Overall, consultant Harriet Lewis concluded that the MUN Board of Regents is well-run, with some caveats.
“It is my conclusion that Memorial University is well governed by a group of very committed regents, led by a highly professional and dedicated chair,” Lewis wrote. “The resignation of Ms. Brittany Lennox, a student appointee to the board, caused substantial upset within the board, the university and the larger community. However, several of the issues Ms. Lennox raised in her letter of resignation found resonance with the regents and the university’s administration who, through the vehicle of this review, sought ways to ensure that the board culture was more inclusive, open and accountable to the Memorial community and the people of the province.”
Lennox resigned last year and publicly said that she had been subjected to bullying and gaslighting by the other members of the board, and extremely rigid secrecy made it impossible for the public to see the dysfunctional environment.
When it came to transparency, Lewis said that there’s room for improvement from the university.
“To enhance accountability, the board proceedings could be more open: more of the items on the agenda of the plenary meeting should be in the open session,” she wrote. Protocols can be established for attendance by the press and community members.”
Lewis also suggested that amending the Memorial University Act would be a good thing, although it should “not be amended piecemeal” if it’s to be done.
