Having been without a chancellor since 2021, following the resignation of former chancellor Steve Paikin in the wake of LU’s insolvency, Laurentian University’s board of governors approved procedures for the appointment of a chancellor at its Feb. 21 meeting.
You can read the full procedures in the board package for the aforementioned meeting (go to page 106).
With the document’s final approval, Sudbury.com asked Laurentian president Lynn Wells during the Feb. 24 launch of Research Week when the process to appoint a new chancellor might be initiated, and when the university hopes to have this individual in place.
Wells said Laurentian will form the committee to appoint a new chancellor soon. “We'll certainly do a thoughtful process, hopefully take some time to identify an appropriate candidate for chancellor, but we do intend to get it underway,” she said.
In terms of when LU hopes to have a new chancellor, she said “I haven't really put a timeline on it yet. I think we'll get the committee started and doing its work before the summer, and hopefully get someone in place by the end of the academic year in 25-26.”
According to the procedures, the chancellor is a volunteer appointed or reappointed by the board of governors, with the senate’s endorsement, and has duties including presiding over convocation and assisting with university advancement.
The term of office for the position is five years, which may be renewed once, and a maximum of two successive terms are permitted.
The procedures say Laurentian is looking for someone who is “highly regarded nationally or internationally, with the ability to connect the university with potential supporters and lend endorsement to fund-raising activities.”
In choosing a new chancellor, there will be a call for nominations from the university committee. A name will then be put forward for approval by Laurentian’s senate and board of governors by a selection committee made up mainly of LU community members.
The procedures also set out what happens when Laurentian needs to revoke the appointment of a chancellor, in the circumstance that they “have engaged in conduct inconsistent with the university’s values and/or which risks undermining the reputation of the university.”
The matter was first raised at Laurentian’s senate last September, when president Lynn Wells brought forward draft procedures for appointing a new chancellor to the governing body.
The procedures then went through several drafts, incorporating suggestions from senate members, before being approved by senate in January (senate also approved an amended version in February, correcting a formatting error).
Wells gave credit for the drafting of the document to university secretary Danielle Vincent during the February board meeting, saying “I will not claim credit where credit is not mine. Danielle has done excellent work on this file.”
In 2010, the board of governors appointed the university’s first chancellor (the now late Aline Chrétien, wife of former prime minister Jean Chrétien), according to written materials presented to Laurentian’s board.
“The position was then occupied almost continuously until the last chancellor resigned in April 2021,” said the report.
“Given the university’s circumstances at the time, and over the next few years, efforts to fill the position were put on hold.”
Now emerged from the CCAA proceedings, the report states Laurentian is making “great strides towards rebuilding itself as a pillar of the Sudbury community.” Acknowledging that that rebuilding process is a long-term goal requiring “significant effort,” Laurentian said “the assistance and goodwill” of an active chancellor would help in that process.
Internal guidance on the process for choosing a chancellor was “limited” the report states, with the university relying on a 2009 document that outlines the ideal profile, responsibilities and basic rules for appointing a candidate. Given the passage of time and circumstances since 2009, modernizing the process was required, the university said.
“As a result, a review was initiated,” the report states. “The recommendation arising from that review is that a new, comprehensive set of procedures for the appointment of a chancellor be presented to the senate and the board of governors for approval.”
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s assistant editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.