The University of Victoria board of governors has deferred a decision on recognition of donors inside the nearly completed Centre for Innovative Teaching. A decision will be made once the donors have been consulted about some of the possible options.
At the Sept. 28 board meeting UVic President David Strong brought forward the recommendation of the advisory committee on naming buildings and facilities that major donors to the centre be acknowledged in the form of donors' names being used for particular rooms and/or appearing on a donor wall, in accordance with board policy.
Student board members Sandra Guarascio and Ritu Mahil objected to naming rooms within the building for corporate donors, but had no objection to their recognition inside the centre on the proposed donor wall. Strong indicated that, if the board wished, he could approach the major donors to the centre to see if they had strong feelings about the way in which their contributions would be recognized.
The board then passed a motion asking the president to consult the donors on the issue, and to explore options including limiting recognition to the donor wall or proposing the names of individuals rather than corporations for rooms in the centre. Strong will bring his recommendation to the next meeting of the board.
The board approved the recently negotiated collective agreement between the university and the Professional Employees Association (PEA) the bargaining unit for academic and administrative professionals (see PEA story). It also approved the handbook setting out the terms and conditions of employment for confidential staff and managers excluded from membership in the PEA.