The Queen’s Board of Trustees met on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5. During the meeting trustees approved Principal Daniel Woolf’s motion to move to a provost model as of May 1, 2010, when the Vice-Principal (Academic) will also become provost.

Other board business included:

• The Board approved the university’s audited financial statements, as well as some increases to tuition fees for international students.

   

• The Board discussed the structure and workings of a University Planning Committee, being developed by the principal. This committee was also discussed at the November 26 Senate meeting and the proposal will be refined in the new year. The move to a provost and the new committee will help integrate planning and improve efficiency across the university.

   

• The Board will send a formal thank you to l’Universite Laval for the hospitality and support provided to Queen’s players and fans at the Vanier Cup.

   

• In recognition of his outstanding service, the Board approved the dedication of the Principal William Snodgrass Arboretum, which stretches in front of Theological Hall and Summerhill. Principal Snodgrass was the sixth principal of Queen’s College (1864-77).

   

• The meeting began with a statement from Jena Hall of Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Change. Ms Hall, who is in fourth-year life sciences, told trustees that the group will be submitting a formal expression of concern to the university in the new year about Queen’s investments in the Alberta oil sands. “With the impending climate change crisis at hand, and Canada’s already embarrassing lack of action in mind, we hope that the university strongly reconsiders where its financial and ethical investments should lie,” Ms Hall said.