Giselle Chiarello

The special meeting continued outstanding items from the previous Senate agenda. Key decisions included the approval of Senate membership and Senate Committee composition slates effective July 1, 2025. A significant motion was carried recommending that Algoma University abandon the Resource Allocation Model (RCM) budget model due to perceived inequities and negative impacts on academic programming, favoring a new model to support equity and collaboration. The Senate also approved changes to the by-laws to introduce the Secretariat role and provide for an elected Secretary, despite concerns regarding authority and governance structure raised by the Interim President and Associate University Secretary. Other business included discussions on a proposed curriculum revision which was not formally discussed or approved, and an update on revised Associate Vice-President job descriptions. During the discussion period, there was an extensive exchange regarding the university's financial situation, the utilization of Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs), potential reallocation by the Ministry, and advocacy efforts. Finally, nominations were taken for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Secretary of Senate, with nominations for the Secretary being deferred to the next meeting.

This 18-month status report details the progress on the implementation plan for the Economics program at Algoma University, addressing recommendations from an external review. Key areas include introducing new academic programs (e.g., a 4-year honours program and a Bachelor of Science in Economics with Data Analytics), expanding course offerings and revising curriculum, enhancing faculty recruitment processes, improving student support services, fostering interdisciplinary programs, and strengthening program visibility and student engagement through initiatives like seminar series and student organizations.

This Final Assessment Report and Implementation Plan for Algoma University's Community Economic and Social Development (CESD) program provides a synthesis of its cyclical program review for the 2018-2025 period. It highlights significant strengths, including strong alignment with the university mission, exceptional experiential learning opportunities, interdisciplinary contributions, and highly qualified faculty. The report outlines six key recommendations for continuous improvement, such as enhancing program promotion, developing joint graduate programs, expanding coordinator roles in recruitment, improving first-year student support, and leveraging institutional data analysis to better understand student pathways, accompanied by an implementation plan with specified timelines.

This annual report from Algoma University outlines mental health initiatives and services undertaken throughout the 2025 calendar year. The report details a coordinated model focusing on prevention, early intervention, external clinical support, and institutional capacity building to improve access, responsiveness, and sustainability of student mental health services. A critical strategic priority identified is securing funding for internal clinical capacity, as the current external partnership funding concludes in March 2026, to ensure continuity of care and meet ongoing student demand.

The meeting commenced with an acknowledgement of traditional territories and no conflicts of interest were declared. The agenda and consent agenda were approved, including the Senate Minutes from March 7, 2025, and a membership replacement on the Senate Governance Committee. Key decisions involved the approval of two Adjunct Professor appointments in the Department of Biology, effective July 1, 2025. The Senate also approved major modifications for the BA3 Accounting Program to facilitate offering it on the Brampton campus, and a major modification for the Master of Social Work Program regarding thesis option timelines. A minor modification was approved for several Master's programs leading to the proposed MSc Business Analytics Program, which involved revising course descriptions. Significant discussion arose regarding course reallocation and oversight processes, particularly stemming from the loss of Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) accreditation due to improper course allocation in the 2022-2023 cycle. The Speaker concluded that future changes must follow established multi-committee approval channels. An update on the Presidential Search was provided, noting that the Board of Governors approved relevant policies, and an interim president appointment process is underway. The meeting concluded with moving into an in camera session.