2 0 1 0 P r e s i d e n t ’ s R e p o r t

Since joining the

university in September

2007, Dr. Max Blouw has

encouraged the Laurier

community to take stock

of its past, to understand

its present and to plan

for a successful future.

Inspiring lives...Universities in Canada and abroad are in a period of remarkable transition. A range of social, technological and

economic forces are rapidly reshaping the very ways in which we teach, learn and research.

At Wilfrid Laurier University, we are committed to embracing the opportunities that exist in times of change, and we

do so with a clear understanding of the university’s strengths, values and traditions.

This understanding was enriched by the Envisioning Laurier process, a consultative research initiative conducted in

2008-09 to determine what our university is today and what it should aspire to be in future.

Our findings made it clear that Laurier is an extraordinary institution with a unique ability to combine teaching and

research excellence with a vibrant sense of community and social engagement.

The Envisioning Laurier research was the basis for developing a statement of Values, Vision, Mission and Guiding

Principles for the university. It also helped us craft an institutional proposition: Inspiring lives of leadership and purpose.

This short, evocative statement captures the essence of what Laurier is and what distinguishes it from other universities.

As such, it provides a powerful launch pad for promoting the university and telling the Laurier story.

The pages ahead introduce that story while providing an update on key developments within the university. I think

you will agree that Laurier is an exceptional community with a remarkable story to tell. As we approach the university’s

centennial in 2011, I invite you to join us in celebrating the Laurier story and sharing it with the world.

Dr. Max Blouw

President and Vice-Chancellor

Wilfrid Laurier University

of leadership and purpose

As a child, Ayiko Solomon

(BA ’08) endured unspeak-

able horrors during the civil

war in Uganda. Shaped

by that experience, and

inspired by his studies at

Wilfrid Laurier University,

he founded Peace for All

International, a non-profit

agency dedicated to building

peace, promoting healing

and creating sustainable

development in northern

Uganda and Nepal.

Inspired...

to improve lives

Dr. Quincy AlmeiDA For Quincy Almeida, research isn’t just about discovery — it’s about making a

difference for those suffering with movement disorders. In 2005, Almeida opened the Movement Disorders

Research and Rehabilitation Centre to help people suffering from diseases such as Parkinson’s. A primary

objective of the centre, which was recently renamed the Sun Life Financial MDRC in recognition of the

company’s support, is to understand brain dysfunction associated with several movement disorders, and then

translate this knowledge into the development of rehabilitation strategies and novel inventions that have the

potential to improve patients’ movement control. Many of Almeida’s patients have experienced remarkable

results, and his ongoing research means that other people struggling with Parkinson’s will be able to enjoy

more active and fulfilling lives.

• Joanna Harries Joanna Harries (BBA ‘03,

MBA ’08) first learned about “social enterprise”

during her business studies at Laurier. She went

on to a successful career in consumer products,

but remained passionate about supporting

social causes through business. Today, Harries is

director of international expansion for Endeavor

Global, a not-for-profit that seeks to strengthen

emerging economies by supporting high-impact

entrepreneurs.

• BHarati setHi Social work PhD student

Bharati Sethi came to Canada from India in

1994. Inspired by her own struggle to become

a Canadian citizen, she is now helping others

through her community-based research on

immigrant issues. Her commitment to social

justice has earned her several prestigious

awards, including a Hilary M. Weston

Scholarship and a Vanier Canada Graduate

Scholarship.

Laurier recently opened an

office in the heart of toronto

to transform and promote

the university’s presence in

Canada’s largest city. The

office, on the main floor of

the Exchange Tower, serves

the many alumni and co-op

students who live and work

in Toronto. It also helps us

deliver innovative programs,

such as our weekend-format

MBA, which has operated

in Toronto for the past 12

years.

Inspired...

to transform

PArTnerinG FOr SucceSS When Laurier opened its Brantford campus in 1999, few could have

predicted the transformative impact it would have on both the city and the university. Yet this unique

partnership has revived an ailing downtown, created post-secondary opportunities for thousands of students,

and enabled Laurier to develop innovative new programs. What began with 39 students and one building has

grown to nearly 2,400 students in 19 buildings. And the demand continues. Laurier Brantford is in the midst

of building a $39.9-million Research and Academic Centre with the help of federal and provincial Knowledge

Infrastructure funding. Additional projects are in the planning stages, including the redevelopment of two

recently acquired properties. Projections suggest the Brantford campus could serve 4,000 students within five

years. The success of Laurier Brantford highlights the role of a multi-campus strategy in transforming a city and

enabling a community-minded university such as Laurier to “grow big while staying small.”

• KitcHener caMpus Laurier’s Lyle S.

Hallman Faculty of Social Work couldn’t be

closer to the subject at hand. Situated in a

beautifully renovated former high school in

downtown Kitchener, students and faculty

frequently interact with the people who

benefit most from their knowledge and

research. In 2009, the Faculty shared a

community leadership award for collaborating

with local agencies to provide social work

training to new Canadians.

• Milton caMpus As one of the fastest-

growing communities in Canada, Milton is

keen to attract a university. The town, just

west of Toronto, has invited Laurier to explore

the potential for opening a campus there. An

innovative campus in Milton could attract the

funding needed to develop new programming

that would be accessible to all Laurier students

via state-of-the-art technology, while helping

the province satisfy the growing demand for

university access in the Greater Toronto Area.

Learning, teaching and

research are at the heart

of a university. But it’s

the people, culture and

energy of the institution

that really inspires students

and faculty. To this end, we

recently developed a fresh

academic plan that builds

on our tradition of teaching

and research excellence and

reflects the value Laurier

places on inspiring lives of

leadership and purpose.

Inspired...

to look forward

mASTer PlAn The demand for post-secondary education in Ontario, and Laurier’s consistently strong

reputation among students, has led to a dramatic expansion of the university over the past decade. To

prepare for growth and renewal in a strategic way, the university has developed a campus master plan to

guide the physical development of Laurier’s two largest campuses. In Waterloo, where the campus is largely

contained to one city block, we are striving to make efficient use of the existing footprint while preserving

and developing open spaces. In Brantford, where the campus is integrated into the downtown, we are

pursuing a mix of new developments and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. For both campuses, we are

striving to ensure that the physical environment inspires and supports the social engagement and community

involvement that’s at the heart of the Laurier experience.

• laurier BrantforD’s researcH anD

acaDeMic centre The new Research

and Academic Centre is part of a strategy

to significantly increase enrolment and

research capability at Laurier’s Brantford

campus. Scheduled to open in fall 2010, the

building is designed to achieve Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

silver certification, in keeping with Laurier

Brantford’s reputation for innovation and

leadership.

• sustainaBility Inspired by the leadership

shown by students, Laurier established a

Sustainability Policy in 2009 that encourages

the university to continuously improve its

environmental performance. Since then, Laurier

has initiated an energy conservation program,

hired a full-time sustainability coordinator,

supported alternative transportation options,

and increased the opportunities for students,

staff and faculty to reduce, reuse and recycle.

chongqing is one of the

most dynamic regions in

China, a country that has

become a major player in the

global economy and in post-

secondary education. Laurier

was the first Canadian

university to establish an

office in southwest China,

and our leadership recently

inspired the City of Waterloo

to enter a “Friendship City

Partnership” with Chongqing

that will benefit both

Laurier and the surrounding

community.

Inspired...

to think globally

DeSTinATiOn FOr inTernATiOnAl STuDieS The community of Waterloo has become a global

centre for studies in international affairs, and Laurier is playing a leadership role in building that reputation.

The university is a founding partner in the Balsillie School of International Affairs, a unique academic centre

involving Laurier, the University of Waterloo and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

In 2008, Laurier was awarded a second five-year term as host institution for the Academic Council on the

United Nations System (ACUNS), an international association focused on multilateral relations and global

governance. Laurier is also home to the Laurier Centre for Global Relations, whose director — alumnus Paul

Heinbecker — is a former ambassador and permanent representative of Canada to the UN. A number of

Laurier faculty members have cross-appointments to CIGI and the Balsillie School, and many Laurier students

benefit from scholarships and research opportunities associated with these two world-class centres.

• international experience As Laurier’s

mission statement says, the university

“challenges people to become engaged and

aware citizens of an increasingly complex

world.” We also value experiential learning.

That’s why we have exchange agreements

with universities in more than 20 countries,

providing students and faculty with the

opportunity to enrich their lives by studying

and working abroad.

• international DevelopMent Many

in the Laurier community are driven by a

desire to make a positive difference in the

world. Alternative Reading Week is a great

example. Teams of students, staff and faculty

devote their winter break to helping others,

from restoring a school for special-needs

children in Mexico to helping clean up in the

aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Chemistry professor Dr. Hind

Al-Abadleh is helping the

world understand how to

remove pollutants from

contaminated water. The

award-winning researcher

studies “environmental

interfaces,” such as how

organic arsenics interact with

soil in the environment. Her

findings are influencing the

development of pollutant-

removal technologies, which

will benefit communities

around the globe.

Inspired...

to make a difference

reSeArcH Research is fundamental to what we do at Laurier — it enhances teaching excellence and

inspires our faculty and students with a passion to discover. To align with Laurier’s core strengths and values,

we have identified five areas of research strength: globalization and governance; business, economics and

quantitative analysis; environmental studies; health and well-being; and social analysis and social justice.

Laurier’s commitment to research is evident in the year-over-year growth of our research portfolio, which has

more than doubled since 2000. The university now has 15 research-chair positions and 21 research centres

and institutes. We also rank high in our class in national faculty awards and for the number and value of

research grants we receive. However, our most important research asset is our researchers themselves. They

challenge one another to explore their fields in new and innovative ways. In the process, they inspire lives of

leadership and purpose in our students and the broader community.

• Dr. suKHvinDer singH oBHi Dr. Sukhvinder

Singh Obhi’s innovative research in cognitive

neuroscience has a wide variety of aims and

applications, from assisting people with brain

disorders to understanding consciousness and

human-action planning. The award-winning

researcher is an active member of Laurier’s

Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience.

• Dr. Maurice Kugler Dr. Maurice Kugler,

CIGI Chair in International Public Policy in

Laurier’s Department of Economics, explores

how global market integration affects

economic growth in the world’s poorer regions

and nations. The results of his research,

conducted through his concurrent positions

at Laurier and the Centre for International

Governance Innovation (CIGI), has significant

influence on international development policy.

Laurier swimmer Whitney

rich, a four-time provincial

all-star, is back in familiar

waters thanks to a special

community partnership

to fund the $4.2-million

renovation of Laurier’s

Olympic-size pool. Financial

supporters included

students, community

swim clubs, federal and

provincial governments,

area municipalities, and the

university.

Inspired...

by sport

ATHleTicS AnD leADerSHiP The Laurier Golden Hawks have a proud tradition of excellence in

athletics. In 2008-09, our varsity teams earned national championships in women’s curling and cheerleading,

and provincial titles in women’s hockey, women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer. Our athletes also

excel and lead by example in other areas. Through Healthy Hawk Days, student-athletes run gym classes at

elementary schools and speak to students about healthy living habits; the Laurier Lettermen’s Club hosts an

annual sports play-day for more than 250 elementary school children; and the Women’s Athletic Association

offers leadership and participation opportunities to female Laurier students. As well, many of our student-

athletes volunteer with minor sport teams as coaches, referees and mentors. At Laurier, we have a tradition

of inspiring lives of leadership and purpose through athletics and recreation.

• outstanDing WoMen of laurier

The Outstanding Women of Laurier

Award recognizes a female student who

combines athletic and academic success

with a commitment to leadership and young

athletes. Our 2009 winner was Hollie Nicol,

a varsity curler who won two national

championships and a silver medal at the

World Universiade games in Harbin, China.

Nicol also volunteered with the Special

Olympics, instructing wheelchair curlers.

• atHletes anD acaDeMics Laurier

values a well-rounded university experience,

and many of our varsity athletes excel at

both sports and academics. In the 2008-09

season, 45 Laurier student-athletes were

recognized as academic all-stars by their

respective interuniversity leagues, at both

the national and provincial levels. Many of

our varsity athletes go on to leadership roles

in their careers and communities.

In his second year at Laurier,

Greg Overholt founded

Laurier SOS (Students

Offering Support), a charity

to help early-year students

prepare for exams. Students

pay for a peer-led session,

with proceeds going to

fund schools in developing

countries. Laurier SOS has

raised more than $200,000

to date and has grown into a

national charity operating at

15 universities across Canada.

Inspired...

to get involved

A reAl cOmmuniTy Laurier offers its students a small-university experience with big-university

opportunities. There is a genuine sense of community on our four campuses, a quality that our students,

faculty, staff, and alumni are keen to preserve. In fact, many of our alumni tell us that our close-knit feel

is what clinched their decision to attend Laurier in the first place. Laurier students are passionate about

volunteerism, leadership and extra-curricular involvement. We support that passion in many ways, from our

innovative Student Leadership Centre to our community service-learning programs, which combine academic

course work with volunteer placements in the surrounding community. As well, there are more than 100

student clubs on the Waterloo campus alone, giving students plenty of opportunities to get involved, engage

in healthy debate, and assume leadership roles within the university.

• co-curricular recorD Laurier was the

first Canadian university to formally recognize

the educational and career benefits of

volunteer and leadership activities by offering

a co-curricular record — an official chronicle

of a student’s involvement in campus

activities. Since Laurier introduced it in 2004,

more than 4,800 students have completed a

co-curricular record.

• stuDent leaDersHip centre Laurier’s

Student Leadership Centre encourages and

enables students to get involved in university

life and the broader community. Guided

by the philosophy that leadership is about

getting involved, and that all students have the

capacity to make meaningful contributions,

the centre offers a wide range of leadership

training, activities and volunteer opportunities.

The Carnegie building, a

landmark in Brantford for

more than 100 years, was

acquired by Laurier as part

of the initial partnership

to establish a campus in

the city. Partnerships are

essential for keeping the

entire university strong and

vibrant, and Laurier values

the supportive relationships

that sustain all its campuses.

Inspired...

to give

GivinG As Laurier approaches its 100th anniversary in 2011, it is clear that our longevity and success

is built on the generosity of an exceptional community of alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends.

Contributions take many forms, from financial donations to volunteer work on university committees.

Such commitments of time and money are invaluable. They enable Laurier to reach beyond its most basic

responsibilities and provide the facilities, expertise and opportunities that truly inspire lives of leadership

and purpose. In 2009, we received $7.5 million from a wide variety of individual donors and organizations.

These gifts ranged from a record-breaking $1.3 million in annual giving to more than $1.8 million in estate

gifts. Every contribution helps strengthen the university’s commitment to excellence and to the unique

community that is Laurier. For this we thank you.

FULL-TIME STUdENT ENrOLMENT By CATEgOry (HEAd COUNT)

2008-09 2009-10

Undergraduate full-time 12,239 13,194

Graduate full-time 781 832

TOTAL 13,020 14,026

Note: Student enrolment is based on fall term head count as of November 1 Graduate student enrolment includes students from the affiliated Waterloo Lutheran Seminary

FULL-TIME UNdErgrAdUATE STUdENT ENrOLMENT By FACULTy/SCHOOL (2009-10 HEAd COUNT)

# %

Faculty of Arts 4,952 37.5

School of Business & Economics 3,104 23.5

Faculty of Science 2,419 18.3

Laurier Brantford 2,054 15.6

Faculty of Music 301 2.3

Dual Majors 225 1.7

Faculty of Education 139 1.1

FULL-TIME grAdUATE STUdENT ENrOLMENT By FACULTy/SCHOOL (2009-10 HEAd COUNT)

#

Faculty of Social Work 249

Faculty of Arts 236

School of Business & Economics 140

Faculty of Science 137

Seminary 52

Music 18

dEgrEES ANd dIPLOMAS ISSUEd 2008 2009

Undergraduate degrees and diplomas 2,704 2,751

Graduate degrees and diplomas 480 537

TOTAL 3,184 3,288

STAFF ANd FACULTy 2008-09 2009-10

Full-time faculty 497 516

Permanent staff, non-faculty 912 925

TOTAL 1,409 1,441

NUMBErS TO NOTE

In the 2008-09 year, our sponsored research income rose to $9.124M from $8.347M in 2007-08.

As of April 1, 2010, the total number of Laurier alumni reached 71,110.

Laurier alumni can be found in 88 countries.

By thenumbers

To view the university’s audited financial statements, visit www.wlu.ca/finance

A reputationfor excellence

MACLEAN’S

Once again Laurier was the leader in its category in the Maclean’s 2009 reputational survey of Canadian high-school principals and guidance counselors, heads of national and regional organizations,

university officials, CEOs and corporate recruiters:

Among Top 3 in Canada for overall reputation in the

Primarily Undergraduate category.

No. 1 in Ontario in the Primarily Undergraduate

category for:

Highest quality

Average entering grade

Proportion of students who graduate

Student retention

THE gLOBE ANd MAIL

Laurier received high marks in The Globe and Mail’s 2010 Canadian University Report, which is based on a survey of undergraduate students at 53

universities across Canada.

Faculty member’s subject knowledge A+

Overall university atmosphere A

Overall quality of education A

Satisfaction with university experience A

0

20

40

60

80

100

20

40

60

80

100

Percentage of students who evaluated their educational experiences as excellent or good (2008 NSSE)

First-year Senior-year

Percentage of students who would attend thesame institution again (2008 NSSE)

90%

79% 79%86%

78% 77%

0

20

40

60

80

100

20

40

60

80

100

First-year Senior-year

89%

84% 84% 83%

77% 78%

Laurier

Ontario

Canada

Laurier

Ontario

Canada

0

20

40

60

80

100

20

40

60

80

100

Percentage of students who evaluated their educational experiences as excellent or good (2008 NSSE)

First-year Senior-year

Percentage of students who would attend thesame institution again (2008 NSSE)

90%

79% 79%86%

78% 77%

0

20

40

60

80

100

20

40

60

80

100

First-year Senior-year

89%

84% 84% 83%

77% 78%

Laurier

Ontario

Canada

Laurier

Ontario

Canada

At Laurier, we strive to provide students with an exceptional university experience by combining academic excellence with a wide range of outstanding extra-curricular opportunities. The result? Laurier students consistently rank their experience ahead of Ontario, Canada and U.S. averages in independent surveys.

NSSE

Laurier ranks above the Ontario and overall averages in many categories of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), an American-based study that asks first-year and senior students at more than 700 institutions in Canada and the U.S. about their undergraduate experience. Highlights from the latest NSSE:

WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY75 University Avenue West | Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5

73 George Street | Brantford, Ontario, Canada N3T 2Y3120 Duke Street West | Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2H 3W8

130 King Steet West |Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5X 1C9