Budget surplus

Dalhousie’s commitment to sound financial management hasn’t wavered with the economic downturn. On Tuesday, Dalhousie’s Board of Governors passed the university’s 22nd straight balanced budget at their annual meeting.

“This was a very positive year for the university, with good successes in a number of key indicators,” said President Tom Traves in his report to the board, citing the university’s successful students, research strength, campus renewal activities and solid finances.

Those solid finances were on display in the 2009-10 operating budget, balanced with revenues and expenditures each of $289.1 million – an increase of almost $20 million over last year’s final numbers. Last year, the university produced a positive variance of $1.8 million over its operating budget, a surplus incurred by higher than expected enrolment and lower than expected energy costs.

That surplus is being put towards one of the most significant strategic initiatives investments in the university’s history. The 2009-10 Strategic Initiatives Fund will invest $7.7 million towards specific projects connected to the seven strategic objectives of the President’s Strategic Focus. The projects include $609,000 to support the launch of the College of Sustainability, $150,000 in increased financial aid for students and a $1,200,000 increase in base funding for facilities renewal, among many others. (For the full list, you can read the 2009-10 Operating Budget online.)

Although it was largely presented as a ‘good news’ budget, President Traves cautioned the board that the continued financial success of the university will require preparing for several looming uncertainties. In particular, Dr. Traves mentioned the state of Dalhousie’s enrolment, provincial government support, sustainability of the university’s pension plan and the effects of mandatory retirement as variables that could shift the financial status quo in the years to come.

Other items of note from the meeting:

• The board voted to suspend the collection of the Halifax Student Alliance (HSA) fee from students. With other member institutions in the lobby group dropping out of the financial partnership, the Dalhousie Student Union Council unanimously voted in April that it was not appropriate for Dalhousie students to be the sole funder of the organization. The mandate of the HSA is currently under review.
• The board also approved the commencement of the Life Sciences Centre Retrofit project utilizing $27 million in funding provided under the Federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program.
• Paul Amyotte, professor of Process Engineering and Applied Science, and Peter Wallace, senior instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences, were each presented with the 2009 Environmental Health and Safety Award. The award is presented to individuals who have undertaken activities that make Dalhousie a safer or more healthful place in which to live, play work or study.
• Nathaniel Smith was appointed as the university ombudsperson for the upcoming year. Mr. Smith, a student in the Master of Public Administration program, served as assistant ombudsperson in 2008-09.

The annual meeting is also a time of transition for the board, with several new members taking the seats of some familiar faces. Replacing James Cowan and Elizabeth Beale as Governor in Council appointees are Sarah MacDonald, vice-president human resources for Emera, and George McLellan, president and CEO of Emergency Medical Care. Replacing Sunny Marche as University Senate representative is political science professor Jennifer Smith. Replacing Level Chan as an appointee from the Dalhousie Alumni Association is Andrew Bennett with Export Development Canada.