Governance review

To:        The Dalhousie University community 
 
From:        Bob Hanf, Q.C., Chair, Dalhousie University Board of Governors 
 
Date:        Wednesday, September 7, 2022 
 
Re:         External review of Dalhousie University’s governance 
 
In my capacity as Chair of Dalhousie University’s Board of Governors, I have received and accepted the completed report from the external review of Dalhousie University’s governance. The report has been shared with all members of the Board and Senate and is now available to the university community via the University Secretariat website. 
 
Read the full report: External Review of Dalhousie University’s Governance 
 
Dalhousie committed to an external review of university governance as part of Third Century Promise, the university’s strategic plan. Effective governance — as enacted through the Board, through Senate, and through university administration — is critical for Dalhousie to advance our mission and our shared priorities. The review was conducted by Dr. Julia Eastman, author and advisor on university governance and former University Secretary at the University of Victoria, and Cheryl Foy, President of Strategic Governance Consulting Services Ltd. and author of An Introduction to University Governance (Irwin Law, 2021). 
 
The review reinforces Dalhousie’s strong tradition of and commitment to bicameral governance, which the reviewers consider a key strength our university can build on as we seek to enhance the capacities of our Board and Senate to fulfill their vital roles. The review calls for Dalhousie to pursue “a more purposeful, integrated, self-aware approach to bicameral governance” and provides substantive recommendations towards this end. 
 
On behalf of the university, my thanks to Julia and Cheryl for their thoughtful, thorough work on this review. Thank you, as well, to the Governance Review Advisory Group and all the Board and Senate members, past and present, who generously offered their insights and views to the reviewers. 
 
We will now launch a planning process to carefully consider the report’s recommendations, beginning with a joint meeting of the Board and Senate later this month and continuing into the fall. Further details will be shared via the University Secretariat website and communicated to the university community in the coming weeks. In the interim, any questions or comments regarding the review can be sent to Governance.Report@dal.ca. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Bob Hanf, Q.C. 
Chair, Board of Governors 
Dalhousie University