NSAC‑Dal merger legislation introduced

Another milestone has been reached in the merger process between Dalhousie and Nova Scotia Agriculture College – and the merger has a new effective date.
 
Today, the Government of Nova Scotia introduced legislation to formalize the planned merger. It provides the authority for the signing of a formal merger agreement in the coming weeks.
 
The legislation, which could take anywhere from one to three weeks to make its way through legislature readings to a vote, also includes a new effective date for the merger: September 1, 2012. Originally, NSAC faculty and staff were to become Dalhousie employees on July 1, but by joint agreement the parties have moved the date to better support the merger process.
 
“This will give us more time to address the few remaining details of the agreement and move it through formal approval processes at government and Dalhousie,” said agriculture minister John MacDonell at the bill briefing.
 
It also means more time to engage NSAC faculty and staff in preparations for the transition, which will be overseen by a transition steering committee that includes key leaders from Dalhousie, NSAC and government.
 
“Our goal is a smooth transition, and moving the effective date means more time for us to work with faculty and staff at NSAC and ensure the due diligence activities are as thorough as possible,” says Susan Spence Wach, the committee's chair.
 
Dalhousie and the government are presently finalizing the few outstanding details of the merger agreement, reflecting the agreement in principle announced in March. It will cover technical aspects of the merger that don’t require legislation, including transition plans for land and properties, finances, equipment and assets, and academic programs and research.
 
Last week, Harold Cook, NSAC alumnus and former dean of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine, officially began his tenure as interim principal/dean at NSAC. He will continue in that role through the merger’s effective date, until such point that a permanent hire has been made. A search is presently underway.
 
For more on the merger, visit nsacdalmerger.ca