The University of Guelph will officially install Charlotte Yates as the ninth president and vice-chancellor of the University of Guelph on Saturday.
Yates will be the first woman to hold the position in the university's history.
Her five-year term went into effect in August of 2021 after serving in the position in an interim capacity for the preceding year.
In August 2020, Yates was appointed president on an interim basis following the conclusion of Franco Vaccarino’s term. She previously served as U of G’s provost and vice-president (academic).
According to a media release from the U of G, Saturday will see the installation begin with a procession to the Strong Woman Song performed by Indigenous student drummers.
U of G professor Lawrence Hill will serve as master of ceremonies, with remarks offered by Shauneen Bruder, chair of the Board of Governors.
Roberta Bondar, U of G alumna and former Canadian astronaut, will offer video greetings on behalf of alumni, and Justin Mihaly, a business major and student senate caucus member, will speak on behalf of students.
Yates began at the University of Guelph in 2015 when she was recruited to serve as the university’s provost and vice-president, academic. Prior to this Yates served from 2008 to 2015 as dean of the faculty of social sciences at McMaster University where she was also a faculty member in labour studies and political science.
Saturday’s ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m. in War Memorial Hall.
Yates' term runs from August 2, 2020, to July 31, 2026, unless her contract with the university is terminated early.
Her base salary commencing August 1, 2020, will be $395,000, including six weeks paid vacation per year and eligible for variable pay in the form of an annual lump-sum payment of up to a maximum of $30,000 based on $2,000 per point.
Coincident with her appointment as president of the university, Yates will continue her appointment as a full professor with tenure in the Department of Political Science in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences.
During her term as president, Yates shall accrue paid administrative leave at the rate of 10.4 paid weeks per year for a total of 62.4 weeks.
The university provides Yates with the use of an automobile, leased by the university and “suitable for the position of president.”
Any paid administrative leave taken immediately following the completion of her six-year term as president shall be at her full base salary.
The full contract can be found here.
