Jean-François Bourgault

The Senate meeting included the President's report covering political updates, university budget challenges, recruitment and enrollment goals, and upcoming strategic planning retreats. The Office of Rights and Responsibilities presented its annual report, noting an increase in case volume. Key academic items discussed included the approval of new programs such as the BComm in Business Analytics and a Master’s in Science degree in Athletic Therapy, as well as changes to supply chain management and research creation pathways. The Senate also addressed questions regarding the impact of provincial legislation on academic training and student tuition, and finalized updates for various graduate and undergraduate curriculum requirements.

The meeting included an academic update and a series of recommendations from the Academic Programs Committee regarding new undergraduate and graduate programs. These proposals featured the creation of several microprograms in areas such as Production Accounting for Film and Television, Economic Policy, Computational Physics, Religious, Cultural and Ethnic Literacy, Jewish Studies, and Global Health Entrepreneurship. Additionally, the Senate reviewed new undergraduate degree programs in Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Artificial Intelligence Science, and a Minor in Artificial Intelligence. The discussion also addressed a proposal for new programs with no resource implications.

The Board discussed various fee structures for students, including fee levies for recreation and athletics, a supplementary course fee for Business and Climate Action, and a revised tuition structure for the MBA Investment Management option. The Board also addressed a recommendation from the Senate to rename the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering to the Department of Cybersecurity and Intelligent Systems Engineering, and reviewed a due diligence report concerning environmental health and safety compliance for the first quarter of the year.

The Board approved increases for the Administrative fee and the Technology Infrastructure fee, both to be implemented for the upcoming fall term. The President provided a report covering student academic and athletic achievements, recent hiring for a new associate vice-president of Human Resources, plans for an honorary doctorate conferral, and updates on tuition litigation and provincial budget impacts. The report also touched upon new cybersecurity and engineering program launches, and university efforts to increase student retention in Quebec through French-language learning initiatives.

The Board of Governors discussed a range of university matters including the impact of government budget policies on tuition fees for non-Québec students and the resulting negative outlook from Moody's Credit Opinion. The President reported on ongoing challenges regarding legislative bills affecting university autonomy and academic freedom, the need for budget recovery measures including potential layoffs, and enrollment trends. Additionally, the Office of Rights and Responsibilities presented an annual report detailing an increase in case files and the office's role in early intervention and formal complaints.