Restoring enrolment numbers, introducing a new Indigenous strategy, and discussing the creation of a free speech policy, are only a few items in Carleton president and vice-chancellor Benoit-Antoine Bacon’s big plans for the 2018-19 school year.
Bacon said in the meeting there was a 2.5 per cent drop in first-year undergraduate enrolment this year, describing the decrease as “a consequence of the labour strike of last winter.”
“It was a crucial time for admissions and registration,” he said.
Bacon also said he acknowledges that there’s some healing to be done in the school’s relationship with unions. He added that while there is a decrease in first-year undergraduate enrolment, overall enrolment is up by one per cent, and the university will work towards increasing undergraduate admissions again.
“We’re going to bounce back next year to ensure we meet our enrolment targets,” he said.
Undergraduate student governor Yvonne Osagie asked if the university’s recruitment was reduced because of international students or local students.
Vice-president (students and enrolment) Suzanne Blanchard replied to Osagie, saying there was an overall student enrolment increase despite the strike and the loss of students from Saudi Arabia.
Blanchard also said the impact of the strike on enrolment was more locally focused, which may be why undergraduate admissions were lower this year.
Bacon’s presidential report also talked about the upcoming reviews of Carleton’s sexual violence policy and Indigenous strategy.
“We made public our intentions to review our sexual violence policy . . . the process will matter as much as the outcome,” he said. “In the same vein, we’re launching a broad consultation to revitalize our Indigenous strategy.”
The current strategy, established in 2011-12, is “due for an overhaul,” Bacon said.
Undergraduate student governor Taylor Arnt asked Bacon if there is any publicly accessible framework for the plans to update the Indigenous strategy that is currently available, to which Bacon said there isn’t, but the university is looking into an “extremely consultative process” that will involve a school Indigenous council.
Bacon briefly spoke about the implementation of the free speech policy in the new year as well. He said discussion of the policy will begin on Sept. 28 in a Senate meeting.
“It’s crucial to involve faculty and students from the get-go,” he said.
Other presentations in the meeting included one on the audited financial statements for the 2018 fiscal year by Michel Piché, the university’s vice-president (finance and administration).
The university’s endowment fund increased by $5.1 million, and an excess revenue of $89.4 million was made in the last year which helped raise extra cash, Piché said.
According to Piché, the revenue was used to primarily fund the capital construction project and acquisition.
“The $89.4 million that was generated was primarily used to fund our capital construction program and acquisitions,” he said.
The project includes the construction of the Nicol, ARISE and Health Sciences buildings.
The board will be meeting again for a planning session on Oct. 20.
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