Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor 24 Oct 2025

Dear members of the Community,

 

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of ’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its 

 

The Board of Governors held the first regular meeting on October 2, 2025. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on December 11, 2025. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.  

 

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please write to mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

 

Sincerely, 

Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Maryse Bertrand, Chair, Board of Governors

 

Key Updates

 

On the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics (NGE) Committee, the Board of Governors approved the following:

  • The reappointment of Ms. Diletta Prando as a member-at-large of the Board of Governors of for a four-year term (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030), as a member of the Executive Committee and the NGE Committee for a three-year term (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029), and as a member and Chair of the Human Resources Committee for a three-year term (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029).
  • The reappointment of Mr. Gregory David as a member-at-large of the Board of Governors of for a four-year term (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030) and as a member of the Investment Committee for a three-year term (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029).
  • A series of appointments and reappointments to Board Standing Committees and Advisory Committees.

Also on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, the Board approved the revised Terms of Reference for the Nominating, Governance and Ethics Committee. Among other revisions, the updated Terms of Reference delegate to the NGE Committee the authority to approve routine appointments and nominations to internal and external non-Board bodies, with the aim of streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency.

 

On the recommendation of Senate, the Board granted full approval for the creation of the Antimicrobial Resistance Centre, following the granting of its provisional status as a research centre in 2021. The Centre, housed within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, supports a broad network of researchers from various disciplines, forming a collaborative environment of shared resources and strategic partnerships focused on antimicrobial resistance research.

 

Also, per the recommendation of Senate, the Board approved the following appointments to the Committee on Staff Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures:

  • Svetlana Kochkina as member and Chair, for a term beginning immediately, and ending August 31, 2028. 
  • Professors Lisa Münter and Michael Ngadi as members, each for a term beginning immediately, and ending August 31, 2028.

On the recommendation of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, the Board approved proceeding with Phase 2 of a construction project at the Montreal Neurological Institute and an increase in funding for the structural rehabilitation of the Strathcona Music Building. 

 

On the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board approved: 

  • The 2024-2025 Financial Report to the Board of Governors, including the external auditor’s report and audited financial statements of The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/ for the year that ended April 30, 2025. 
  • The appointment of Deloitte as the external auditor for for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2026.
  • The updatedEnterprise Risk Management (ERM) Policy, featuring revisions to standardize ERM terminology and a broader context for risk management across the University, supporting the management of risks and opportunities at both the institutional and operational levels. 

On the recommendation of the Investment Committee, the Board approved revisions to the Statement of Investment Policy. 

 

The Board received a presentation by Geoffrey Phillips, Senior Director, Athletics and Recreation, which featured an overview of ’s Athletics and Recreation unit, including its recent achievements and challenges.

 

Finally, the Board was informed of the Joint Board-Senate Meeting that will take place on November 6, 2025, and will focus on the theme of “Strategic Transformations: Shaping ’s Third Century.”

 

President’s Remarks

President Deep Saini provided the following updates pertaining to a range of recent developments from across .

 

Enrolment

As of the third week of classes, total enrolment stood at 40,421 students, a 1.5% increase over last fall. ’s undergraduate population includes 10,835 students from CEGEP (+4.2%) and the first cohort of 73 students in the new Bachelor of Global Engineering program, who joined after two years at CentraleSupélec in France.

 

The overall mix continues to shift toward domestic students, with Quebec residents up 5% and Canadian non-resident Quebec students up 2%. International student enrolment has decreased by 5% compared to last year, which coincides with a downward trend noted since 2021; the top five countries of origin are the United States (21.5%), China (20.6%), France (18.3%), India (4.0%), and Iran (2.9%). 

 

Government Relations

Premier Legault has announced a new cabinet, with Ms. Martine Biron appointed as Minister of Higher Education and Mr. Christopher Skeete appointed as Minister for International Relations and La Francophonie and Minister Responsible for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers.

 

looks forward to engaging with both Ministers on key issues, including the impact of the new funding formula on universities and the importance of reinforcing support for higher education across Quebec.

 

Provincial consultations on the multi-year immigration plan will take place in mid-October, with scheduled to testify on October 28. The University will emphasize the critical role of international talent in higher education and research, and advocate for immigration processes that support responsible institutions.

 

The President also provided an update on the pressure tactics currently undertaken by the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) and the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) in opposition to Bill 106 – An Act mainly to establish the collective responsibility and the accountability of physicians with respect to improvement of access to medical services. These actions, which include the suspension of teaching activities, have significantly disrupted medical training and will risk delaying graduations across the province.

 

and Quebec’s other medical universities have jointly called for an urgent resolution to the ongoing conflict between the government and medical federations, emphasizing the need to safeguard the education and timely graduation of more than 4,500 medical students across Quebec.

 

On the federal-government level, welcomed Minister Mélanie Joly to tour the Sustainability Park in early July. The University also provided feedback to the House Finance Committee ahead of the November 4 budget.

 

The President also mentioned BOREALIS, a new federal agency designed to advance Canada’s leadership in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and other cutting-edge fields—areas where is already a national leader, and eager to expand collaboration and training opportunities.

 

Finally, the President discussed the Prime Minister’s priorities that he outlined for the fall session, including economic security, sustainable immigration, and housing. He remarked that the themes also align closely with ’s priorities, shaping our ability to attract top talent, support students, and contribute to innovation and prosperity in Quebec and across Canada.

 

Rankings

continues to perform strongly in global rankings, placing 27th worldwide in both the 2026 QS World University Rankings and the 2025 Center for World University Rankings.

 

In the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index, ranked 6th overall among Doctoral/Research Institutions, tied for 1st in Research and Planning; the University also earned a Platinum rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

 

The President’s Priorities

The President also reflected briefly on the last Senate meeting on September 17, at which he shared his four priorities for over the next five years– Transform, Expand Globally, Engage Locally, Unite – for reflection and discussion. 

 

The President commended the thoughtful engagement and feedback provided by Senators, while signalling further opportunities for the wider community to engage around the priorities in the coming year. He also shared that implementation across the four priorities is advancing and that the key updates will be communicated regularly.

 

Selected Kudos

Finally, the President concluded his remarks by offering his congratulations to a selection of individuals in the community for their recent achievements.

  • Vanier and Banting Competitions: 16 graduate students received Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, and 7 postdoctoral fellows earned Banting Fellowships.
  • Order of Canada: Nine ians were appointed, including Dr. Alan Evans and Prof. Michael McMahon.
  • Ordre de l’excellence en éducation: Professors J. Donald Boudreau and Claire M. Brown were among 24 new honourees recognized at the National Assembly.
  • Royal Society of Canada: 11 inductees, including 4 new members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, and 7 new Fellows. Three awardees were also named: Prof. Hannah Brais (Alice Wilson Award), Prof. Cindy Blackstock (Prize for Indigenous Engagement), and Dr. Nada Jabado (McLaughlin Medal).

 

The Board of Governors received the following documents and reports: