Presidential Search

Dear Nipissing University community,

It is an exciting time at the university as we embark on a search for a new President and Vice‑Chancellor. Like you, the university’s Board of Governors is immensely proud of this institution. We are deeply committed to ensuring the university continues to exemplify the highest standards in scholarship, teaching and research, and has the right leadership in place to do so.

As stipulated by the Nipissing University Act 1992, the President and Vice‑Chancellor is the Chief Executive Officer of the university and responsible for supervising the direction of the academic and general administration of the university. Under the authority of the Board and the Academic Senate, and working closely with the Vice-Presidents and Deans, the President and Vice‑Chancellor manages the human, intellectual, financial, and physical resources of the university, advances the university’s mission of excellence in research and higher education, and sets a tone and direction that embodies Nipissing’s values.

Over the coming months, the university’s Board of Governors and the Presidential Search Committee will be conducting a comprehensive recruitment process. Nipissing University has retained Boyden, an executive search firm, to assist the Committee with this important mandate.

As Chair of the Committee, I will guide and oversee the recruitment process, provide the community with regular updates on our progress, facilitate an opportunity for the community to hear from the finalist candidates, and, at the end of the process, present the Committee’s recommended candidate to the Board for approval and appointment.

If you have ideas to share regarding this search, I encourage you to complete a confidential online survey, or email our search consultants directly. On behalf of the Board of Governors and Nipissing University, thank you for your ongoing interest and support.

Marianne Berube
Chair, Board of Governors
Nipissing University

Dear Nipissing University Community,

On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I am reaching out today with an update regarding the Presidential Search.  

The Nipissing University community is an integral part of the search for Nipissing’s next President and Vice-Chancellor. The Search Committee, in accordance with the Board of Governor’s policy, 3.1.2012.B., is communicating the next steps in the process which began in October 2020.

To date, the following steps have been taken as a part of this process:

• Feedback from the Search Committee and the broader Nipissing University community was used to develop search criteria and information for potential applicants. The advertisements and the outreach for the position generated a significant amount of interest.
• After the first round of interviews, the short-listed candidates were interviewed, followed by a second round of interviews for the finalist candidates. An initial reference report was provided to the committee by Boyden, the executive search firm contracted by Nipissing University to assist with the presidential search process.

Out of consideration for candidates' concerns regarding confidentiality in this unprecedented virtual environment, the search committee has decided that the two final candidates will meet virtually with Nipissing University stakeholders in smaller groups, rather than making a presentation to the full community in one meeting. Despite this change, the committee is confident that these meetings will facilitate the opportunity for a wide range of representatives to ask important questions of each candidate and thus allow for a deep and meaningful interaction.

The committee recognizes that our campus community’s engagement in this process is of utmost importance. Feedback from representatives who meet directly with the candidates will be welcomed by the search committee. As a final step in the information-gathering process, further reference checks on both candidates will be conducted.

The group meetings will be:

• Nipissing University Student Union executive team 
• Nipissing University Faculty Association Representatives (Faculty Councils will elect faculty representatives per Faculty Council)
• Support Staff
• Administrative staff 
• University Management Group 
• Board of Governor members and the Chancellor (nominated smaller external group)
• Senate (nominated Senators who are not included in any of the other groups)
• Indigenous Education Council members (selected/nominated)

More details regarding the selection process of representatives for the groups listed above will be sent out next week. To protect the candidates, participants in the group meetings will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Once the Search Committee has received all feedback from the group meetings, the Search Committee will recommend a candidate to the Board of Governors.

If you have any questions or comments to share with the committee at this time regarding this new process, please contact me at mariannb@nipissingu.ca directly.

This is an exciting time for Nipissing University. We appreciate your patience and input to date, and we look forward to the day when we can announce the next President and Vice-Chancellor at Nipissing University.

Marianne Berube
Chair, Board of Governors
Nipissing University

President & Vice-Chancellor
Nipissing University

Nipissing University sits on the territory of Nipissing First Nation, the territory of the Anishnabek, within lands protected by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.

This unique position, situated in spectacular Northern Ontario, is an exceptional opportunity to lead a young and dynamic institution making a positive impact on the lives of its students, graduates, faculty, staff, and the communities it serves.

Nipissing University is known for excellence in teacher education, arts, science, and a range of professional programs. The School of Graduate Studies includes programs in history, sociology, education, environmental science/studies, kinesiology, and mathematics. Nipissing’s strategic focus on student success and experience has translated into consistent top rankings in the country in the areas of student support, student experience, faculty, and residences as a primarily undergraduate institution. An academic environment that provides close student-faculty interaction, innovative approaches to learning, and a strong research culture is an enduring strength of Nipissing. Access and equity have been a longstanding priority of Nipissing, providing interventions and support for students who might not otherwise participate in postsecondary education. Nipissing welcomes a considerable number of first generation students, and students with disabilities with focused supports. Nipissing’s faculty and staff also strive to provide a supportive environment for Indigenous students enrolled at the University.

The President & Vice-Chancellor champions and delivers a bold and inspiring vision for Nipissing University and provides internal and external academic, administrative and community leadership. Working in collaboration with all members of Nipissing University’s community and stakeholders, you will lead the development and implementation of a new strategic plan. As President & Vice-Chancellor, you will build strong partnerships and authentic relationships with students, faculty, staff, and local communities.

As the ideal candidate, you model leadership that is transparent, courageous, respectful, and accountable to the students, faculty, staff, and the communities that Nipissing University serves. You have a demonstrated commitment to collegial governance, student success, and well-being. Your team and community members describe you as energetic, authentic, highly collaborative, transparent, engaging, supportive, trusted, and team oriented. Your financial acumen, fundraising, advocacy, and negotiation skills will be highly valued at Nipissing University as it expands its partnerships and relationships with all levels of government, industry, and donors.

Consideration of candidates, by the search committee, will begin in early January 2021. For further information and the full executive briefing document, please contact Jessa Chupik and Nick Chambers at jchupik@boyden.com. The ideal start date for this position is July 1, 2021.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Nipissing University is committed to employment equity and strongly encourages applications, which may include self-identification in a covering letter, from Indigenous persons, women, persons with disabilities, persons who identify as LGBTQ2+, and visible minorities.

Nipissing University is an inclusive employer and will provide accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The President Search Committee is comprised of the following representatives:

1. The Chair of the Board of Governors (or designate) who shall be Chair;
2. Two (2) non-constituent members of the Board of Governors (elected by the Board of Governors);
3. One (1) Vice-President (appointed by the Chair of the Board of Governors);
4. One (1) Dean (appointed by the Chair of the Board of Governors);
5. Three (3) tenured faculty members with at least one from each faculty (elected by the Senate);
6. One (1) regular full-time administrator (elected by the administrative staff); and
7. One (1) regular full-time support staff (elected by the support staff).
8. One (1) student (elected by Nipissing University Student Union).

Total: 11 Committee Members/11 Voting Members

The Director, Human Resources will be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Search Committee.

The Committee’s confidentiality and conflict of interest obligations:

Members of the President’s search committee are committed to the confidentiality of personal and confidential information that may include, but not be limited to, materials provided to committee members by and about applicants, ratings of applicants, questions and answers delivered in the course of the interview process, comments and discussions of committee members as well as any recommendations made by individual committee members.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), the committee agrees that they shall not directly or indirectly disclose any personal and/or confidential information which shall be disclosed to committee members or which may come their my attention as a result of their membership on the Selection and Interview Committee, unless required by law.

• Search, Appointment, Reappointment of Senior Academic Administrative Officers

Nick Chambers and Jessa Chupik from Boyden Executive Search were selected after an extensive request for proposal process. They have extensive experience in higher education executive search.

Please send nomination letters or recommendations for the President and Vice-Chancellor role to Jessa Chupik at jchupik@boyden.com