Financial woes and governance changes dominated the last Arts and Science Faculty Board meeting of the 2024 academic year.
Before faculty and students departed for the holidays, the Board met in a hybrid format on Dec. 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies to address the Faculty of Arts and Science’s projected deficit of $16.1 million for the 2025-26 school year, according to the Interim Dean of Arts and Science Bob Lemieux’s report. The Board also debated the proposed changes to the Board’s governance structure.
Dean’s Report
Lemieux provided an update on the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) three-year budget projection, outlining plans to cut expenses and boost revenue until 2028.
According to his report, the deficit projection remains significant, with a $16.1 million shortfall expected in 2025, $9.4 million in 2026, $16.5 million in 2027, and $21.1 million in 2028. These figures include from the Deficit Mitigation Fund, which Lemieux explained pools financial contributions from other faculties to alleviate FAS’s deficit.
According to Lemieux during the latest Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (international student cap and a freeze on domestic tuition.
READ MORE: Interim Dean Bob Lemieux addresses student concerns at assembly
International enrolment fell short of projections for October 2024, with FAS itting 89 international students instead of the anticipated 164. Lemieux cited this shortfall as a key factor in declining revenue.
“The difference between these two numbers [the projected number of international students and the actual number of international students] in of net revenue is $10 million. Unfortunately, that $10 million value flows through and actually impacts our revenue even more as that small enrolment works through the four-year cycle,” Lemieux said.
To manage the costs of the FAS, Lemieux noted a 30 per cent reduction in istrative staff and the implantation of the Voluntary Exit Incentive, offering eligible departing staff a lump sum payment.
After a member at the Board meeting asked whether there would be further reduction in FAS staff, Lemieux confirmed there wouldn’t be.
“We aren’t planning any further staff reduction beyond this year. We have done about as much as we can without causing irreparable damage,” Lemieux told the Board.
Changes to proposed by-laws
Building on discussions from the October’s Faculty Board meeting, the Procedures Committee—chaired by Jonathan Rose, professor and head of the Department of Political Studies—recently finalized recommendations to update the Board’s operational procedures. These updates address meeting schedules, member roles, and structural changes to better align with current faculty needs and terminology.
READ MORE: Proposed bylaw changes at Faculty Board sparks equity debate
Jordan Morelli, a cross appointed professor in the Departments of Engineering & Applied Physics, Arts & Science, and Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, expressed concerns about the committee’s proposed amendments. He first questioned changes to the wording on Faculty Board hip, suggesting it could exclude cross-appointed faculty from voting.
Rose clarified that the amendment was purely a housekeeping measure aimed at improving the clarity of the wording regarding cross-appointed faculty’s voting rights, emphasizing that their ability to vote would remain unchanged. The motion to change the wording ed.
Morelli objected changes allowing students to potentially serve as Faculty Board chair, arguing the role requires the authority to set meeting agendas and challenge the dean when necessary.
“The chair must have the status to be able to stand up to the dean and say, ‘no, that’s not going on the agenda,’ or ‘yes, that is going on the agenda,’” Morelli said.
Rose disagreed, asserting all Faculty Board —regardless of rank—should have equal opportunity to serve as chair. A sub-amendment reinstating the requirement that only associate or full professors could serve as chair was added and ed.
The committee also proposed eliminating voting rights for attending meetings online, advocating for a return to in-person participation. Rose said the hybrid model was introduced during COVID-19 and argued the return to fully in-person meetings is now appropriate.
Giulia Iacobucci, ArtSci ’25, academics commissioner for ASUS, ed the shift to in-person meetings, noting the hybrid model places additional technical burdens on the chair, including managing online voting and resolving technical issues.
In response, Amitava Chowdhury, associate professor and chair of the Department of History, volunteered to assist with some of the technology issues that could ensue if the hybrid model was kept.
“To me, this is a simple decision. For any democratic means, we should strive for maximum participation and if that requires additional , I’m happy to volunteer,” Chowdhury said.
The motion to restrict voting to in-person attendees ultimately failed.
The Board approved amendments adjusting future meeting times from 3:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and capping meetings at two hours unless two-thirds of agree to a 30-minute extension.
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