Earlier this year, I announced that the University of Alberta’s Board of Governors was proceeding with an independent third-party review of the university’s decision to remove the encampment on May 11. Having concluded her review, retired Court of King’s Bench of Alberta Justice C. Adèle Kent, KC has delivered her report to the Board.
I want to thank Ms. Kent for her work. Her full report can be found here.
After a careful and comprehensive review of the facts and relevant law, Ms. Kent found that the university’s actions in response to the encampment were reasonable and lawful.
In her report, Ms. Kent made several constructive recommendations for the university’s administration, as well as longer-term recommendations that will ensure the university and community are better prepared in the future. These include engaging with our students so that they better understand the relevant university policies, as well as the policies and procedures followed by the Crisis Management Team. She recommended that we make a particular effort with incoming students, focusing on the rights and responsibilities relating to protests and respectful engagement. She also recommended improving our reporting system for crises.
The university administration is already implementing some of the report’s recommendations. The university continues to have open and constructive dialogue with diverse groups of students and community members. Work is underway to streamline the reporting process for crises on campus and review the policy involving responsible investment. Other recommendations, such as those regarding the rights and responsibilities of protesting and respectful engagement, are being addressed through a number of initiatives built through community-wide action planning. The university has already honoured its commitment in accordance with existing policy to compensate members involved in the encampment, so the university administration has fulfilled this recommendation.
In the coming weeks, we will carefully review all the report recommendations and provide more detailed responses as we move forward. The university will also provide an update on progress at the General Faculties Council (GFC) meeting on January 27, 2025.
As we move forward, I want to remind everyone that peaceful and respectful protesters will always be welcome to exercise their rights to free speech between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. However, overnight camping is not allowed for any reason.
Kate Chisholm, KC
Chair, University of Alberta Board of Governors