic academic programs, and graduate student recruitment.

Ostiguy says these priority areas support the university’s commitment to improving its research strength and in offering students an outstanding experience. Click here to read more.

New PhDs approved
Two new PhD programs, one in English Literature and a second in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies, were approved by Senate.

The PhD in English Literature will train students to develop research and teaching expertise in literature and media, literary history and historiography, literary form and genre, and theories of literature.

Students will develop period or area specialization covering form, language, media and context, explained Jill Didur, chair of the Department of English.

“The English department has undergone an impressive renewal,” she said. “We’ve developed a well-respected research profile, and the department has a thriving MA in English Literature with both academic and creative strains.”

During her presentation, Didur outlined the goals of the new PhD program: produce graduates who will contribute to the production of knowledge in the discipline of literary study; enrich the social and cultural milieu of Montreal, Quebec and Canada through teaching, publication of research dissemination; and produce graduates who are well positioned to compete for teaching positions in Canada and abroad.

The PhD program in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies will focus on human interventions in the environment through two streams: environmental change, and human settlement in urban areas and building sustainable communities.

In his presentation, Associate Professor Damon Matthews, Concordia University Research Chair in Climate Science and Sustainability, explained that many students enrolled in the department’s MSc program go on to pursue PhDs in related fields at other schools.

“We see it as absolutely essential that we be able to offer those (MSc) students a PhD option at Concordia,” he said.

Matthews also said the new program will offer an important opportunity for professors in the department to supervise graduate students at the PhD level. “This is absolutely essential for attracting the quality of faculty we want to attract.”

Following the approval of these programs by Senate, the next step is for the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ) to undertake an evaluation process, which can take up to a year. This administrative body then submits its recommendation to Quebec’s Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie for final approval.

New Graduate Certificate in University Teaching approved
The Graduate Certificate in University Teaching is the first English-language for-credit program in Canada catering exclusively to PhD candidates of advanced standing and including a capstone internship requirement of designing, developing, delivering and evaluating a 3-credit university course.

The certificate offers an opportunity for future tenure-track professors to engage in an interdisciplinary program of study to acquire advanced expertise in university pedagogy through a sustained mentorship with faculty members, teaching fellows as well as teaching and learning consultants.

“I’m very excited about this initiative,” said Paula Wood-Adams, interim dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “I think it’s going to provide an opportunity for some of our students who really would appreciate more experience in teaching.”

Strategic Research Plan approved
Senate approved a five-year Strategic Research Plan, 2013-18 submitted by Graham Carr, vice-president, Research and Graduate Studies.

“We need a strategic research plan at Concordia University in order to be accountable to the Canada Research Chair Secretariat, and to accurately reflect our institutional research environment,” Carr said, adding that the plan is also used increasingly as a reference point by multiple external agencies in the awarding of research funding.

The document captures the vitality of the research and training environment at Concordia. Carr explained that the plan does not refer to specific departments or individual researchers, but instead focuses on overarching themes and clusters of established and emerging strength.

The 2013-18 plan continues to build around the two core research clusters (The Person and Society, and Technology, Industry and the Environment) identified in the 2008-12 plan; however, there are important changes to the unifying themes and research domains identified within those clusters.

For the summary version of the plan, click here.

E-learning principles presented
Months of work for Concordia’s Academic Planning and Priorities Committee culminated in the presentation of a list of eight e-learning principles designed to inform the university’s future direction in the use of new technological tools and platforms for delivering academic content.

“As tools for teaching, e-learning technologies expand instructors’ pedagogical repertoires. Thus, they support instructors’ learning objectives by enabling different forms of interaction, practice, and specialized assistance than is readily available in other modes of teaching,” stated the report on the principles submitted to Senate by the interim provost.

Read more about the e-learning principles.

Presentation by eConcordia
Patrick Devey, chief learning officer for eConcordia, provided Senate with an overview on the process behind creating online courses at the university. The presentation showed how a team of developers from eConcordia, led by an instructional designer, worked closely with each professor to help them realize their vision for an online course.

While there are consistent elements in each course based on tried and true instructional design principles, Devey showed how there is still a lot of room for creativity in presenting the course material.

As well, he showed how there are opportunities for professors to propose different online methods for students to engage with the course material. Devey presented one example of a virtual stock market for an online finance class in which the professor manipulates the prices of stocks while the students simultaneously manage their individual portfolios.

Related links:
•    Concordia Senate
•    Academic Plan – Implementation Dashboard
•    Office of Research
•    Department of English
•    Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
•    eConcordia

This article was amended June 4, 2013.

After close to one and a half years in operation, the Centre for Academic Leadership is closing its doors but its programs and workshops will continue under the leadership of the Office of the Provost. 

“During the budget process, I advised the academic sector that I would be carefully reviewing the programs and priorities within the Office of the Provost,” explains Lisa Ostiguy, interim provost and vice-president, academic affairs. “This was part of our contribution to examining how we could be more efficient and streamline the academic sector.”

As a result of a careful review of priorities, the decision was made to close the centre. Ostiguy stressed that the programs, including professional development workshops and peer-mentoring, will continue to be offered under the Office of the Provost.

“I am grateful for the considerable support received from the academic leaders who participated in our workshops and presentations, as well as those who served on the centre’s advisory committee,” says Dominic Peltier-Rivest, the centre’s executive director and professor of fraud prevention and detection with the John Molson School of Business.

The centre developed and offered 12 workshops and presentations, including orientation sessions as well as workshops that explored labour relations and collective bargaining, and leadership skills. On average, 25 academic leaders participated in each event; seven workshops were rated as “always useful” or “mostly useful” by 100 per cent of the participants.

Peltier-Rivest also points to the peer-mentoring program as one of the centre’s crowning achievements. “Through this program, eight new department chairs were matched with mentors who supported them in making the transition to their new leadership role,” he says.

The centre also created the Concordia Academic Leadership Awards to recognize exceptional academic leadership and administrative accomplishments at the university. The 2012 recipients were Michael Kenneally, Robert D. Kilgour, William E. Lynch and Danielle Morin. The 2013 recipients will be announced on May 30 during Concordia's A Celebration of Excellence.

“I would like to thank Dominic for his leadership and hard work in developing this centre and its programs. We will be building on this work in new and different ways as we continue to support our academic leaders,” says Ostiguy. She also thanked Silvana Novembre for her contribution as the centre’s administrative assistant.

Related link:
•    “Award recognizes academic leadership of four Concordians” – NOW, June 12, 2012

Webster Library. | Photo by Concordia University

Investing in our libraries
Interim Provost Lisa Ostiguy says these priority areas support the university’s commitment to improving its research strength and in offering students an outstanding experience. For example, she points to the investments made in the libraries — $500,000 in 2011-12 and another $1 million in 2012-13 to improve their capacity to support research and creative activity.

“By far the main emphasis has been on acquisitions, in particular acquiring licenses to electronic resources that will support research,” explains University Librarian Gerald Beasley. “We’ve developed this acquisitions policy around our five-year Academic Plan.”

Two new fellowships created
With a view to enhancing teaching and learning at the undergraduate level, the Academic Plan supported the creation of two new fellowships in the Centre for Teaching and Learning Services (CTLS).

Associate Professor Rosemary Reilly, from the Department of Applied Human Sciences, was named the first University Teaching Fellow, and Professor Saul Carliner, from the Department of Education, was named the university’s first E-Learning Fellow.

Carliner has played an important role in the adoption of a set of principles that will guide the university’s next steps in creating more online and blended learning opportunities for students. He was also involved in the planning of Concordia’s first e-learning conference in April titled e.SCAPE: Knowledge, Teaching, Technology. This three-day event showcased the wide spectrum of online, hybrid, and technology-supported teaching formats already adopted by faculty members at Concordia. Read more.

“The conference provided tips for using technology in teaching, showed how it supports learning, and provided faculty members with opportunities to try out things for themselves, so the technologies become concrete experiences rather than abstract concepts,” says Ollivier Dyens, vice-provost, Teaching and Learning.

Meanwhile, Reilly has been assisting with the review of the the CTLS mandate, which will see a new CTLS emerge – a centre that will serve as an innovative learning space with a teaching lab where faculty members can will work collaboratively to develop and share new teaching methods.

Enhancing the student experience
With a view to improving the overall undergraduate experience, Academic Plan funding was used to hire additional teaching assistants across most Faculties. Joanne Locke, associate dean of academic programs in the Faculty of Arts and Science, gives one example of how these funds enhanced undergraduate offerings.

“We distributed the funds to nine departments, and were able to enhance 19 courses, primarily at the 200 level,” she says. “The teaching assistants worked with small groups of students, and provided additional feedback on written work, led group discussions, and also created practice problem sets for students in various disciplines.”

These teaching assistantships also reinforced one of the the plan’s main goals of supporting student success by providing graduate students with financial support and teaching experience.

Another mechanism launched to support innovation at the undergraduate level was the Undergraduate Student Research Award program. “Through this program, 50 undergraduate students will have a new opportunity this summer to gain valuable research experience outside their regular coursework,” says Graham Carr, vice-president, Research and Graduate Studies.

“We have been encouraged by the response. In fact, the number of applications far outstripped the available funds,” he adds. The students, from across all four Faculties, will benefit from working under the guidance of a faculty sponsor.

Steve Harvey, dean of the John Molson School of Business (JMSB), agrees. “These awards made it possible for us to begin a program of including undergraduates in our research initiatives. We had 12 successful applicants this year who will be conducting research with professors throughout all of our departments,” he says.

Recruiting graduate students
The Academic Plan supported efforts to recruit graduate students by allocating $1 million to fund 34 awards for incoming international doctoral students, says Paula Wood-Adams, interim dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

The school is also working with graduate program directors and associate deans to identify tools and practices that can give Concordia an edge in attracting talented and top-notch graduate students.

In addition to increased funding for graduate students, Carr identified other ways that Academic Plan funding is being used to increase the university’s research strength.

For example, funds have been earmarked to support 10 strategic research hires across the university. “Initially when we put out the call, we didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “However, what we found was a significant demand for strategic research hiring within the university.”

Other plans to build research capacity include revisiting the process for awarding Concordia University Research Chairs and hiring two new research facilitators, one in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science who will focus on industry contract research and development, and a second who will be hired at the PERFORM Centre to focus on health-related research.

Both positions are being funded by the Academic Plan as part of the university’s efforts to increase its share of major research grants from external agencies.

Looking ahead
Ostiguy says the university will be issuing another call for proposals for strategic hires in the fall. As well, a call will be put out for proposals for curriculum innovation projects.

“I think we’ve accomplished a lot in terms of advancing the Academic Plan by identifying key priorities and taking concrete action,” says Ostiguy. “Especially at a time of budgetary reductions, the Academic Plan provides us with access to dedicated and strategic funds to invest in the academic sector.

“This demonstrates our commitment to focusing on our academic priorities and providing our Faculties with opportunities to invest in activities that will enhance our academic mission. Innovation is central to this work and I believe we have gained significant momentum during the past year.”

Ostiguy encourages faculty members to visit the implementation dashboard on the Academic Plan web page to find out more about these initiatives and how they can become involved.

Related link:
•    Academic Plan implementation dashboard

Français

Concordia Vice-Provost for Teaching and Learning Ollivier Dyens has been appointed deputy provost (student life and learning) at McGill University for a five-year term to begin September 1.

At McGill, Dyens will oversee offices that deliver key services to students to support their intellectual, social, cultural and physical development. He will serve as an advocate for students and their concerns and contribute directly to McGill’s senior administrative decisions involving student life. Dyens will also serve on McGill’s Senate and chair a number of committees.

“At Concordia, Ollivier devoted himself with great enthusiasm to spearheading initiatives that provide the best educational experience for our students and raise our university’s profile,” says Interim Provost Lisa Ostiguy. “The success of Concordia’s recent e.SCAPE conference on technology-integrated teaching is just one example. He also redesigned our academic program appraisal process. I thank him for his dedication and look forward to collaborating with him on issues that are common to Concordia and McGill.”                            

Dyens was appointed vice-provost for teaching and learning at Concordia in 2008. In that role, he oversaw all aspects of curriculum development and program appraisal, and the promotion of outstanding teaching and learning at Concordia.

“I am grateful for having had the chance to work with Concordia faculty and serve our students these past five years,” says Dyens. “I think the university is well positioned to keep innovating in how we teach, explore new ideas and engage the wider community.”

A former faculty member in the Département d’études françaises, Dyens is an award-winning author and digital artist, and in 2010 was named to Quebec’s Conseil supérieur de l’éducation.

He has founded websites dedicated to the study of cyberculture and written 11 books. These include include La Condition inhumaine : essai sur l’effroi technologique, published in France by Flammarion, and Metal and Flesh: The Evolution of Man: Technology Takes Over, published by MIT Press. His digital artwork has been exhibited in Brazil, Canada, France, Venezuela, Germany, Argentina and the United States.

A vice-provost, teaching and learning, will be named soon at Concordia. The university community will be informed of developments regarding the position.

Friday, May 31 is the deadline for students to pay tuition fees for the 2013 summer term.