It has been a great pleasure to serve another year as chair of the Board for Renison University College. This past year has been a busy and productive year. Dr. Wendy Fletcher successfully fulfilled her contract as President and we welcomed our new President Dr. Marc Jerry. We are thrilled to have Marc lead us into the next Renison chapter. Marc is an experienced academic leader. Most importantly Dr. Jerry shares Renison values and a commitment to keeping students at the centre, to building a trusting community where everyone is welcome, and to a just and inclusive world.
Another accomplishment for Renison is the completion of a three-year strategic plan that will take us to 2027. This plan firmly grounds Renison’s commitment to combatting racism and discrimination that creates inequity between us. A commitment to equity means understanding that some groups do not have equal access to opportunity. We will demonstrate our commitment to equity by creating an academic community that ensures access to students, faculty and staff from all groups and prioritizing access to groups under-represented in higher education. We will continue and strengthen our commitment to First Nations people, to reconciliation and to decolonization.
Looking ahead Renison will face both challenges and opportunities. Like many other Ontario post-secondary institutions, sustainability continues to be a challenge due to funding that has not increased in several years. This reality requires a focus on seeking opportunities to change, invest and explore new sources of revenue. The symbol of the Sankofa bird with its head turned back and holding a golden egg symbolizes learning from the past can guide the future. As we look to the future it will be important to reflect on the changes that are needed and the things about Renison that are important to maintain. I am confident that Renison will rise above the challenges, will find opportunities, and will continue to grow as a thriving academic institution focused on excellence in education and graduating students who will have a positive impact on our ever-changing world.
As a Board we care about Renison’s success, and we are committed to transparency, collaboration and ensuring that all members of the Renison community have a voice in creating its future. We extend thanks to our supporters, alumni, generous donors, and the University of Waterloo. Special thanks to our faculty and staff for your continued dedication to Renison students and to excellence in teaching and research. Thank you to our students, you continue to inspire us. Together we have accomplished important milestones in this past year. Looking ahead, we have much to look forward to.
Warmly,
Karen Spencer, Board Chair
Board of Governors
Renison University College
