April 13, 2010
Minister Introduces Amendments to University College of the North (UCN) Act
– – –Changes Would Improve UCN Governance: McGifford
Following an organizational and operational review, Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Diane McGifford announced proposed amendments to the University College of the North Act today that would bring UCN governance in line with other universities in Manitoba.
“These amendments would ensure consistency in the governance process among universities across the province,” said McGifford. “It is important that all universities share features that ensure academic independence and I believe the amendments introduced today would enable UCN to do just that.”
Highlights of the proposed amendments would include:
· transferring the authority over academic matters, such as the authority to confer degrees, certificates and diplomas, from the governing council to the learning council, to ensure consistency between UCN and other universities in Manitoba; and
· changing UCN’s fiscal year end to March 31 of each year, which is consistent with other universities in Manitoba.
Extensive consultations were held with representatives of key stakeholder organizations regarding the proposed amendments.
The University College of the North was established by an act of the Manitoba legislature on July 1, 2004, recognizing UCN as a degree-granting university college in Manitoba. Its mandate is to serve the post-secondary education and training needs of Aboriginal and northern Manitobans.
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