Jean-Gabriel Lauzier

The Board of Regents held a regular meeting to discuss a variety of strategic and operational items. Key topics included the approval of revised policies for information management and student email accounts, as well as an overview of fall applicant numbers. The board reviewed and approved various student fee adjustments for health, dental, and residence services. Significant administrative business involved updates on the university's response to the Auditor General's performance audit, a review of capital and IT projects, and the appointment of the Director of Internal Audit. Furthermore, the board engaged in discussions regarding faculty and school structural reviews, affirmed previous decisions concerning divestment requests, approved the President's goals for the 2026-2027 academic year, and reviewed the results of the university-wide employee engagement survey.

The meeting primarily addressed the recent resignations of two board members. The Board discussed correspondence regarding these resignations and reviewed the draft of a public statement to be issued to the university community. Following a discussion, the Board unanimously approved a statement expressing appreciation for the departing members' service, while also addressing concerns regarding the board's governance, expressing confidence in current leadership, and emphasizing the importance of collaborative engagement through established board channels.

The Board approved a voluntary retirement incentive program for eligible employees in permanent, operationally-funded positions. Additionally, the Board reviewed and approved the University Operating Budget and the Faculty of Medicine Operating Budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which includes the establishment of a Sustainability Reserve. The Board also resolved to immediately serve notice to bargain with the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association regarding academic collective bargaining.

The Board of Regents meeting included various academic and administrative approvals, such as department name changes, committee terms of reference amendments, and the appointment of a new University Bursar. The board approved the Enrolment Management Plan, established new university centres including the Ocean Frontier Institute and the Mixed Methods Research Institute, and adopted a new Human Rights Policy along with a Statement on Institutional Neutrality. Financial and operational decisions involved approving an Indigenous Verification Policy, setting special tuition fees for graduate programs, increasing student union membership fees, revising clinical faculty remuneration models, and authorizing budget allocations for pension plans and organizational restructuring costs.

Key discussions and approvals during the meeting included the revision of the Protected Disclosure Policy, which was approved to be effective upon the appointment of Internal Audit leadership. The Board also approved statements on Skills and Competencies and the Overview of Time Commitment for the 2026 Alumni Elections. A significant governance adjustment was approved: the creation of a new committee combining the current Governance Sub-Committee and the Human Resources Committee. Amendments to the Constitution of the School of Pharmacy were also approved. In the closed session consent agenda, appointments and reappointments for C-Core's Board of Directors were noted for information, and the appointment of Dr. Christine Arnold as Associate Vice-President (Academic) and Dean of Students, along with extensions for two other interim appointments, were approved. The Board approved the reporting plan for the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) for the Physical and Digital Infrastructure Committee, including regular IT project portfolio updates and cybersecurity reports. Furthermore, the Board approved the principles and eight-year plan for Deferred Maintenance funding allocation, utilizing debt relief funds, and approved the major capital project for the Primary Data Centre Replacement with a budget of $15.2M, contingent on bids within 5% of the class A estimate. The Board received for information updates regarding enrolment reporting using Functional Full-Time Equivalent (FFTE) calculations, an endorsement for reviewing the Memorial University Act to increase parking fines, and deferred action items concerning the sustainability of the Harlow Campus, the potential sale of the Signal Hill Campus asset, and the sale or transfer of the Johnson Geo Centre, pending future review in 2026. Finally, the Board approved the Graduate Students' Union (GSU) membership fee increase retroactive to Fall 2025 and approved the premium rates for the GSU health plan for 2025-2026.