Board of Governors REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT September 29, 2009 Amit Chakma Preside/It & Vice-Chancel/or n
To: Board of Governors From: AmitChakma 4 "2 (-:2 Date: September 17, 2009
Subject: President's Report to the Board: September 2009
1. Discovery and Consultation
I have continued to meet with various individuals and groups both on and off campus as part of my discovery process. Apart from learning about my new academic home and the community, I am taking this opportunity to consult with my colleagues, students, friends ofthe University and community leaders to identify future possibilities for Western. I expect to continue this process during the next several months.
2. Promoting and making the case for Western
I have taken the opportunity ofmy introductory meetings with key stakeholders in promoting and making the case for Western. Among others, I have met with the Premier, federal and provincial Ministers, local MPs and MPPs, and municipal leaders.
3. Public Speaking and Media Engagements
I believe that we need to tell the Western story better to raise our profile - and we have many stories to tell. I have taken the advantage ofmy arrival and have granted several media interviews to the local, national and international press. I gave a keynote speech at the London Economic Summit, calling for the community to work together in advancing London's economic agenda with a sense ofurgency. I also contributed an op-ed piece published by the London Free Press along with Minister Bentley, Mayor DeCicco~Best and Fanshawe President Howard Rundle on London's economic future and possible approaches to creating opportunities. David Johnston, the President ofthe University ofWaterloo, and I wrote an op-ed piece as our contribution to the recent debate initiated by the Presidents ofthe five "major" universities on promoting excellence in our universities. This appeared in the K~W Record and the London Free Press.
The University of Western Ontario Page 1 of 13 Natural Sciences Centre, Room 120A • London, Ontario • CANADA - N6A 5B7 PH: 519-661-3106· F: 519-661-3676 [email protected]· www.uwo.ca 4. Capital Campaign
We are gearing up for a formal launch ofour capital campaign in October during Homecoming, with Geoff Beattie as our campaign chair. I have been working with our development team and meeting with key supporters ofWestern and seeking their advice and guidance on the campaign.
S. Ivey School Groundbreaking
We celebrated groundbreaking for the new home ofthe Ivey School ofBusiness through "sod th turning" on September 10 • This was a very happy occasion for us. We were very pleased that Richard Ivey and many ofthe family members were able to join us. The $50 million funding from the federal and provincial governments will allow us to build Phase I ofthe project. The total project cost is estimated at $100 million. We still need to raise approximately $18 million for Phase IT ofthe project.
6. MTCU - Reaching Higher II
The Ministry ofTraining, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) is working towards formulating its plan for the next phase of investments in the PSE sector, under Reaching Higher IT. Western and other Ontario universities have benefitted tremendously from Reaching Higher I, with Western receiving nearly $60 million ofongoing operating funds from the Province. Reaching Higher IT is being planned under a very different fiscal scenario than Reaching Higher I. As the Premier likes to say, the Province is living with credit cards. Reaching Higher II will have significant impact on Western. Accordingly, I have been working closely with other Executive Heads ofOntario universities to explore whether the Council ofOntario Universities can present a common position on our priorities.
7. Academic Planning
In late August, we had a very productive Deans' Retreat under the leadership ofour Provost. This was my first retreat with the Senior Leadership Team and was a good occasion for me to share my ideas about Western with my colleagues.
8. Leadership Team
As you know, Ted Garrard resigned as VP (External) before my arrival. A search is now underway to find his successor, and Janet Wright Associates (JWA) is helping us with this search. We have appointed Helen Connell as the Acting VP (External). I am grateful to Helen for taking on this additional role on top ofher current responsibilities.
Page 2 of 13 As you also know, Fred Longstaffe, our excellent Provost, has indicated his desire to devote more time to research when his current term expires in June 2010. A search has been launched to fill this position.
A review committee has been struck to review the Vice-President (Research) portfolio.
Also. Fred Longstaffe is leading the search for a new Dean for the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.
9. Orientation Week
We welcomed 6.000 plus students to Western earlier this month. The energy, enthusiasm and volunteerism ofour incoming students and student volunteers and the professionalism and dedication ofour staff were outstanding. This was my first "O-Week" at Western. and I was simply blown away. The following e-mail I have received from a mother ofa student whom I had the pleasure of greeting says it all:
., I just want to reiterate to you again how very impressed I was to say the least. All the students were very respectful, helpful and kind when dealing with all of us anxious parents and new students and they were having a lot of fun. I was also very humbled at the organization that went into such a huge capacity "move" for the volume of students. I know you are new, only a few months into your position and I did want to forward you our great experience. From those So phs moving belongings to the Don, to those in the registrar's office it all went very smoothly."
10. Mustangs
Having been defeated by the Hawks on several occasions while I was at Waterloo; I thoroughly enjoyed my first sweet victory on the side ofthe winning Mustangs! I look forward to many more victories during the season.
11. "Activities of the President" list is attached for the information of Board members.
Page 3 of 13 Activities of the President July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009
ON CAMPUS
July 2 Interview with Rogers TV
2 Interview with Kelly Pedro, London Free Press
6 Interview with Joel Tiller, UWO Masters Journalism Student
7 Telephone Interview with Steve Garrison, CJBK Morning Show
7 Deans' Meeting
7 Visit by Peter Gooch, newly-appointed Senior Director, COU
7 Anatomy Department Meeting -- 447IMSB
8 Telephone call with Dr. Daniel Woolf, new Principal & Vice Chancellor of Queen's University effective September 1st
8 Dr. Ray Ajay, Chair, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department
8 Interview with Forbes magazine
9 Keynote Speech at the Particle Technology Research Centre (PTRC) Conference - Chemical Engineering Graduate Students -- Great Hall
9 Keith Zerebecki, Board ofGovernors
9 Meet with Regna Darnell, President UWOF A and Association leadership -- The Grad Club, Middlesex College
10 VP (External) Search Committee - Initial Meeting
10 Telephone call with Dr. Steve Franklin, President, Trent University
10 Telephone call with Dr. Howard Rundle, President, Fanshawe College
10 Visit by Victor Ujimoto, PhD, Adjunct Professor and Chair, CAM Advisory Council, Commercial Aviation Management Program, Western
13 Trojan Technologies Meeting -- 101INSC
13 Video Interview for Western Campaign Website -- Conron Hall
Page 4 of 13 14 Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, Principal- - Huron University College
14 Lunch Meeting with Emily Rowe, USC President -- The Wave
15 Telephone call with Mr. Kevin Goldthorp, CEO, Sunnybrook Foundation
16 Irene Birrell - Orientation to Board and Senate
16 Irene Birrell and Alcina Stoetzer - Plans for Installation Ceremony at· Fall Convocation
17 Interview and Photo Shoot with London Citylife magazine
17 Dr. David Sylvester, Principal -- King's University College
17 Mr. Bikash Choudhury, International Graduate, Victoria Hospital
20 Dr. Colleen Hanycz, Principal -- Brescia University College
20 Physical Plant Visit with Roy Langille and George Qubty
21 Tour of Legal Services with Steve Jarrett
21 Tour of Internal Audit with Sharon Farnell and Jim Loupos
22 Mohan Mathur, former Dean of Engineering
22 Luncheon Meeting with Dean Andy Hrymak -- The Wave
23 Dr. Alan Davenport - Celebration of Life Service -- Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Facility (BL WTF)
23 Visit by Tim Hudak, MPP, Leader of the PC Party of Ontario
24 Dean Carol Stephenson
24 Campaign Special Projects - Helen Connell and Grant Stirling
29 Telephone Call with Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best
29 Gord Hume, Board of Control
29 Lunch Meeting with Brian Timney, Dean of Social Science -- The Wave
29 Partners in Research Meeting -Ted Hewitt, Ron Calhoun, Bessie Borwein, Doug Jones, and Kevin Cougler
30 UWOF A Executive
Page 5 of 13 30 Lunch with Dr. Bernard Wolfe, colleague -- The Wave
31 Dr. Cecil Rorabeck, Robarts Research Institute
August 7 Teleconference with HealthForceOntario (HFO) Marketing and Recruitment Agency - Board of Directors Meeting
12 Teleconference with Fundraising Committee Meeting for Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion
12 Teleconference - Special COU Meeting
17 Lunch meeting with Donna Pennee, Dean ofArts and Hwnanities - The Wave
18 Telephone call with Dr. Adrian Owen, CERC Candidate
18 Western's Support for United Way Meeting
18 Landscape Tour of Western Grounds with Roy Langille and Gitta Kulczycki
19 Remarks at Western Libraries Staff Session -- London Hall
19 Meeting with Visitors from China, Program for University Visits for Chinese Chemical Engineering Delegations to WCCE-8
19 Special Senior Ops Teleconference
19 Presentation of Art Gift from Tamkeen Sharer & Andrei Rosu, Arta Mondial
20 Remarks at Western Libraries Staff Session -- London Hall
20 Interview with Elizabeth Church, Globe & Mail
24 Interview with Heather Travis, Western News
24 Khalil Ramal, MPP
25 Telephone interview with Mike Ewing, Guest Host, Ontario Morning, CBC
25 Working Lunch Meeting with Housing Senior Leaders - Orientation Session -- Elgin Hall
26 Tour of Financial Services with Lynn Logan
26 Lunch Meeting with Emily Rowe, USC President -- The Wave
26 Dean Carol Stephenson and John Irwin RISB
Page 6 of 13 27 Ivey MBA Autumn Convocation
28 Rev. Michael R. Wagenman, Coordinator, Chaplains' Services
28 Carol-Lynn Chambers, Alumni Western President
28 Eileen Granger - 2009 Nancy Kendall Award Reception -- McIntosh Gallery
28 Vic Cote, City ofLondon
28 Opening ofthe Masters ofFine Arts (MFA) Graduate Students' Collecton -- The McIntosh Gallery
September 2 Welcoming remarks at Fall Perspectives on Teaching Conference - Arthur & Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building, Room 35
2 Interview with Jacob Serebrin, Canadian University Press
3 Interview with Terry Waghorn, Forbes Challenge
3 Lunch meeting with Dean Tom Carmichael- - The Wave
3 Teleconference with G-13
3 VP (External) Search Committee
3 John Doerksen - Code of Student Conduct
3 Dentistry Faculty and Staff
4 RHIIIMRI Priorities Group videoconference meeting
4 VP (External) Search Committee
4 Telephone call with Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best
4 Tour ofthe Western Book Store with Carolyn Young and Steve Alb
4 Photoshoot with Randy Velocci, Globe and Mail
4 Tour ofthe new "Convergence Centre" building at the Research Park with Ted Hewitt and Joel Adams
6 Move-in Day for Delaware, Perth, Medway-Sydenham, Saugeen Maitland
6 Live Radio interview with Steve Garrison, CJBK Morning Radio Program
7 Move-in Day for Alumni, Elgin, Essex, Saugeen-Maitland
Page 7 of 13 7 0 Week Opening Ceremonies -- Talbot Bowl, UC Hill
8 Dr. Adrian Owen and Dr. Jessica Grahn - CERC Candidate
8 Rez Rally at Alumni Hall followed by the "live bum" demonstration on UC Hill
8 Lunch Meeting with Don Abelson (Political Science/American Studies) -- Wave
8 Campus Council Meeting
8 Visit by Asian University for Women Support Foundation - Mr. Kamal Alunad
10 Ivey Ground Breaking Ceremony and Celebratory Luncheon at New Building Site, Western Road
11 Dean Carol Herbert
11 RISB Group ofCompanies Board Meeting (IMS Board Meeting)
11 John Nash, Board ofGovernors
11 Lunch meeting with Mr. Andy Spriet and Mrs. Helen Spriet, Spriet Investments Inc. -- Michael's Dining Room, SH 3320
11 Betsy Little, BA'76, Executive Director, Alzheimer Society ofLondon
12 Mustangs Football Game -- TD Waterhouse Stadium
14 Dean David Wardlaw
14 Dr. Alan Wildeman, President & Vice-Chancellor, University of Windsor -- Windermere Manor
15 Acting Dean Kevin Wamsley and Dean Carol Herbert
15 Rob Lipson, Chemistry (COU Academic Colleague)
15 John Doerksen and Directors Meeting
15 Emily Rowe, USC President
16 UWOFA Executive
16 Faculty ofScience Annual Faculty & StaffRecognition Day & Luncheon -- Great Hall
16 Tour with Ruban Chelladurai ofITS
Page8of13 16 Dr. Peihua Gu, Provost and Vice President (Academic), Shantou University; Dr. Danming Lin, Vice President (Administration and Resources), Shantou University; and Dr. Anthony Fung, Chief Operating Officer, Li Ka-Shing Shantou University Foundation
16 Review Committee - Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
17 Faculty ofLaw hosting Mr. Justice Richard Goldstone - Harrison Pensa Lecture on Human Rights -- Michael's Garden
17 Review Committee VP (Research & International Relations)
17 Welcome Reception for International Students -- Conron Hall, University College
18 Retired Academics Group Meeting -- Huron College, Kingsmill Room
22 RBC Recognition Event -- Ivey
22 Property & Finance Committee
22 Senior Operations Committee
22 Larry Rosen LLBIMBA'82, Chairman & CEO, Harry Rosen Inc.
24 Frank Angeletti, Board of Governors
24 Roger Thompson, HBA'60 and Ana Thompson - St. Andrew's Luncheon -- Michael's Dining Room
24 Women's Caucus Meeting
25 Announcement - MOHLTC Research Initiative in Applied Health Research -- Michael's Garden
25 Senate
*30 Lunch with Site Visit Team from the Federation ofHumanities and Social Sciences -- TBD
*30 John de Bruyn (Dept Chair) & Faculty of Physics & Astronomy Department
IN LONDON
July 13 LEDC Board Meeting -- TD City Centre
Page 9 of 13 14 Frank Angeletti -- 620A Richmond Street
14 Jeff Fielding, CAO, City of London -- City Hall
15 The Children's Health Research Institute (CHRI) -- Thompson Amphitheatre, Victoria Campus, LHSC
20 Meeting with Trojan/City ofLondonlUWO -- City Hall
24 Hon. Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (the Americas) Speaking Event -- London Chamber of Commerce
25 Lunch with Chris Bentley -- Chancey Smith's
25 Indiafest '09 Official Opening - join Dr. Dave R. Sainani and Lalu Mansinha for lunch -- Covent Garden Market
29 Meeting with Jeff Fielding, Vic Cote, and Ted Hewitt -- City Hall
30 John Nash with Bob Siskind, former Board Chair UWO and Chair of LHSC; Doug Alexander, Chair of LHSC; Jeff Fielding, City of London; Paul Caplan, Chair St. Joseph's Hospital Board; and Wayne Dunn, LHSC Board -- The London Club
August 16 South Asian Community celebration ofLeaders of Independence - Hindu Cultural Centre of London
19 Tour ofoff campus research sites with Dean Andy Hrymak
24 Dr. Howard Rundle, President, Fanshawe College
24 Jeff Fielding and Vic Cote -- City Hall
24 Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best -- City Hall
25 Premier Dalton McGuinty -- Station Park Inn
25 Dr. Claude Pensa, BA'52 (Arts & Humanities), DDL'98, Partner, Harrison Pensa
25 Hanwha L&C Official Opening -- 2860 Innovation Drive, London
27 Chris Bentley's 2009 Community Picnic -- Springbank Park Pavilion
28 Lunch meeting with Dr. Geno Francolini, HBA'54, DDL'84 and Mrs. Joan Francolini, BA'55 (Honors; Brescia) -- The Black Trumpet
September 4 Western Varsity Rowing Team Practice -- Fanshawe Lake Boathouse
4 Hank Vander Laan -- Trojan Technologies
Page 10 of 13 10 Joe Preston, MP, Elgin-Middlesex-London (also the Southwest Caucus Chair), London Economic Summit
10 London Economic Summit -- London Convention Centre
10 Keith Zerebecki, General Dynamics
14 Lunch meeting with Mr. Bill Edgar, BA'94 (Honors History) - Masonville Manor Retirement Residence
15 Lunch meeting with Jeff Fielding, re: Future economic partnering in London -- The London Club
17 Dinner with the Fraunhofer Institute ofChemical Technology with Ted Hewitt and Andy Hrymak -- The London Club
21 RBC Dinner with Dave McKay, Head ofCanadian Banking for RBC and Laura Gainey, Regional President for the Ontario South West Region -- The London Club
25 In Motion Champions breakfast -- Civic Garden Centre
*28-29 Board Retreat -- London Club
*29 Board ofGovernors Meeting -- London Club
*30 City Board ofControl Meeting
OFF CAMPUS
July 28 Ottawa Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO, CFI
lain Stewart, ADM, Industry Canada, Science & Innovation Sector
Allan Rock, President & Vice-Chancellor, University ofOttawa
Lunch with Dr. Sherif Barakat, Vice President, NRC Engineering
Pierre Chartrand, Vice President, Research, CIHR
Gisele Yasmeen, Vice President, Partnerships, SSHRC
August 21 Toronto Dr Richard lvey, '47 HBA; Richard lvey, '72
Page 11 of 13 HBA -- Ivest Corp.
Mr. Robert Baillie, President & CEO, BA'89 (Political Science), Northern Trust Company Canada
Ontario Power Generation team members: Tom Mitchell, President & CEO; Janice Dunlop, Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Chief Ethics Officer; Frank Chiarotto, Senior Vice President Fossil; John Murphy, Executive Vice President, Hydroelectric; and Bob Morrison, Vice President, Engineering Modifications & Chief Engineering Officer
Dr. Grant Reuber, '50 BA, Bank ofMontreal
31 Ingersoll Deans' Retreat -- Elm Hurst Inn
September 1 Ingersoll Deans' Retreat -- Elm Hurst Inn
9 Toronto Arthur & Sonia Labatt, Endiang Holdings Inc.
Bill Etherington, '63 BESc, CIBC
Aubrey Dan, '85 B(ACS), President, Dancap Group
Dr. J Rotman, '57 BA Arts & Humanities
Mr. Kevin Sullivan, BA'80, CEO, GMP Securities LP
18 Chatham SWEA Conference -- Wheels Inn
21 Toronto Mr. Stephen Coxford, LLB'77, President, Gresham & st. Andrew Inc.
Nan Shuttleworth, '65 BA, President, Salamander Foundation
Howard W Taylor, '61 HBA, CEO, Stirling Marketing Group
23 Toronto HealthForceOntario (HFO) Marketing and Recruitment Agency - Board ofDirectors Meeting
Deborah Newman, Deputy Minister ofTraining,
Page 12 of13 Colleges and Universities
Dinner meeting with President Sheldon Levy - Ryerson University
24 Cambridge The Rt. Hon. John N. Turner - 19th Annual Dinner -- Langdon Hall,
Page 13 of 13