Waterloo Region Record article on Balsillie School governance

Over the course of more than five decades, the University of Waterloo has earned a reputation as a first-class research and academic institution that enshrines academic freedom and integrity.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers has indicated its intention to censure the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University over our equal partnership with the Centre for International Governance and Innovation (CIGI) to create the Balsillie School of International Affairs.

Let me be clear. The University of Waterloo is, has always been, and will continue to be firmly committed to academic freedom and integrity, which are fundamental to our very existence.

As a hub in a global network of scholars, practitioners and students, the Balsillie school will develop new solutions to humanity’s critical challenges, improve global governance now and in the future and enhance the quality of people’s lives around the world. We are proud to be part of this important work.

The collaborating institutions bring different but complementary strengths so they have different roles and responsibilities. The Balsillie school, its students, faculty, academic programs and courses are all governed by the policies, rules and regulations set by the senate of each university. The two universities employ all faculty who voluntarily choose to be members of the Balsillie school, and offer the academic programs associated with the school.

Waterloo’s Senate, with the support of the faculty association of the University of Waterloo, approved the governance document for the Balsillie school. That approval came only after a rigorous and transparent process with full stakeholder engagement and significant faculty consultation.

Because Balsillie school is not a traditional, single-institution school, a board of directors was needed to ensure the values and priorities of all three partners were fairly represented.

The Balsillie school board of directors is made up of an equal number of representatives from each of the collaborating institutions, and includes faculty representation. The board has no authority over faculty employment, individual faculty teaching and research activities and academic programming, but is responsible for the management of the Balsillie school, including operational and related decisions.

The the Balsillie school governance document, developed with input from faculty, includes explicit commitment to academic freedom, a principle shared by all three collaborating institutions. Every Balsillie school member has the right to publicly or otherwise disseminate the results of his or her research, scholarship or creative activities. Respect for and protection of academic freedom is enshrined in the memorandum of agreement between the faculty association and the university, which extends to all Waterloo faculty members participating in Balsillie school activities.

We believe the governance document to be a solid agreement ensuring that fundamental academic procedures and freedoms are protected for all academic researchers associated with the Balsillie school. As president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo, I would never agree to any partnership that put those core values at risk.

We value and respect Jim Balsillie — a leader who has shaped our community and our world through his innovation and philanthropy — and greatly appreciate his ongoing commitment to higher education. But let me make it clear: He has never, in any way, attempted to impinge on the academic freedom and integrity so vital to our institution, nor will we ever allow any donor, no matter how well-intentioned, to alter these core beliefs.

While we are satisfied that this governance agreement and its stipulations on academic freedom are solid and clear, we welcome the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Canadian Association of University Teachers to attempt to resolve any misunderstandings.

This op-ed, published in print and online by the Waterloo Region Record, outlines the University of Waterloo’s response to concerns that have been expressed about the governance structure of the Balsillie School of International Affairs.