# BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING #470 Katherine Harvey, Executive Director, East End Family Health Team | | | |---|---| | Type | PDF | | Size | 229 KB | [Open original PDF →](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/07/BoardMeeting470.pdf) Referenced from: [Board of Governors](/pages/about/board-of-governors/) ## Document text ## BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING #470 Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 1:15 pm Time: Location: Moosonee Campus ## PRESENT: Board: - J. Molyneaux, Chair - D. Naveau, First Vice-Chair - K. Wojtus, Second Vice-Chair - C. Crawford - D. Chaudhari - C. Ellis - D. Patel M. Dumas, Interim President & CEO E. Poulin K. Bains K. Bird K. Grenke J. Harrington P. Hamilton Staff: - D. Lessard, Senior Vice-President Academic - G. MacDougall, A/Senior Vice-President Corporate Services - L. Hanes, Executive Assistant, Office of the President and Board of Governors - S. Hunter, Chief Cultural Officer, Marketing, Communications and External Relations - F. Nickner, Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology Katherine Harvey, Executive Director, East End Family Health Team Guests: Janet Hope, Vice-President Policy and Innovation, Colleges Ontario Chris Martin, Senior Research and Policy Advisor, Colleges Ontario Regrets: L. Innes - M. Metatawabin, Governor-at-Large ## 1. Call to Order - 1.1 Remarks from Chair Board Chair Jeff Molyneaux called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to Moosonee Campus. He thanked everyone who was able to travel to Moosonee to be here in person, as well as everyone who joined virtually. A special welcome to the College's new Vice -President Academic, Dean Lessard. ## 1.2 Acknowledgement of Territory We begin by acknowledging that we are on the traditional and territorial lands of the Cree, Ojibway, Algonquin and Region #3 of the Métis peoples. We acknowledge these ancestral lands that we are gathered on, which continue to interconnect us all and remind us that we are all treaty people. First Nation communities now located on these lands include: Temagami, Timiskaming, Matachewan, Mattagami, Apitipi Anicinapek, Taykwa Tagamou, Beaverhouse, Flying Post, Moose Cree, Fort Albany, Kashechewan, and Attawapiskat Weenusk. ## 2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest Chair Molyneaux called for disclosures of actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Governors Harrington and Poulin both declared conflicts with items 6.2 and 6.3. ## 3. Approval of Agenda The Chair asked if there were any additions or modifications to the agenda. None requested. Moved by: D. Patel Motion Seconded by: K. Bird 01-01-24 THAT the agenda for the Northern College Board of Governors Meeting #470 dated January 23, 2024, be adopted as presented. Carried ## 4. Presentations - 4.1 College Funding Sustainability - -Janet Hope, Vice-President Policy and Innovation, Colleges Ontario - -Chris Martin, Senior Research and Policy Advisor, Colleges Ontario Chair Molyneaux introduced Janet Hope of Colleges Ontario, who presented on the sustainability of funding in the college sector. The recent IRCC announcement has changed some of what is presented today. Funding for the college sector is based on a pot of money made available from the government and distributed (equitably) amongst the 24 colleges in Ontario. The equitable distribution is determined using the Strategic Mandate Agreement, which was established over a decade ago. At that time it was assumed that the college-target population (18-35 year olds) was decreasing, and the sector needed to ensure funding as a result. The solution was performance linked funding (as opposed to the previously used enrolment-based funding). However, the implementation of the outcomes-based funding was delayed due to COVID. College tuition fees in Ontario were cut by 10%, then frozen in 2019/20. These fees are very low compared to universities and to colleges in other provinces. Including both operating grants and tuition, colleges receive total funding per student than secondary schools. Ontario has lowest total funding of all provinces & territories in Canada. Domestic enrolment still in a very slow decline, whereas international enrolment has been dramatically increasing over last 10 years. Attracting international students is the only thing colleges can do to increase funding. Year over year enrolment has shown an average increase in domestic enrolment but decreases are still seen at some colleges. The report resulting from the Blue-Ribbon Panel was fairly university-centric, but it showed a similar reliance on international tuition at universities. C olleges Ontario's main advocacy goals at this time are to increase domestic contribution to cost of domestic education, reduce the risk of reliance on international enrolment and position colleges within context of workforce needs. Governors asked questions regarding Northern College's place in the statistics reported. The Board Chair thanked Ms. Hope and Mr. Martin on behalf of the Board. ## 5. Consent Agenda The Chair asked if any governor wished to comment on or remove any items from the Consent Agenda. Item 5.4.1 -PAC Committee Membership was removed from the consent agenda. Moved by: C. Ellis Motion 02-01-24 Seconded by: P. Hamilton THAT item 5.4.1 be placed on the regular agenda; and THAT the Board of Governors approves Consent Agenda items, including all applicable motions. Carried - 5.1. Receive Board Committee Minutes - 5.2. Program Advisory Committee Schedule - 5.3. Program Advisory Appointments (None) - 5.4. Board Goals THAT Board Committee Minutes be received. Carried 5.4.1 PAC Committee Membership The Board discussed the membership of each governor on each Program Advisory Committee. All committees will be represented by at least one governor, who will provide updates at subsequent Board meetings. Program Assistants will communicate with governors on the scheduling of committee meetings. - 5.5. Correspondence and Information Report ## 6. Discussion Items - 6.1 Approval of Board Minutes Chair Molyneaux asked for any changes to the Minutes presented. None received. Moved by: E. Poulin Motion 03-01-24 Seconded by: K. Wojtus THAT the minutes of Board Meeting #469 held November 7, 2023 and the email vote of December 4, 2023, be approved as presented. Carried - 6.2 Appointment of Chartered Bank 2024-2029 Governors Harrington and Poulin declared a conflict with this item. They have abstained from voting. Senior VP MacDougall noted that the chartered bank contract expired on December 31, 2023. Negotiations with the Royal Bank of Canada have resulted in a new 5-year term contract. The Banking Resolution was presented for approval of RBC as the College's chartered bank. In Moosonee, the banking services are provided by CIBC. Governors inquired about the rates provided by RBC. Mr. MacDougall confirmed that the rates were quite competitive and the costs related to changing banks were prohibitive. The contract presented is favorable for the College. Moved by: D. Patel Motion 04-01-24 Seconded by: K. Bains THAT the Board of Governors approve the appointment of the Royal Bank of Canada as the College's principal chartered bank for a 5 -year term, from February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2029; and THAT the banking resolution be approved for Royal Bank as amended; and THAT the appointment of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce for the provision of services in Moosonee be extended for five years. Carried ## 6.3 Appointment of Investment Services Provider Governors Harrington and Poulin declared a conflict with this item. They have abstained from voting. Interim President Dumas described the process undertaken to evaluate the 8 vendors who submitted proposals to become the College's investment services provider. The Accountant, Controller and Interim President evaluated and scored the proposals. They found that TD Wealth Private Investment Counsel was most favorable and recommended offering the contract for investment services for the next 5 years. Moved by: D. Patel Motion 05-01-24 Seconded by: K. Bird THAT the Board of Governors appoint TD Wealth Private Investment Counsel as provider for Investment Services for Northern College, for a five (5) year period starting February 1st, 2024 to January 31, 2029. Carried ## 6.4 Approval of Tuition and Ancillary Fee Schedule Chief Information Officer Nickner presented the recommendation on international tuition and ancillary fees. It includes a 3% increase in tuition for international students oncampus, plus the introduction of a second tier of tuition for higher cost or higher demand programs. The second tier also has a 3% increase, plus a $1000 increase in tuition. The Ministry requires that program specific compulsory fees be strictly regulated and must balance with actual expenditures, as they fit into rules regarding OSAP and would result in an increase in funding. The Board discussed the proposed international tuition changes, in light of the recent IRCC announcements and upcoming implementation. Binding Policy requires that the College post its tuition and fees for the upcoming year by May 1 st . However, decisions on potential rebates and enrolment incentives may be implemented after that time. Other categories of tuition and ancillary fees will be presented to the Board in March. Moved by: P. Hamilton Seconded by: K. Wojtus Motion 06-01-24 THAT the Board of Governors approve the proposed 2024-25 international tuition increases (and Tiers) and the proposed Program Specific Ancillary Fees. Carried ## 6.5 FY25 Capital Projects List The Board Executive approved the use of reserve funds for capital investment projects for the upcoming fiscal year. Six projects were carried over with funds approved from last fiscal year. All others are included in the FY25 approved funds. Interim President Dumas reviewed the new projects, totaling $6.8M (which is approximately $1M less than FY24). These funds come from previous year's surpluses. ## 6.6 Update on Community Climate Survey Results Mr. Dumas reported on the Community Climate Survey results and analysis. A total of 59 responses were received, compared to 110 in 2022. This is a significant drop in participation. In order to address participation the delivery process, timing, and method of outreach will be examined. Highlights of this year's analysis include highly positive responses regarding access, quality and in-demand programs. Northern grads are sought after and hired. Labor force is aligned w/community needs. Positive responses were also received in the comments relating to international students, boosting the diversity in the communities. Lower responses were received in communications, marketing and technology, points to a lack of knowledge in the community of what is happening at Northern. Increased marketing and promotion are needed to deliver these messages to the public. Governors provided some feedback from the community on timing and respondent list. The Interim President thanked the Institutional Research team for their work on the survey and analysis. ## 6.7 Annual review of Respectful College Community Policy SVP MacDougall reported that this policy needs to be reapproved each year. It was last updated in 2022 for approval in 2023. It is unchanged for approval in 2024, however a rigorous review will be performed later this year. Moved by: D. Patel Seconded by: J. Harrington Motion 07-01-24 THAT the Board of Governors approve the Respectful College Community Policy for Presidential signature in order to comply with Ministry of Labour posting requirements. Carried ## 7. Reports and Information - 7.1 Financial Reports: 7.1.1 Finance report for the period ended November 30, 2023 Mr. Dumas presented the finance report ended November 30, 2023, which shows that the projected surplus has decreased by $0.5 M. Revenues increased by 1.47M, while expenses increased by 1.89M. An increase in tuition revenues due to higher than expected on campus international students. This Board-approved finance report must be submitted to the Ministry as an interim to the financial statements. | Moved by: K. Bains | Motion | | --- Source: [https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/07/BoardMeeting470.pdf](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/07/BoardMeeting470.pdf)