The University’s Board of Governors (BOG) held its first meeting in the 2013-2014 academic year Oct. 23. Four new governors were welcomed to the 24-member board as the BOG heard reports from its own standing committees and an update on U of G plans for its 50^th anniversary. An in-depth report and discussion of the Program Prioritization Process (PPP) was also part of the board’s annual orientation program.

The PPP Task Force released its report to the University community Oct. 2.

Dick Freeborough, BOG chair, says the board appreciates the significant effort made by individuals across the University to inform and contribute to the PPP planning document.

“Board of Governors members recognize that many people in many different areas of the institution were involved in gathering data and writing materials to aid the PPP Task Force,” he says. “The resulting report adds another important assessment tool to the University’s ongoing integrated planning process and will benefit our joint efforts to make careful and well-informed judgments to eliminate a projected structural deficit of $32.4 million over the next three fiscal years.

“We recognize the process of deficit reduction puts a strain on the institution, but the University will benefit in the long-term from rigorous scrutiny of its operations and informed decision-making in how best to use its resources,” says Freeborough, a corporate director and former partner with KPMG, a firm specializing in international audit, tax and management consulting.

Board members were invited to three significant events planned next year to commemorate the University’s 50^th anniversary:

• Jan. 4: The opening of a 50^th-anniversary exhibit at the Guelph Civic Museum;
• May 8: The 50^th anniversary of the first Board of Governors meeting and royal assent of the University of Guelph Act; and
• June 21: The Conversat Ball, a popular campus event from the University’s past that will return for Alumni Weekend 2014. Visit http://www.alumni.uoguelph.ca/ for more information.

New members of the University’s board attending their first meeting Oct. 23 were Paul Gallagher, president and CFO of Wittington Investments Limited; U of G professor Jonathan Newman, director of the School of Environmental Sciences; graduate student Gavin Armstrong, biomedical sciences; and undergrad Ana Paula Becerra, international development. Re-elected for a second term were undergraduate student Sarah O’Carroll, wildlife biology and conservation, and staff member Effie Gatsinos, assistant registrar in student recruitment.

Other members of the Board of Governors are:

• Graham Badun, an independent consultant and former CEO of Brookfield Residential Property Services;
• Shauneen Bruder, executive vice-president of Canadian operations, Royal Bank of Canada;
• Mary Anne Chambers, retired senior vice-president, Scotiabank;
• Nancy Croitoru, president and CEO, Food & Consumer Products of Canada;
• Earl Ellis, vice-president of finance for Campbell Soup Company’s U.S. retail division;
• Kevin Golding, president of Rothsay, a member of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.;
• Ric Jordan, manager, U of G Arboretum;
• John Kissick, professor and director, School of Fine Art and Music;
• Peter MacGowan, partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP;
• Andrew Marsh, president and CEO of Richardson GMP Limited;
• Virginia McLaughlin, president of Helmhorst Investments Ltd.;
• Wendy Millar, EVP and chief risk officer for commercial and personal banking, BMO Financial Group;
• David Mirvish, U of G chancellor and Toronto-based art collector and theatre producer;
• Neil Parkinson, partner and national insurance sector leader, KPMG LLP;
• Mike Ridley, U of G librarian;
• Kate Stevenson, corporate director and formerly global treasurer of Nortel Networks; and
• Alastair Summerlee, U of G president and vice-chancellor.

For more detailed biographies and/or information on Board of Governors activities, visit the University Secretariat website.