Category Archives: Board of Governors

The future of UBC could be determined by … Housing

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Providing faculty housing is partly how Stanford grew from nowhere in 1960 to elite in 1980. Columbia’s renaissance in the 1980′s as one of the top Ivy league institutions has been credited to opportunistic housing purchases around campus which allowed the … Continue reading →

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When credit is due

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Last week, UBC inaugurated its new Law building. So what? You may say. What’s the big deal about yet another building in UBC’s amazing journey of development and renewal? Well, to me, the story behind the completion of this major … Continue reading →

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UBC to incentivize its own to live on the university land

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Ghoussoub

In the next five days, I and a few other UBC governors and senior staff will be visiting NYU, Columbia, Harvard, UCLA, UC-Irvine and Stanford. Just like UBC, these universities are located in areas where housing prices are prohibitive. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, UBC Housing Action Plan | 8 Comments

A day in the life of a University Governor

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Ghoussoub

If you think that sitting on a University Board is all about power and glamor, you are deeply mistaken. Board meetings have tendencies to become  protracted and challenging exercises in frustration management. The term “Nuit Blanche” must have been coined … Continue reading →

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Engaging the UBC Housing Action Plan

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Ghoussoub

The British Columbia government has recently approved the amendments to the UBC Land Use Plan that were submitted by the Board of Governors. The plan calls, among other things, for a densification of the university land, in order to address … Continue reading →

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The University as a New Media superpower

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Mainstream media institutions, which traditionally dominate the communication channels, often need to solicit and buy “content”, whether it is news or analysis. On the other hand, universities, which sit on, and constantly generate, a wealth of information and “content” must … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds, R&D Policy | 3 Comments

Faculty representation: Here we go again!

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Ghoussoub

A few weeks ago,  in an exceptionally professional and selfless act, Darrin Lehman declined to take his position as a faculty representative on the UBC Board of Governors. This is because of the potential conflict with his current administrative position … Continue reading →

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A maverick on the Board of Governors? You ain’t seen nothing yet

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Please meet Joe Peek, the faculty who was recently elected trustee on the University of Kentucky Board. “Now that you have foolishly elected me as your faculty trustee, I have lost all respect for you, thereby fully qualifying me to … Continue reading →

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UBC and U of T: A tale of two student housing initiatives

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Last week, both UBC and the University of Toronto announced major plans to increase student housing opportunities on their campuses. Two completely different approaches, both motivated by the same determination to “go even more global”, and by their respective government’s … Continue reading →

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UBC President puts his money where his singing voice is

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Ghoussoub

The students were the big winners at yesterday’s UBC Board of Governors meeting. Credits go to a disciplined, focused and resourceful UBC Administration that has come a long way, and to exceptional student representatives, notwithstanding the little help that both … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, UBC Housing Action Plan | 4 Comments

Time for textbook tycoons to give students a break

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Students, who are often vocal against rising tuition fees, are uncharacteristically silent about the prohibitive prices of undergraduate textbooks. It is time to also speak up against the schemes employed by authors, publishers and bookstores to minimize -if not prevent- … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | 9 Comments

Is the cost of research a drain on university resources?

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Ghoussoub

That research cost is a drain on university resources may be a good line for administrators to use on the federal government in their quest to increase the funding for indirect costs of research. However, university administrators shouldn’t get carried … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | 3 Comments

“Take the money and keep quiet”

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Simon Fraser University is under fire for accepting $10 million from Goldcorp. Stoking the flames even further, SFU elected to name its new arts facility in the Woodward’s complex the “Goldcorp Centre for the Arts”.

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | 1 Comment

Ten lessons from a Hospice

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Ghoussoub

Being somewhat “Asian” myself, I remembered being intrigued when the Administration brought to the Board of Governors the project of building a hospice on the UBC campus. Who managed to sell them this idea? I thought. I also recall mentioning … Continue reading →

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Are scholars capable of leading the corporate university?

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Ghoussoub

The differences between universities and for-profit corporations are continuously being blurred by the evolving, self-imposed or not, professional needs of modern post-secondary institutions. Is it the dawn of an era where professional managers and not scholars will be leading the … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors | 1 Comment

University governance: what does faculty representation mean?

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Ghoussoub

The last elections for the faculty representatives on UBC’s Board of Governors triggered a legitimate debate about university governance. Should the University Act distinguish between rank-and-file faculty, from those faculty members who hold administrative positions?

Posted in Board of Governors | 4 Comments

“Concordia tente de calmer le jeu” but the faculty are showing signs of life

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Ghoussoub

The Chair of the Board of Governors of Concordia University, Mr. Peter Kruyt, finally came out of hiding to declare that …. Concordia is aspiring to be one of the best universities in Canada, within 10 years. Fortunately, he didn’t … Continue reading →

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“You get the Board you deserve”

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Ghoussoub

What’s happening at Concordia University seems to be a live illustration of what Richard P. Chait was saying yesterday to a gathering of presidents at a Council of Independent Colleges conference in Palm Springs, California.

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Before we lose sight of the question at hand

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Ghoussoub

In view of the comments –public and private— about my post regarding the UBC Board’s governance, I am led to further clarify the issue intended to be up for debate. Independently of the individuals involved, the FA letter has triggered … Continue reading →

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While UBC’s Board is tested, others’ are running for cover

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Ghoussoub

“Concordia is looking for a new president.  Salary is $350G and your chances of having to work out your term are close to zero”, tweeted Paul  Wells, … and for La Presse, “Recteurs à Concordia: trois petits tours et puis … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors | 1 Comment