BOARD EXCELLENCE
College Governance - Foundations

College Governance – Foundations (CGF)

The Board Excellence programs are designed to build the core competencies Governors need to bring strategic leadership to the board table within Ontario’s colleges.

The focus is on strengthening the capacity of governors to bring effective strategic, financial, risk, and performance oversight, while operating within the legislative framework for Ontario colleges and within a dynamic economic, political and technological landscape.

The College Governance – Foundations (CGF) Certificate program provides foundational learning to support governors’ understanding of their role, and that of the college board. This is the first certificate to be completed.

For more information, please contact the College Centre Team. 

Program Overview

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◊ Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, participants will be better prepared to meet expectations associated with college board leadership, including: 

  • Working within the legal framework - college legislation, governance structure, and compliance obligations
  • Defining roles clearly - understand board and governor roles and responsibilities and delegation principles
  • Navigating board operations - effective meeting participation and college-specific governance
  • Understanding the system - college sector overview and labour/employee relations context
  • Developing financial literacy - read financial statements and understand fiscal leadership
  • Applying risk principles - foundational 

◊ Program Structure

The program is delivered virtually over the program year (September – June) and includes:  

  • On-demand webinars for instructional content
  • Interactive sessions led by experienced college leaders and external partners
  • Scenario-based learning focused on sector-specific challenges

Participants are expected to engage in approximately 12 hours of learning across multiple modules, including both synchronous and asynchronous components.

◊ Eligibility Criteria

This program is intended for:

  • Boards of Governors
  • Board staff that directly support the work of the Board
  • Executive leaders who directly support the work of the Board

◊ Enrolment    

Enrolment is coordinated through the Board Liaison at each college. 

  • Enrolment opens to new participants in August of each year
  • An enrolment “key” is provided through the Board Liaison once participation has been confirmed. This key provides immediate access to the learning platform and all content within this program.  

◊ Completion Criteria

Based on the table below, participants will be required to complete: 

  • Seven webinars (on-demand)
  • Two synchronous, virtual workshops

The expected hours required to complete these courses are 12 hours.

◊ Program-at-a-glance

2026-27 Program Overview

All courses are mandatory.

Asynchronous Courses:
Webinars On-demand

The College System – An Introduction (1 hour)

Understanding the context for the college system as a whole is critical to all senior leaders, and Boards of Governors. The legislative framework, economic and poli

tical trends, as well as key sectors for college graduates are explored.

The session explores the role of Colleges Ontario as the sector’s advocacy and coordination body, highlighting how collective action supports system-wide strength and sustainability.

Labour and Employee Relations –
An Introduction (1 hour)

The College Employer Council (CEC) provides system leadership to labour and employee relations. Understanding this sector leadership and function is important to senior leaders and Boards of Governors.

By the end of this session, participants will better understand the role of CEC across bargaining and employee relations. 

The College, the Board and the Governor: 
Legal Framework and Obligations (1.5 hours)

This 6-part tutorial course provides Ontario college board members and senior administrators with a foundational understanding of the legal and governance framework that defines their roles and responsibilities. 

Webinar: The Role of Internal Governors (1 hour)

The Ontario college sector has a legislated governance model that includes the election of internal governors. This unique role on the Board of Governors is explored in this session, providing a deeper understanding of the governance role for internal governors, their roles and responsibilities, and how to engage with various stakeholders.

College Financial Leadership (1.5 hours)

This session highlights 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 also integrates good governance concepts, the importance of understanding legislation, regulations, risk management and fiduciary duties and standard of care, along with strong financial oversight.

Understanding College Financial Statements (1.5 hours)

Financial statements provide critical information on a college’s financial health and its ability to pursue and achieve its strategic objectives. This session provides an introduction for board members, board staff and senior leaders on the basic components of financial statements, the PSAS Conceptual Framework, the role of senior management and boards vis-à-vis financial statements, reporting of financials, and current issues impacting colleges’ financial statements. 

Risk Management – Key Principles (1.5 hours)

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.

Synchronous courses: Instructor-led

Risk Management - Scenarios (2 hours)

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.

Good Governance - Scenarios (2 hours)

In this session, participants will deepen their understanding of good governance principles and concepts, and roles and responsibilities of board members. They will also engage and learn from each other, gaining a greater appreciation of the perspectives and value each governor brings to the governing process. This session is designed for board members, board staff, and senior management likely to work with boards.

New board members and board staff want to contribute to the vibrancy of their boards. Through this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between the president, board chair and other board members, and will strategize on how to contribute to -- or facilitate -- a healthy and smart dialogue at board meetings. It is also an opportunity for each person to initiate their own personal governance professional development plan and discuss their legacy to their college’s board.

Total program hours: 12