The University of Guelph will recommence its presidential search this spring and is calling for nominations for faculty, staff and students for the selection committee.

In October 2019, the University began a search for its ninth president and vice-chancellor. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020 the University’s Board of Governors decided unanimously to take the extraordinary measure of suspending the search and appointing Dr. Charlotte Yates to lead the University on an interim basis. Yates will complete her current term as president and vice-chancellor on August 1, 2022.

In keeping with the Policy on University Appointments, the Board of Governors will soon recommence the presidential search process. The Policy requires that a presidential search begin at least one year before the end of the incumbent president’s term, and also provides that the incumbent may be a candidate.

The search process will be led by a Presidential Selection Committee chaired by Shauneen Bruder, chair of the Board of Governors.

“While COVID-19 continues to create some uncertainty, through careful planning and preparation, the University is well positioned to advance both the presidential search and a gradual return to more on-campus operations this spring and face-to-face learning opportunities in the fall,” said Bruder.

The selection committee comprises a cross-section of University community members as follows:

  • Chair of the Board of Governors
  • Two external members of the Board of Governors (appointed by the Board)
  • Three tenured faculty members (elected by Senate)
  • Two students: one undergraduate and one graduate (elected by Senate)
  • One regular full-time staff member (elected by Senate)
  • One University of Guelph alumnus/a (elected by the University of Guelph Alumni Association)

Nominations are now open for the faculty, staff and student seats on the committee. The call for nominations and nomination form are available online.

The deadline for submitting nominations to the University Secretariat is Monday, March 15, 2021, at 1 p.m.

The selection committee will seek input from the University community later this spring; the extensive community input received in 2019-20 will also inform the presidential search process.

Updates on the search process, milestones and information about how to participate in consultations will be posted on the presidential search website.