Message from the Chair of the UPEI Board of Governors: Governance Review
The following message was also distributed to students, staff, and faculty by email on February 5.
The UPEI Board of Governors is committed to improving governance and developing processes and practices that place the University on a sound footing as it continues to respond to and act on the University of Prince Edward Island Review and moves forward with a new president and vice-chancellor in 2024.
As the Board continues to make changes to improve governance, at the same time, we believe it is important to have an independent perspective on our governance practices. The Board has engaged Cheryl Foy (LLB), President, Strategic Governance Consulting Services Ltd. to conduct an external review of Board governance at UPEI. Ms. Foy is well-known for her work in university governance and her biography can be found here.
The results of Ms. Foy’s review will be submitted in a written report addressed to me, as Board Chair. Ms. Foy will also give a presentation of the results to Senior Leadership and the Board of Governors. The report will include recommendations for the improvement of the University’s Board governance structure and processes and also propose an action plan with a roadmap and implementation timeline. Once the report is received, the Board will consider the recommendations for adoption.
Ms. Foy has already begun the review and will be seeking the views of those knowledgeable about Board governance at UPEI through group and individual interviews and surveys. Her interview list will focus on current members of the Board and Senate Steering and Nominating Committee, while all members of Senate and past members of the Board will be asked to complete a survey. Anyone else who wishes to comment on Board governance practices may write directly to Ms. Foy at cfoy@universitygovernance.ca.
The review is expected to be completed and the report submitted by the end of June 2024. The report will be shared publicly as soon as possible after the Board has had an opportunity to consider the recommendations.
I thank everyone who is working together to make UPEI the community we all know it can be.
Sincerely,
Shannon MacDonald, FCA, CPA, ICD.D
Chair, UPEI Board of Governors
