The U of M Board of Governors met Nov. 15.

At the beginning of the meeting, the board watched a short video called “Open Doors Open Knowledge,” which presented updates on architectural projects on campus such as the new school of art building, Buller building, and the new biological sciences building.

The proposal for a PhD in nursing was approved as part of the unanimous consent agenda.

President David Barnard reported that Debbie McCallum, vice-president (administration), submitted her formal resignation on Nov. 14. She has worked at the U of M for 40 years.

Barnard also reported that Gabor Lukacs and the U of M ended their employment relationship as of the afternoon of Nov. 10.

The board discussed and carried a motion to implement a new meeting model for the Board of Governors. Under the new model, the BoG will meet six times a year instead of seven.

There will be three meetings focused on business and finance, and three on strategic priorities of the university.

The strategic priorities meetings will discuss bigger issues around the university, such as the preliminary planning and development of the Southwood lands and issues around teaching versus research.

The new meeting model is expected to start early next year.

Camilla Tapp, UMSU president, updated the board on the student union’s projects. Tapp said UMSU held its annual general meeting on Nov. 10.

Tapp said UMSU is sending eight students to Calgary for a conference on student leadership, and they are sending five students to the Canadian Federation of Student’s conference in Ottawa.

Tapp also said UMSU was involved in a holiday hamper and toy drive. Tapp said UMSU hopes its pub will open in January and they are still waiting on a City of Winnipeg permit.

Graduate Students’ Association President Peter Nawrot updated the board on the activities of the GSA. Nawrot said the new GSA lounge will be ready to open in January and that the GSA office renovations will be done during reading week.
Nawrot said GSA is sending eight graduate students to the student leadership conference in Calgary and they are sending seven students to the CFS conference in Ottawa.

Nawrot said GSA has doubled departmental grants to $10 dollars for part-time students and $20 dollars for each full-time students.

He said the GSA is also participating in the hamper program with UMSU.