Senate, Board of Governors meeting highlights

The following are highlights from McMaster's University Senate meeting on June 14 and Board of Governors meeting on June 15, 2006:

Enrolment numbers for 2006-07 are close to target, as the University has had another very strong recruitment year. Peter George commented to the Board that McMaster “continues to be a preferred educational destination. We congratulate our colleagues that work in the offices that deal directly with incoming cohorts for their outstanding efforts.”

For September 2006, McMaster enrolment target was 4955. The number of acceptances is about 106% of the target(about 300 students). While it is usual for attrition to cause this number to fluctuate between now and September, the University expects to reach final first year registration numbers close to the original target.

The 2006-07 Consolidated Budget was presented to Senate and the Board. In a letter from President Peter George and Don Green, Chair McMaster Board of Governors to the members of the McMaster community, the challenges of this budget were addressed:

“The budget for 2006/07 is running a structural deficit. It has been balanced but this was only achieved by making funding decisions that cannot be sustained in the medium or long term. We need to make some significant changes to the way we operate and we are now committed to creating an action plan that will provide a truly balanced budget within three years. This plan will be presented to the Board in December. The Board has expressed its full confidence in management's ability to resolve the financial situation and while the Board is willing to assist if asked, it will be up to the University to find solutions.”

[More detailed information can be found in the Daily News article “University Budget Update“.]

In a report from the Remunerations Committee, it was requested that the Board ratify the tentative agreement between McMaster University and the CAW-Local 555 (formerly MUSA) for a three-year agreement from June 16, 2006 to June 15, 2009.The agreement, which was ratified by the Board, provides for annual across-the-board wage increases and benefits changes consistent with the financial needs of the University. Changes to the Salaried Pension Plan as it affects the CAW- Local 555 bargaining unit and post-retirement benefits were also negotiated.

Dean of Graduate Studies Fred L. Hall presented the Graduate Council report to Senate, focusing on the proposed new PhD in Health Policy Analysis. The Council recommended to the Senate that the establishment of the program be based on academic merits, with a proviso that there will be further, thorough discussion of resource implications and governance issues. The Health Policy Analysis program is to be a new interdisciplinary, inter-departmental, inter-faculty PhD that will provide graduates with advanced understanding and analytic skills required in making leading contributions to health policy, both as academic scholars and as professionals engaged by governments or other health sector organizations. This program will be the first degree of its kind in Canada (or the U.K.).

Fred A. Hall, associate vice-president (Academic), reported on behalf of the Undergraduate Council that the Centre for Continuing Education wishes to close the Diploma in Business Analysis program in order to open another, restructured program (in partnership with Polar Bear/CDI Corporate Education Solutions). Senate approved this proposal for the new program, which will be called Diploma in Management Studies. In the newly structured program, students will be able to select an area of concentration in Business Analysis, Sourcing Management, Project Management or IT Project Management.

Dean Paul Bates gave an update regarding the new Burlington campus to Senate and the Board in which he outlined academic plans for programs that may run at this location within a School of Advanced Management Studies. Bates assured the Senate academic programs developed for the Burlington campus would go through the University's normal approval processes.

Linda Axford, University planner, presented an “Environmental Report Card” to the Board of Governors, giving a summary of past achievements and a statement of future actions concerning McMasters impact on the environment. The Environmental Report Card, developed by the McMaster Environmental Steering Committee is a step towards creating a more sustainable campus. It is based on the Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework (CSAF), a model implemented at many universities.

The Board approved the final name of McMaster's newest student residence, which will be open to receive students this coming September. Les Prince Hall has been named in honour of Dr. Leslie A. Prince. Prince was a dedicated teacher, coach and administrator at McMaster who was actively involved in student and residential affairs. Prince served McMaster in a variety ways during his 34-year career, including positions such as varsity coach, Director of Athletics, Dean of Men, and Dean of Students. Read more in the Daily News article.