Dear community,

As you know, the provincial government has given a number of universities, including Brock, a mandate to perform third-party sustainability reviews through an Efficiency and Accountability Fund.

The mandated areas of review, as outlined in the Province’s Efficiency and Accountability Fund’s Guidelines and Reporting Requirements, are: university governance, administrative and student services, academic programming, physical assets and facilities, collaborative procurement opportunities, and revenue-generating opportunities.

With the approval from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Brock has hired third-party consultant KPMG to perform these reviews, which are aimed at identifying actions institutions can take to increase long-term sustainability.

Institutions are required to submit a preliminary report on these reviews to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities by Jan. 31, 2025. A final report, as well as a proposed implementation plan, must be submitted by March 31, 2025.

In order to meet this expedited timeline, review area specific consultations will take place throughout November. If you are contacted to take part, we strongly encourage you to share your opinions and feedback.

Given the significance and unique complexities of university bicameral governance, as part of the approved proposal, Brock has engaged Cheryl Foy of Strategic Governance Consulting Services Ltd., in collaboration with governance consultant Harriet Lewis, to conduct a review of the required focus area of university governance.

The independent review process will include consultation with both the Board of Trustees and Senate. The governance review will result in a set of observations and recommendations that will be included as part of the KPMG report.

Information about the sustainability reviews can be found here.

Brock has long been able to play a critical role in this community because we have been an exceptional steward of the public dollars we receive.

We have endured increasing financial pressures for many years, and throughout this time, have continually found ways to ensure we remain financially sustainable.

We again want to thank the campus community for their continued commitment to providing an exceptional student experience, supporting research with impact, and ensuring Brock University remains one of Canada’s top institutions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lesley Rigg                                                         Dr. Arja Vainio-Mattila

President and Vice-Chancellor                              Provost and Vice-President, Academic