The UNBC board of governors has extended the term of the university's interim president, Geoff Payne, by two years.
Payne's term as interim president was extended to Aug. 31, 2022, while the university will continue its search for a new permanent president. Payne, who was serving as UNBC's vice president of research and graduate programs, took the helm after former president Daniel Weeks went on medical leave in January and then resigned in February.
“We are fortunate to have a talented individual such as Geoff come forward to take on this leadership position,” UNBC chairperson Aaron Ekman said in a press release. “Under his leadership we are seeing continued progress towards critical university initiatives such as academic re-structuring and ongoing enrolment growth. In addition, Geoff is taking on issues such as equity, diversity and inclusion, the labour relations climate, and focusing on building relationships across our community. Although we face challenges, we have many opportunities in front of us as well, and we are very confident in making this decision.”
The decision to extend Payne's term will provide the university with "a solidified executive leadership team" during the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement issued by UNBC said.
“I’m humbled by the board’s vote of confidence in me,” Payne said in a press release. “I’m looking forward to continuing the work needed to support the board’s strategic direction. I’m fully committed to helping create an environment that provides for an outstanding experience for our students, that supports our faculty in their teaching and research endeavours, and that continues to empower our staff to provide exceptional service to our mandate.”
Weeks was the university's fifth president, and was appointed to the position in July 2014 and then reappointed for a second term in August 2018. His departure came after a three-week strike by UNBC's faculty in November 2019. In January, UNBC professor Peter Jackson presented a notice of motion to UNBC's senate calling for a non-confidence vote against Weeks.
