Brock University’s Board of Trustees has voted to introduce administrative reform intended to improve the Board’s own efficiency and improve its links with alumni and with Brock’s undergraduate and graduate student organizations.

Extending a trend that has been seen at universities from Queen’s to Rutgers, the Brock board is reducing its own size from 32 members to 26, a change that will be phased in over a three-year period.

The new structure will consist of 17 lay (community) members (currently there are 21); three faculty members (unchanged); two staff members (currently three); and two student representatives (currently three). The number of faculty members is stipulated at three in the Brock University Act and is therefore not subject to change. One of the lay positions will be filled by the president of the Brock University Alumni Association (BUAA).

As well, the reforms ensure that the presidents of the Brock University Students Union (BUSU) and the Graduate Students Association have seats on the board; currently each of those positions is filled by a student at large. There are also plans for senior Board members to have scheduled meetings with the BUSU executive to improve communications on important issues.

John Suk, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said the changes reflect a growing movement at institutions toward more responsive and more accountable governance. He said the nature and timing of the reforms were finalized after consultations with the executive and members of BUSU and the BUAA and with feedback from across the Brock community.

“We had a very good dialogue and appreciate the input that people brought to the discussions,” said Suk. “The trustees feel these changes will make the board more effective for members of the Brock community, and greatly improve communications between the Board and BUSU, the GSA and Alumni Association.”

The changes will be implemented starting with the board year beginning July 1, 2015 and ending with the board year beginning July 1, 2017.