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Paul M. Soubry
Chair
The spirit of the University of Manitoba was alive
and at its best in 1999-2000, beginning with the
hosting of athletes and venues for the Pan American
Games, and ending with the unveiling of a new graphic
identity to represent our academic mission and proud
history.
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Message From the Chair
of the Board of Governors
1999-2000 will go down as one of the most exciting years
in the history of the University of Manitoba.
Much
of the early part of the year was spent preparing for, than
participating in, the 13th Pan American Games. The Fort Garry
Campus was transformed into a multi-cultural athletes village,
complete with flags, pin-trading, and every size and shape of
athlete. We also witnessed tremendously high-level competition
in athletics, volleyball, basketball and rhythmic gymnastics.
We are very proud of the staff and students who helped make
the university's contribution to this outstanding sporting
and cultural event so successful. We also express appreciation
to the Pan American Games Society and the Government of Manitoba
for their contributions to the physical legacies of the Games.
Immediately after the Games departed, work was begun on
building the infrastructure of SMARTpark, the university's
research park.We are grateful to the federal and provincial
governments for the $5.6 million contributed to advance this
project, which will attract advanced technology firms and
research facilities to the campus.
Also in the area of research, I want to congratulate all
those researchers who have been successful in obtaining research
grants this year from the national and provincial granting
councils. Their success indicates the high quality of their
work, and we expect the results of their investigations to
have an impact on the way we live and work, and on the health
and well-being of our province.
It was also satisfying to record the results of our private
funding initiatives for 1999, which, at $16.68 million, represents
a 40% increase over 1998.
The Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI) was
key to the outstanding response from individuals and organizations
in establishing new student awards, and we acknowledge the
Province of Manitoba for their foresight in establishing the
MSBI.
Our innovative approach to first-year education, University
1, has been very successful. Now beginning its third year,
University 1 continues to provide the most flexible range
of options to students entering university. This program,
combined with outstanding teaching and more scholarship and
bursary funding available to students, ensures that the University
of Manitoba remains the institution of first choice for many
students in the province.
The Board is very pleased that the university has a new
logo, replacing the former "UM" which was developed in the
1970s. The new shield represents strongly the academic mission
of the university, and pays tribute to our historical colours
of brown and gold.
The Board also notes that the amendments made to the budget
process last year have allowed the administration to do better
long-term strategic financial planning in the face of limitations
on tuition increases and limited government grant increases.
The Board is committed
to working with the Council on Post-Secondary Education and the Government of
Manitoba to ensure that the province’s research-intensive university continues
to play a key role in the provincial economy. We offer as well our deep appreciation
to the commitment shown by Chancellor Mauro, President Szathmáry, staff, students,
alumni, parents, corporations, foundations and friends of the university as
the University of Manitoba strives to be one of the best universities in Canada.
Paul M. Soubry
Chair
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