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This report contains general updates and a summary of the topics discussed at open session of the May 22 Board meeting. These reports help provide context and clarity around the progression of major projects and decisions.

You can read Board Chair Paula Martin鈥檚 report from the meeting , and you can view my submitted Open Board Report here.

Administrative updates and meeting outcomes

Leadership renewal

We were excited to officially welcome Vinitha Gengatharan as our inaugural executive lead, international strategy effective May 1, 2025, and Lisa Collins as associate vice-president, students effective May 15, 2025.

We are also pleased to share that accomplished research academic and author Dr. Marvin Washington will join SFU as dean for the Beedie School of Business starting October 1, 2025.  

Enrolments and recruitment

Undergraduate

Preliminary undergraduate activity full-time equivalent (AFTE) numbers for summer 2025 indicate that we are again on track to have an increase in the number of domestic AFTEs and a decrease in the number of international AFTEs compared with summer 2024.

SFU has been clarifying and optimizing our Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) allocation procedures to ensure that as many PALs as possible convert into international student enrolments. It should be noted that PALs do not guarantee that a student will receive a study permit, nor that the student will eventually enroll in classes. It is too early to say whether a lack of admissions applications or a lack of PALs will be the constraining factor on international student enrolment in the future. Our experience to date includes a higher-than-expected level of use of PALs by continuing students who require a change in visa status. We continue to work closely with Fraser International College to ensure a smooth transfer of students from our partner institution. 

Graduate

There are indications that applications from international graduate students are softening. In response to various political and policy developments, select SFU graduate programs re-opened their applications for fall 2025 and spring 2026 admits, particularly for Canadian students choosing to remain and study in Canada, as well as U.S. students looking to study outside the U.S.

Please refer to the March report to the Board of Governors for additional information on the status of enrolments and recruitment at SFU. For both undergraduate and graduate students, our work to bolster the university鈥檚 international recruitment strategy continues in earnest.

Government relations

Following the Canadian federal election, SFU鈥檚 Government Relations team is conducting a number of outreach activities to connect with new and returning MPs and Cabinet ministers, as well as to determine how SFU can best advocate for the post-secondary sector under a Liberal minority government. All incumbent MPs were re-elected in the three ridings where SFU鈥檚 campuses reside.

I travelled Victoria for a series of meetings in May, and trips to Victoria and Ottawa are being planned for the fall. We also continue to work closely with Universities Canada and the Research Universities鈥� Council of B.C. to ensure that outreach is occurring on the provincial and national levels.

The GR team is actively monitoring successes and refining SFU鈥檚 annual GR plan and roadmap to ensure that we are taking a strategic and coordinated approach to GR across the organization. We are also collaborating with Universities Canada and the Research Universities鈥� Council of British Columbia to maintain consistency in messaging and show a strong and united post-secondary sector.

Progress on 2025 policy workplan

In 2024, the Policy Office initiated a structured, institution-wide policy review exercise in collaboration with each VP portfolio, identifying and prioritizing policies within the Board of Governors鈥� jurisdiction for renewal or development. The goal was to transition from an ad hoc policy development process to a more proactive and coordinated framework. Following this initial review, a policy workplan was established, outlining priority areas for policy work through the end of 2025.

At this Board meeting, Francesca Hennigar, general counsel, shared that revisions to 19 policies or policy packages are currently underway and that the Policy Office has implemented several mechanisms to support transparency and oversight of policy development activities. These include website updates, the creation of a policy development guide, and efforts to increase effective community engagement such as a page with information about all current policy consultations.

The Policy Office will continue to bring updates to the Board, including the updated policy workplan for 2026, to support continued oversight and provide the Board with a clear view of policy development progress.

Advancing strategic priorities

What鈥檚 Next update

At this Board meeting, Dilson Rassier, provost and vice-president academic, shared the What鈥檚 Next 2024/25 year end report, summarizing our progress towards our strategic vision and priorities in Year 2 of the strategy.

We identified 30 items as Year 2 priorities, and while progress on some items has been slower than anticipated due to resourcing constraints, members of the community have made significant progress in advancing the majority of these actions.

Identification of Year 3 implementation priorities within each pillar of the What鈥檚 Next framework is preliminary at this point as these will be driven in large part by the Academic Plan, which is in the process of being finalized. Broadly, development of a revised governance structure and refined approach to integrated planning and reporting across the What鈥檚 Next framework will be a key priority for the coming year.

There is work occurring across the university to advance the What鈥檚 Next strategic priorities. Several key examples are highlighted below.

Uphold Truth & Reconciliation

• SFU鈥檚 First Nations, M茅tis & Inuit Student Association (FNMISA) hosted its 3rd Annual 鈥淗onouring Indigenous Students鈥� Powwow on April 12, 2025, creating opportunities A片资源吧 students, faculty, staff and the broader community to participate, interact, and learn more about the depth and beauty of Indigenous communities and cultures. SFU is grateful to the many FNMISA representatives, students and volunteers who put together this annual event in honour of Indigenous students, past and present.

Engage in Global Challenges

• SFU International, Institutional Strategic Awards and Research Services launched a Horizon Europe Engagement Fund (HEEF) to support SFU researchers seeking to establish and/or join consortium towards the submission of a Horizon Europe application. This is part of a broader strategy to promote SFU participation in Horizon Europe, Europe鈥檚 largest and best resourced research funding program. There are 24 researchers in the pipeline so far and four of them have received HEEF funding.
• Clean Energy Canada (CEC), an initiative housed at SFU鈥檚 Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, released new  on the importance of supporting Canada鈥檚 clean economy as part of an effort to decrease U.S. trade reliance. CEC鈥檚 executive director, Rachel Doran, was invited onto to discuss the findings, which also reached 72,000 people on social media in a single week.
  • Additionally, CEC released groundbreaking  demonstrating that it is possible to build with lower-carbon materials and techniques with negligible to negative cost implications. This work has been featured in several media reports and will be shared with key building industry representatives to help generate momentum on this issue as governments look poised to invest heavily in building out infrastructure and housing over the coming years. 
• SFU School for the Contemporary Arts professor, filmmaker and artist Nadia Shihab has been appointed to the by the Guggenheim Foundation. Working primarily across film and sound, her projects are shaped by an interest in power, place, subjectivity and experimentation. These prestigious and highly competitive fellowships are open to U.S. and Canadian researchers. 

Make a Difference for B.C.

• As the School of Medicine (SoM) continues to grow and evolve, key developments across curriculum, recruitment, community engagement and health partnerships are shaping the path forward.
  • Curriculum: The SoM continues to advance curriculum development through strategic planning retreats and targeted working group efforts. Recent retreats have emphasized the integration of Indigenous Ways of Knowing, community-engaged learning and innovations in clinical education. Faculty rules, procedures and guidelines created to support the program were approved by Senate in April.
  • Leadership and Faculty Recruitment: Recruitment for key leadership positions remains a priority. Several key academic leadership roles began in April 2025, including the associate dean, undergraduate medical education, and assistant dean, admissions, with the associate dean, research set to start in July. As of April, a total of 30 new staff positions have been filled since January 1 to support the School鈥檚 growing operations. Clinical faculty recruitment is also progressing, with a structured process in place to support tracking, appointments and ongoing engagement. More than 120 clinical faculty appointments were made in April, allowing SFU to meet the critical milestone of having at minimum 100 clinical faculty appointments by May 1.
  • Community Engagement: The director of community engagement started in early April to support culturally appropriate consultation and strengthen relationships with community partners. In partnership with UBC, the SoM is preparing to host a Community Engagement Day this fall, focused on addressing issues affecting Indigenous communities. Work with the First Nations Health Authority and other relevant organizations is ongoing to ensure alignment with Indigenous health priorities.
  • Health Partnerships: The School is maintaining a strong relationship with the Fraser Health Authority through monthly leadership meetings and six joint working groups aimed at integrating learners into clinical settings. Planning with UBC continues to support coordination across shared clinical environments. Engagement with all 10 Divisions of Family Practice in the Fraser region remains active, with early learner communities identified and faculty recruitment efforts bolstered through joint initiatives.
• Three researchers received 2024 SFU Newsmaker Awards for their dedication to informing discourse across media and online communities. Beedie School of Business鈥� Andrey Pavlov is the SFU Newsmaker of the Year and a leading voice on Canada鈥檚 economy, affordability and the housing crisis. Health sciences assistant professor and SFU Emerging Thought Leader Kaylee Byers had a meteoric rise as a science communicator for her research and public outreach on Vancouver鈥檚 rat problem. And earth sciences professor Brent Ward received the SFU Newsmaker Lifetime Achievement Award for his unwavering public engagement and invaluable contributions to raising awareness about natural hazards.
• SFU has established the new i2I Research & Innovation Institute to implement and deliver tailored Invention to Innovation (i2I) entrepreneurial training programs to scientists and engineers across Canada. The Institute will serve as a national centre of excellence for studying and fostering entrepreneurial capacity, supporting the translation of research into impactful innovations and bridging the gap between fundamental research and the mobilization of that research.
• SFU hosted the first Invention to Innovation (i2I) Faculty Innovation Fellows program (FIFP) one week intensive from April 28 to May 2. This in-person program enables faculty members to become better translational researchers and trusted boundary spanners within the National i2I Network, while supporting an innovation culture within their own institutions. FIFP will help increase Canada鈥檚 innovation capacity, bring together experts in STEM research and help develop translational skills and mindset.
• The first cohort of the  program is now underway. Offered by the Digital Innovation and Leadership (DIAL) initiative at SFU鈥檚 Beedie School of Business, the program provides rapid upskilling to individuals and organizations on effectively integrating AI into their businesses. Several such revenue-generating programs will be created, with two more launching this fall as part of SFU鈥檚 AI Strategy.
• The new SFU-Fraser Health Research Institute will bridge the gap between health care, science, innovation and research to improve patient outcomes, enhance worker safety and well-being and contribute to the long-term sustainability of health systems. The Institute brings together SFU鈥檚 diverse health research expertise embedded within numerous faculties, institutes and research centers for a more coordinated regional, national and international identity. By fostering collaborative partnerships between SFU, Fraser Health and the community, the institute will address pressing health issues through cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and enable broader translation and clinical impact of that research.

Transform the SFU Experience

• VPAAE Erin Morantz and I hosted key alumni events in Singapore and Hong Kong as part of a cross-department institutional trip to Asia led by SFU Alumni Relations in March. Through various activities including lunches, dinners and receptions, along with individual meetings with prominent alumni and donors, SFU engaged with more than100 alumni and continues to increase its reach in both regions each year. Recruitment partnered at alumni events to host prospective students and their supporters (such as family members and high school counsellors) and connect them with the SFU community. Alumni Relations kicked off the trip with two alumni events in Korea, at which exchange students had the opportunity to meet alumni, connect with future mentors and potential employees, and enhance their exchange experience. Our consistent engagement and stewardship of alumni and donors in Asia has generated funding for various SFU priorities and inspired ongoing international mentorship/co-op opportunities A片资源吧 students. Alumni programming and staff travel are made possible through Affinity Partner revenues.
• Advancement and Alumni Engagement wrapped an exceptional fundraising year by exceeding their goal for fiscal year 2024/25. In 2024/25, AAE raised $55,987,859 / 112.2% of its $50M goal (compared to $42.1M+ raised for the same period last fiscal). The AAE team is looking forward to all we can achieve in partnership with the Board and colleagues across the university as we begin a new fiscal year.
• SFU provides dedicated spaces, resources and supports to help new and nursing parents balance learning and work environments and parenting responsibilities. In support of this work, SFU鈥檚 new infant/child feeding room at the Vancouver campus is now open, providing a private, comfortable space for parents who need a place to feed their child while on campus. More information can be found on the Family Services webpage, which consolidates all family-related services/resources available at SFU in one convenient place.
• In March, SFU received approval from the B.C. Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (BCOHRC) to conduct limited hiring for at least 15 self-identified Indigenous faculty. This approval completes the application process which was originally submitted to the BCOHRC in 2023 and resulted in Special A片资源吧 approval for the limited hiring of at least 15 self-identified Indigenous staff. With this final approval, the institution is well-placed to offer a coordinated approach with regards to equitable hiring pathways to increase representation of Black and Indigenous personnel (both faculty and staff).
• SFU was excited to celebrate the opening of Fire Station 8 on Burnaby Mountain last month. The result of a strong partnership between SFU and the City of Burnaby and supported by $30 million in federal funding, the Fire Station is an important addition to our emergency response capabilities as SFU and UniverCity continue to grow together. 

Sincerely,

Joy Johnson
President & Vice-Chancellor
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