BOARD EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
Advanced Good Governance

Program Updates Spring/Summer 2025

The Board Excellence Certificate programs are being refreshed to align with a fully virtual delivery model. With the Higher Education Summit suspended, there will be no in-person sessions for the upcoming program year. 

Following the College Centre’s successful transition to a new learning platform in August 2024, we are well positioned to deliver a fully virtual program moving forward. 

The content on this page will be updated by the end of June 2025. Enrolment for new participants will open August 2025.

Advanced Good Governance Certificate program

Building on Good Governance, this certificate program deepens the knowledge and understanding of college governance, within the college context. This is the second certificate to be completed.

Enrolment

  • Enrolment opens in August. 
  • Good Governance is the first certificate to be completed.
  • Your board office staff will assist with enrolment and registration on the learning platform. 

Key program notes

  • Ontario college Board of Governors and board staff who intend to complete the Certificate programs are welcome to enrol. 
  • Completion of the Good Governance Certificate is a prerequisite for completion of the Advanced Good Governance Certificate. Both can be completed in one year.
  • There is no program fee to enrol.
  • The full program overview can be found below.

For more information, please contact the College Centre Team.

Program Overview

The updated program overview will be posted by the end of June 2025, reflecting the newly developed virtual format for 2025–2026. Please note that all sessions will be delivered virtually, with no in-person components. Information provided below reflects the program from 2024-25. 

ADVANCED GOOD GOVERNANCE CERTIFICATE

Requirements:
  • Completion of Good Governance Certificate, AND
  • Two Mandatory Risk Management sessions (Parts One and Two) AND
  • Completion of three electives (minimum)

MANDATORY SESSIONS

Webinar: Risk Management: Part One – Key Principles
Participants will build their knowledge and understanding about the board’s role in oversight of the risk management function, the key principles of effective risk oversight, and ways to ensure appropriate alignment of an organization’s strategy and its risk.

Presenter:


Philip Racco, Partner
Enterprise Risk Practice, MNP LLP

Virtual meeting: Risk Management: Part Two – Scenarios
Leveraging a series of scenarios, delegates will put into practice the key risk management concepts learned in part one. Real-life college examples and discussions with board members from across the sector will enhance the learning experience.

Facilitators:


Philip Racco, Partner
Enterprise Risk Practice, MNP LLP


Sarah Dionne, Senior Manager
Enterprise Risk Practice, MNP LLP

ELECTIVE SESSIONS for ADVANCED GOOD GOVERNANCE:
Minimum of three (3) sessions is required.

Webinar: Labour and Employee Relations – An Introduction
The College Employer Council (CEC) provides system leadership on labour and employee relations in the Ontario college sector. Join this session to better understand the role of CEC, collective bargaining across the system, managing with collective agreements, and the legislative frameworks.

Presenter:


Graham Lloyd, CEO
College Employer Council

Webinar: Internal Governors' Orientation
The Ontario college sector has a legislated governance model that includes the election of internal governors. This unique role on the Board of Governors will be explored in this session, providing a deeper understanding of the governance role for internal governors, your roles and responsibilities, and how to engage with various stakeholders. Join this session to be more fully prepared for your responsibilities as a board member, while remaining a college employee or student.

Facilitator:


Graham Lloyd, CEO
College Employer Council

Webinar: The college system – an introduction 

This session will help you to better understand the context for the college system as a whole. Current key issues will be discussed, along with the challenges and opportunities ahead, and the strategic priorities for the system. College governors and college leaders will gain a critical appreciation for the sector in which their college operates, and its strategic role in the province.

Presenter:


Maureen Adamson, Interim President & CEO
Colleges Ontario

Webinar: Understanding college financial statements
Financial statements provide critical information on a college’s financial health and its ability to pursue and achieve its strategic objectives. This session will provide an introduction for board members, board staff and senior managers on:

  • basic components of financial statements
  • financial statement objectives
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles “GAAP” for colleges
  • role of senior management and boards vis-à-vis financial statements
  • what to focus on when reading the financial statements
  • reporting of financials to key internal and external stakeholders
  • upcoming “GAAP” changes for college financial statements

Presenters:


Robert Wilkes, CPA, CA, Partner
BDO Canada LLP


Marcus Sconci, CPA, CA, Partner
BDO Canada LLP

Webinar: College financial leadership

Financial leadership is critical to both boards of governors, and senior college administrators. This session will highlight good governance practices around financial leadership, key components of revenue and expenditures, financial health indicators, the current financial status of the college system and the influence of the province on college financial matters.

Within the financial context, this session will also integrate good governance concepts, the importance of understanding legislation, regulations, risk management and fiduciary duties and standard of care, along with strong financial oversight.

Presenter:

Sanjay Puri, CPA, CMA, VP Administration & CFO
Humber College