NipU Board of Governors stands behing Lovett-Doust

Nipissing University Board of Governors
News Release

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The executive committee of the Nipissing University Board of Governors expressed their unanimous endorsement of the new strategic direction and dedicated leadership of President, Dr. Lesley Lovett-Doust in response to expressions of concern at a recent meeting of the university Senate.

Universities are places where discourse is encouraged, and different points of view can be expressed. The University Act, in Objective 3, enshrines the principle of "a spirit of free enquiry and expression". The university values and respects the Senate’s right to exercise this freedom, while recognizing that the role of Senate is limited to recommendations on academic matters.

"The Board of Governors is deeply proud of President Dr. Lesley Lovett-Doust’s leadership and her plans to advance the university," said Nipissing University Chancellor, Dr. Jon Dellandrea.

Over the past year-and-a-half, under Lovett-Doust’s leadership, a broadly-based university and community planning exercise led to the creation of the 2010-15 Strategic Plan and teams of faculty, students, staff and community members are developing action plans to guide implementation and achievement of the plan’s objectives. President Lovett-Doust has, among other initiatives:

- Secured significant additional funds including a transformational gift of $15 million that helped establish 100 student scholarships annually at $6,000 each, and funding for academic initiatives in education, literacy and aboriginal learning.

- Embarked on planning for a major fundraising campaign to raise funds for scholarships, new programs and additional state-of-the-art facilities in support of learning and faculty and student research.

- Supported the development of new, flexible and customized learning opportunities for students through The Nipissing Modular Curriculum.

- Developed and supported a greater focus and presence for Aboriginal learners resulting in increased enrolment, program expansion and provincial recognition for the retention programming offered at Nipissing University.

- Promoted plans for growth with the expansion of the Athletics Centre, creation of the Institute of Integrative Health Education and Research, the opening of the new library and the addition of a new residence at the Muskoka campus.

- Supported the development of new graduate programs and research opportunities, including the redesign of the Office of Research Services and the establishment of the position of Associate Vice-President Academic and Research.

- Led development of a proposal to MTCU for initiatives to improve resources for First Generation students at Nipissing bringing $457,000 over two years.

- Implemented a new Centre for Flexible Teaching and Learning that will be the source of new programming offered in flexible formats, through blended learning, onsite and online allowing the university to increase its
reach to new university learners.

The Nipissing University Strategic Plan can be viewed at:
http://www.nipissingu.ca/AdvancingNipissing/

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