Following each meeting of Dalhousie’s Board of Governors, Dal News highlights some of the presentations and decisions made.
The Board of Governors is responsible for the overall conduct, management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the university. It represents the interests of the university, carrying out its responsibilities through a stewardship role (delegating day-to-day management to the president and senior administration). Its membership currently includes three ex officio members (the president, chancellor and chair of Senate), eleven Order-in-Council members and additional representatives appointed by alumni, students, faculty and the Board itself.
The Board has six standing committees: Academic & Student Affairs; Capital Projects and Facilities; Community Affairs; Finance, Audit, Investment and Risk; Governance and Human Resources; and the Board Executive. While these committees meet regularly through the year, the Board as a whole meets five times a year between September and June.
Motion on divestment consideration
The Board considered a motion put forward by Board member and Dalhousie Student Union President Amina Abawajy, on behalf of the Student Board of Governors members, concerning divestment. Originally put forward as a single motion, the Board voted to separate the motion in two and consider each individually.
After a detailed discussion, and some adopted amendments from Board members, the Board voted in favour of the first motion. In its approved version, the motion tasks the Investment Committee to assess a third-party search for fossil free investment funds for Dalhousie and to report back through the Finance, Audit, Investment & Risk Committee. This process is to be concluded by March 2019.
The second motion — which would have ascribed specific consideration of the impacts of divestment to each Board standing committee — was voted down by the Board.
The votes follow a presentation at the Board’s previous meeting (November 2017) from Divest Dal, the student group advocating for Dalhousie to divest its holdings in publicly-traded energy and coal companies judged to hold substantial carbon assets. The Investment Committee last formally considered divestment in November 2014, with the Board voting to support its recommendation not to move forward with divestment.
Board reports
The February meeting was chaired by Board Vice-Chair Bob Hanf, as Board Chair Larry Stordy was absent due to the recent death of his father. Hanf offered thoughts on behalf of the Board to Stordy and his family. Hanf also highlighted recent achievements by Board members, including Candace Thomas receiving the Community Service Award from the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Bar Association, and Gail Tomblin Murphy’s research on child mortality rates in Jamaica receiving a $100,000 global health innovation award from Grand Challenges Canada.
Dalhousie President Richard Florizone noted a variety of initiatives across his four “Rs” (retention and student success, research, returns to society and respect) in his report. Specific highlights included the specific the recent Bicentennial Launch event for Dal 200, continued progress on the IDEA project and the tentative agreement between the Board and the Dalhousie Faculty Association.
DSU President Amina Abawajy highlighted the DSU’s recent Racial Justice Forum and Volunteer and Society Expo, and noted the upcoming DSU elections.
Approved minutes for Dalhousie Board of Governors meetings are published on DalSpace. Learn more about the Board at its website.