Laurentian Budget Delivers on Strategic Plan

June 21, 2013 – Laurentian University’s Board of Governors today approved a six year balanced budget to 2018-19, including a 2013-2014 operating budget of $136.9M, which will fund several of the University’s key strategic plan outcomes over the next year.  The budget approval followed a series of seventeen consultation sessions with more than 150 people from across the Laurentian community in Sudbury and Barrie. 

“This is an exciting time for Laurentian as we embark on the second year of our 2012-17 strategic plan,” said Dr. Robert Kerr, Vice-President Academic and Provost of Laurentian University.  “We will see many milestones realized this year, including the hiring of 23 faculty members.”

Faculty hires will include Canada Research Chairs in Geochemistry and Environmental Microbiology and additional faculty positions in the Faculty of Management to support international accreditation. Other milestones to be met in the year ahead include the opening of the School of Architecture this September, the launch of a $44.6M Sudbury campus modernization program, and the Voyageurs Men’s and Women’s hockey teams taking to the ice this season.

The campus modernization program will see many improvements across campus over the next two years including the construction of the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre. Renovations and updating of more than 50 classrooms and labs, and the creation of a multi-million dollar, one-stop student services area are also planned. In addition $16.7M will be invested in capital projects by 2018-19, including: a new Subway opening this fall as part of the planned expansion in food service, a redesign of the Great Hall scheduled for 2014, major renovations to the Single Student Residence that have begun and will be completed by 2015, along with other investments to address deferred maintenance.

“In many respects it will feel like a new campus to students in a few years,” said Vice President, Administration, Carol McAulay.  “We are very excited about the new classrooms, teaching labs, residence upgrades and additions to food service options.”

“The Board is pleased with the alignment of resources for the next six years with the University’s Strategic Plan. Laurentian is bold, ambitious and driven, and the approved investments support the aspirations and outcomes we have set for the future. We are also proud that we have balanced our budget for the third year in a row,” added Michael Atkins, incoming Chair of the Board of Governors.

Budget highlights include:

• $136.9M budget, up $4.8M or 3.6%;
• Balanced budget for a third consecutive year;
• $4.5M or 4.8% increase in academic invesments and academic supports;
• Opening of the School of Architecture in September 2013;
• Re-introduction of men varsity hockey, introduction of women varsity hockey (self-funded);
• $3M in increased scholarships and bursaries by 2018-19 to reflect increased enrolment, tuition and average entry grade;
• Increased investments in Information Technology (+16%) and Library Acquisitions (+14%) to better meet student needs;
• Implementation of Graduate Expansion Plan including year 2 of the new master in Orthophonie, new masters in Sciences infirmières and Indigenous Relations in September 2014;
• Expansion of programs supported by the new Goodman School of Mines, including at least six new mining-related undergraduate minors or majors and new module and executive programs;
• Introduction of Bachelor of Social Work program in Barrie, relocated from Orillia;
• Enhanced investments in staff training and professional development rising to 1% of payroll;
• $14M capital commitment for downtown Barrie campus, matched by the City of Barrie;
• $44.6M for the modernization of the Sudbury campus by 2015, including the creation of the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre;
• $7.7M for the rehabilitation of the Single Student Residence to be completed in three phases by September 2015;
• $1.4M for improvements to food services by 2014, including a new Subway in 2013 and a re-designed Great Hall in 2014;
• $7.6M in additional investments by 2018-19 to address deferred maintenance.