By Dan Rubinstein
Although 2017 was a busy year for Carleton as the university celebrated its 75th anniversary, 2018 promises to be just as exciting.
After reflecting on the past throughout the anniversary year, the next few months are a time to look forward and think strategically about Carleton’s short-term and long-term plans and opportunities, Carleton’s Interim President Alastair Summerlee said in his “welcome back” video.
Watch it here:
On the immediate horizon is the negotiation of a purchase agreement for Dominion-Chalmers United Church, which the Board of Governors agreed to pursue in December. The downtown church will not only provide access to one of the city’s treasured performance spaces but will serve as a hub that helps Carleton strengthen its connections in the local community.
On campus, the brand new Health Sciences Building is almost complete and work continues on the Institute for Advanced Research and Innovation in Smart Environments (ARISE) project, with construction of the Nicol Building — the future home of the Sprott School of Business — next on the agenda.
The new Health Sciences Building, pictured in summer 2017, is nearing completion.
Carleton is also continuing its efforts to engage with its Indigenous community and to further Indigenize the university through careful dialogue, listening and learning.
In terms of leadership, the presidential search remains a top priority for the board, which will continue to provide updates to the university community, and excellent progress is being made on Carleton’s decanal searches.
With the start of the new year, planning for the 2018-‘19 budget is well underway, with Carleton enjoying one of the strongest financial positions of any university in Canada.
In the video, Summerlee also thanks the Carleton community for helping to make the university’s anniversary celebrations such a success, and for the warm welcomes he has received during his first five months as interim president.
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