1993 On September 23, the announcement of Paul Theodore Davenport as the 9th President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Ontario is made by Claude Pensa, Chair of the Board of Governors.
Described as “a president for the 21st century.”
1994
July
In his opening address, Davenport says Western needs a strategic plan. Sets priorities: administrative openness; emphasis on putting academic priorities first – excellence in teaching and research; strengthening ties with the external community; establishing a task force on strategic planning.
First meets university community by serving hamburgers and hot dogs at a community BBQ on the Concrete Beach.
September
Strategic Planning Task Force formed to establish priorities and develop a mission statement.
Davenport is Western’s first computer literate president, uses a PC and sends e-mail.
October
Officially installed at the 263rd Convocation.
November
Presents brief to Finance Minister Paul Martin urging stronger federal support for higher education.
1995
February
Preliminary report of Task Force on Strategic Planning released for community discussion. Public meetings held throughout the year.
June
Leadership in Learning: Western’s Draft Strategic Plan released. The agenda for change includes 53 recommendations.
November
Board of Governors approves Strategic Plan.
1996
January
Meets with Ontario Education Minister John Snobelen. Seeks flexibility for universities in setting tuition fees to deal with Ontario budget cuts. Cuts at Western range from 0-20% based on academic priorities.
February
Review of UWO Act launched.
May
Looking Forward document proposes faculty restructuring to deal with fiscal crises.
June
Senate approves merger of Nursing, Applied Health Sciences and Kinesiology faculties into Faculty of Health Sciences.
July
Faculty of Communications and Open Learning established, merging Library and Information Sciences, School of Journalism and Part-Time and Continuing Education.
August
Western backs City of London bid to host 2001 Canada Summer Games.
October
Davenport appointed chair, Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada.
November
Final report on review of UWO Act. No major changes requiring amendment by provincial legislature.
1997
February
University report on student recruitment and retention seeks improvement in overall student excellence.
March
Faculty renewal hiring. Special $1.25-million fund to hire new faculty; Senate approves merger of Medicine & Dentistry.
May
Staff launch certification drive.
June
London Alliance wins Canada Summer Games for 2001. Western is a key partner in hosting athletes and officials as well as opening and closing ceremonies.
September
Undergraduate enrolment rises to 15,600 full-time students; graduate student numbers rise by 140 to 1,800.
Teaching assistants union approves first contract.
October
Davenport’s performance reviewed by Board of Governors committee. A community process seeks input from university and external communities.
Staff vote to form independent union.
Faculty launch drive for union.
November
Board considers new stadium to replace J.W. Little Memorial Stadium for 2001 Canada Summer Games.
December
Davenport reappointed for second five-year term. Priorities include faculty and staff renewal and recruiting outstanding students.
1998
January
New 385-bed residence to open on University Drive by September 1999.
February
Name change proposed for Faculty of Communications and Open Learning. Student applications to Western jump by 12.9%.
March
Faculty vote to unionize.
New faculty named Faculty of Information and Media Studies. Includes journalism and library and information science but drops part-time and continuing education.
July
Western launches biggest funding raising campaign in history – seeks $250-$300 million.
1999
January
To take three-month leave of absence for research in Paris, France on role of universities in knowledge-based economy. Will work at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development from May 1-July 1, 1999.
February
Federal budget from Finance Minister Paul Martin helps university research.
Proposed fundraising campaign going to Board and Senate in April with $270-million goal.
April
Urges provincial government to begin planning for enrolment demand from double cohort with elimination of Grade 13.
September
Elgin Hall, new 3,500-bed residence on University Drive, opens.
Contract awarded for construction of new stadium.
October
Davenport elected chair, Council of Ontario Universities.
2000
March
Davenport announces Western to build 700-seat theatre-style classroom in Natural Sciences Centre as part of province’s SuperBuild Program.
Modest growth in campus core envisaged until 2020 in planning paper prepared by Davenport.
June
Davenport receives honorary degree from University of Toronto.
September
Grand opening of TD Waterhouse Stadium.
November
Western among top 5 in Maclean’s survey for third straight year.
Strategic Planning Task Force created to plan for next decade.
2001
January
Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco and Davenport celebrate announcement that Centre for Continuing Studies will move downtown to Galleria London.
Davenport appears weekly on CHRW Radio Western on Barney Booth Jazz Show.
May
New 400-bed residence proposed adjacent to Faculty of Education.
June
Davenport knighted by France – receives Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour).
Draft Strategic Plan Task Force report released.
August
Canada Summer Games held at Western and at sites around region.
2002
January
Planning for increased cohort well underway.
March
First-year admissions set at 4,500 – 150 higher than 2001.
June
Provincial budget brings money to help cope with increased enrolment.
New 6-storey residence under construction near Althouse – 2003 completion.
October
125th Anniversary Committee established to plan celebration in 2003.
December
Board appoints to third term – only the third Western president to serve longer than 10 years.
Receives honorary degree from University of Moscow.
2003
January
Applications up 72% as more than 50,000 students apply. Western is the highest first-choice university after University of Toronto. Western will accept 6,595 first-year students.
February
Federal budget brings funding for indirect costs of research. Davenport calls it “a landmark decision.”
March
Western celebrates 125th anniversary with yearlong events.
May
Davenport receives Order of Canada at Rideau Hall.
June
Western hosts Canadian Council for Advancement of Education conference for first time.
September
Western welcomes largest first-year class – 6,700 students.
Campaign Western reaches $278 million, topping $270-million goal.
October
Western ranked highest by students in Globe and Mail report card.
November
Western ranks in top 3 universities in Maclean’s rankings for third straight year.
2004
January
Davenport named Newsmaker of the Year for 2003, a new award by the New PL (now A News) and The Londoner newspaper.
May
Campaign Western closes with $327 million raised.
October
Rae Review of post-secondary education tops Davenport’s priorities for 2004-05.
Western receives top marks in Globe and Mail survey of universities.
November
Joint paper by faculty, staff, students and administration to Rae Review.
2005
February
Davenport works with COU to rally public support for Rae Report recommending major investment in post-secondary education.
March
Dr. Henry Morgentaler to receive honorary degree at Spring Convocation. Ignites months-long controversy.
May
University hails best provincial budget in decades. $6.2 billion over the next five years.
Western prepares to host 2005 Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences with 7,000 delegates.
June
Spring Convocation. Honorary degree awarded to Morgentaler under unprecedented campus security. More than 300 protesters, many national media on campus.
September
Davenport heads local United Way campaign. Seeks to raise $6.4 million.
November
Top marks again in Globe and Mail survey.
Solid results in Maclean’s survey – Western third in medical/doctoral category.
2006
February
Plans introduced for $230-million campus makeover over next seven years.
Davenport a celebrity reader in Western Reads program. He advocates for The Navigator of New York by Wayne Johnston with fourth-year medical student Sandy Clark.
June
Western’s Draft Strategic Plan “Engaging the Future” released. Lays out blueprint for growth and change from 2007-08 to 2010-11.
November
Western tops Globe and Mail survey for 5th straight year among 15 largest universities.
Western expanding grad studies with 815 new spaces to be created.
2007
January
More secondary school students make Western their top choice, 8.3% increase in applications.
April
Capital budget soars as campus grows. Over $134 million for projects.
May
Active learning in France. Davenport takes cycling trip with 20 kinesiology students of professor Albert Salmoni on 310-km trek along rural roads in Loire Valley. Davenport serves as tour guide.
2008
January
Campus surpasses record-breaking total with $576,819 for United Way.
$13 million from provincial government for campus renewal and infrastructure.
March
Davenport to be honored in June by Jewish National Fund for leadership and commitment to defending human rights. Ignites some criticism from faculty and students who felt it should be refused.
University begins search for Davenport’s successor. Search committee struck, headed by Board Chair Michele Noble.
June
Davenport receives Negev honor. Western praised as one of the most tolerant and peaceful campuses in Canada. Davenport and wife Josette receive standing ovation.
September
Western begins $500-million fundraising campaign to run until 2014.
October
Western outlines $700 million for construction, renovation and renewal as second phase of Long Range Space Plan. Includes $100 million for new Ivey building.
London Reads has Davenport as celebrity reader for “Gratitude” by Joseph Kertes with Delilah Deane Cummings from the London Public Library.
Alumni Association makes $250,000 gift to refurbish Talbot Theatre, to be named the Paul Davenport Theatre.
Former PM Jean Chrétien receives honorary degree.
November
Western responds to economic downturn by putting “pause” on new construction, trimming next year’s operating budget; reviews capital project needs.
2009
January
Market downturn deepens. Layoffs possible.
Stevenson-Lawson renovations over next two years force relocation of president’s office to Natural Science Building.
Federal budget earmarks $2 billion for university and college infrastructure.
February
Retirement incentives offered to minimize layoffs. Town meeting held to discuss budget situation.
March
President reflects on 15 years of leadership during Leaders’ Forum for academic and administrative leaders.
April
Western passes 2009-10 operating and capital budgets, announce 55 staff layoffs due to revenue decline.
June
Retires on June 30.
Research by Jim Anderson
For other articles on The Davenport ERA visit: