Geneviève Champoux

The Board meeting addressed numerous items, including communications from the President and Rector concerning federal budget investments for international recruitment, provincial economic updates, and the context of Law 2 and Law 21. Discussions arose regarding the selection process for campus cafeterias. Key governance topics included the review of self-funded services debt repayment, responsibility under Law 25 regarding personal information protection, and updates on the Board's work plan and the Rector's activity report. Major resolutions involved approving amendments (No. 39, 40, and 41) to the Professional Staff Retirement Plan (RRPePUL). Personnel changes included accepting resignations and appointing interim and permanent directors across various departments, notably in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Faculty of Management Sciences, and Faculty of Medicine. Jean Houde was reappointed as President of the Board. The committee also reviewed the financial report for 2024-2025, noting positive returns for the pension supplement fund and global trust, and discussed the financial situation of retirement plans as of September 2025. Risk management involved receiving the organizational risk profile and approving the risk appetite positioning. Financial updates indicated a projected net deficit for 2025-2026 requiring the use of institutional reserves, necessitating immediate action plans. Decisions were also made regarding the prioritization of building upkeep, specifically authorizing funding for the planning phase of standardizing Chemistry laboratories in the Alexandre-Vachon pavilion ($3.5M), adopting modifications to the Real Estate Management Framework, and adopting the 2026-2030 Energy Efficiency Action Plan requiring significant financing advances. Furthermore, the Board ratified the framework agreement with the City of Quebec concerning the Tramway project implementation on campus and authorized funding to proceed with the planning and construction phases of the Innovaserres Complex project.

The meeting commenced with the President's address and involved significant discussion and votes on procedural matters, including proposed modifications to the agenda regarding time allocations and the scheduling of member questions, ultimately adopting a modified agenda. Key topics addressed included the reception of committee reports such as the Executive Committee's activities and the Governance Committee's (CGCU) 2025-2026 Action Plan, which focuses on optimizing procedures and member expression. The Council received the mandate for the Study Commission and the Student Affairs Commission for 2025-2026, both touching upon strategic planning and the impact of Artificial Intelligence (IA). The periodic evaluation of the Centre de recherche en aménagement et développement (CRAD) was reviewed, leading to the renewal of its recognized center status for five years. Furthermore, the Council authorized the addition of a supplementary questionnaire focused on clinical skills for two Master's programs in Nursing, effective Fall 2026, and approved the suspension of admissions for the Biotechnology Certificate program starting Fall 2026. The item concerning the Ombudsman nomination was deferred to a later session.

The meeting covered topics such as the strategy for internationalization, a review of organizational risks, modifications to the risk management policy, and the annual report of the Investment and Treasury Committee. Additionally, discussions were held regarding the COTE 100 Fund's investment policy, financial projections for 2024-2025, and the financial status of retirement plans. The council also discussed the impact report on philanthropy and alumni relations, a vision for enhancing alumni relations, and a public tender for sanitation services on campus. Other topics included social and environmental responsibility, publication of board meeting minutes, and updates on real estate and IT projects.

The meeting included discussions and decisions on various topics, including modifications to the agenda, communications from the president, and the adoption of the minutes from the previous meeting. The council also reviewed and approved the executive committee's activities report, a change in the name of a medical training program, and the 2024-2025 budget project. Additionally, there was a periodic evaluation of the research center in robotics, vision, and machine intelligence, along with discussions on governance, public access to council minutes, and the evaluation of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in history.

The meeting covered a range of topics, including updates on the Carrefour international Brian-Mulroney campaign and discussions on the provincial budget. The board reviewed and approved the financial results for 2024-2025, adopted a new framework for managing risks related to corruption and collusion in contract management, and discussed the 2025-2026 budget. Additionally, they considered the indexation of mandatory institutional fees and the introduction of a deposit on tuition fees for new admissions. The board also authorized a contract with Support Revolution for PeopleSoft support services and received an update on the project to transform human resources management.