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Deborah MacLatchy’s five-year term as president and vice-chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University will end June 30, 2022. As part of the process for a second-term renewal, a 15-member Review Committee has been formed to determine if renewal is recommended.

• Review Committee
• Core Competencies
• Position Profile

Review Committee

In accordance with the Board of Governors Approved Procedures for Searches and Reviews of Senior Administrators, a Review Committee has been established to review the performance of the president and vice-chancellor, and to determine whether to recommend renewal. The review process and committee composition also align with the collective agreement between the university and the WLU Faculty Association.

The committee, which meets confidentially, will establish evaluation criteria and review the president’s goals, objectives and performance. To inform their recommendation, the Review Committee will hold consultations with the Laurier community and various stakeholders. Further details on this consultation process will follow over the coming weeks. The review process is set to take place from March to May, 2021.

Based on the committee’s work, a recommendation regarding renewal for a subsequent term will be brought forward to the governing bodies. In the case of a positive review, the recommendation will be presented to Senate for advice and to the Board of Governors for approval.

The Review Committee is made up of faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the Board of Governors. The 15 members of the committee have been identified through election or appointment. Please see below for the list of voting members:

• Lynda Hawton Kitamura, chair, Board of Governors and chair, Review Committee
• Alishau Diebold, graduate student appointed by WLUGSA
• Sharline Doss, Board of Governors, staff representative
• Abby Goodrum, faculty member, Liberal Arts, Brantford
• Stacey Hannem, faculty member, Human and Social Sciences, Brantford
• Micheál Kelly, dean appointed by the Board of Governors
• Jerzy Konieczny, faculty member, Business and Economics, Waterloo
• Hélène Leblanc, faculty member, Library, Waterloo
• Shaun Miller, Board of Governors, external
• Jonathan Newman, vice-president appointed by the Board of Governors
• Stephen Perry, faculty member, Science, Waterloo
• Jim Phillips, Board of Governors, external
• Patricia Polischuk, Board of Governors, external, alumni representative
• Jason Roy, faculty member, Arts, Waterloo
• Tyron Thomas, undergraduate student appointed by WLUSU

The committee will be supported by the university secretariat and the chief HR and equity officer. The committee may also call on other resources, as required.

If you have any questions or feedback for the Review Committee, please email presidentialreview@wlu.ca.

Core Competencies

Setting Vision and Strategy

Has a compelling vision for postsecondary education and the University, and effectively communicates that vision to inspire others. Engages the internal and external community in developing and deploying an institutional strategic plan to guide priorities.

Academic Excellence

Demonstrates and unwavering commitment to academic quality and innovation in teaching, learning, and research. Supports the attraction and retention of outstanding faculty and students, and is a strong advocate for undergraduate and graduate education and student development.

Leadership and Team Building

Models leadership and accountability. Enables a positive, respectful and engaging work environment. Recruits, develops and retains a high performing executive team, inspires potential, and effectively manages performance to ensure goals are met.

Internal Relations

Cultivates positive and trusting relationships with students, faculty, staff, and administrators and is accessible and visible to the internal community. Champions equity, diversity and inclusion and Indigeneity, and is a positive presence on campus for all communities. Communicates and engages effectively with all internal constituencies in a multi-campus environment.

External Relations

Expands and creates partnership opportunities with government, donors, and alumni and is a strong advocate and ambassador for Laurier in the broader external community. Represents Laurier’s interests well within the national and international academic and business communities. Is a strong brand ambassador, and provides effective leadership on issues, risks and opportunities impacting Laurier’s reputation.

Operational Effectiveness and Governance

Makes sound decisions in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, effectively assessing and managing risks. Demonstrates and promotes responsible, transparent and ethical decision making by leveraging and supporting the optimal functioning of an effective and collaborative bi-cameral governance system.

Financial Sustainability

Fosters growth in revenue and fundraising, and attracts resources to priority areas. Promotes fiscal responsibility, financial sustainability and effective cost management practices and appropriately allocates resources for long-term effectiveness.