Claude Lajeunesse
Encyclopedia
Claude Lajeunesse is a Canadian who is the president and chief executive officer of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, appointed to that post on Nov. 30, 2007.Aerospace Association appoints new CEO
He is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University
.
, received a Master of Science
degree in 1967 in Nuclear Engineering and a PhD in 1969. He is a member of the boards of TD Meloche Monnex, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
, the Montreal Board of Trade, and the Canadian Liver Foundation, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
, and a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
.
From 1995 until August 2005, Lajeunesse was President and Vice Chancellor of Ryerson University
. Prior to his appointment as President of Ryerson University
, he was CEO of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
. He was appointed to serve a 5 year term as the president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University in Montreal beginning August 1, 2005, however, due to conflicts with the Concordia Board of Governors
he left that post on October 31, 2007.
" of the universities he has headed by emphasizing part-time labor, raising tuition fees
, and union busting
.
At both Ryerson and Concordia, Lajeunesse made the controversial first step of giving himself a 50% pay raise, and increases of 20-50% for his immediate entourage. Lajeunesse defended his actions stating that the pay increase brought parity with other universities in Canada. Unions were critical of the move, however, as their membership had gone without wage increases for 5 years and the university's offer of a 2.5% increase did not address parity or even the cost of living increase. Union members were also required to give up job security
while Lajeunesse and the administration retained theirs.
He is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University
Concordia University
Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
.
Career
Claude Lajeunesse was born in Quebec CityQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, received a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in 1967 in Nuclear Engineering and a PhD in 1969. He is a member of the boards of TD Meloche Monnex, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited or AECL is a Canadian federal Crown corporation and Canada's largest nuclear science and technology laboratory...
, the Montreal Board of Trade, and the Canadian Liver Foundation, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
Canadian Academy of Engineering
The Canadian Academy of Engineering is a national academy of distinguished professional engineers in all fields of engineering, who are elected on the basis of "their distinguished service and contribution to society, to the country and to the profession."The Academy was founded in 1987...
, and a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec is the self-regulatory body that governs Quebec's 55,000 professional engineers. In Quebec, the OIQ carefully monitors compliance with rules of this trade and with the professional integrity of members, while also overseeing the development of the engineering...
.
From 1995 until August 2005, Lajeunesse was President and Vice Chancellor of Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
. Prior to his appointment as President of Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
, he was CEO of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
- See also :* G13 * Association of Commonwealth Universities...
. He was appointed to serve a 5 year term as the president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University in Montreal beginning August 1, 2005, however, due to conflicts with the Concordia Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
he left that post on October 31, 2007.
Criticism and public perception
Lajeunesse has been criticized for "corporatizationCorporatization
Corporatization refers to the transformation of state assets or agencies into state-owned corporations in order to introduce corporate management techniques to their administration...
" of the universities he has headed by emphasizing part-time labor, raising tuition fees
, and union busting
Union busting
Union busting is a wide range of activities undertaken by employers, their proxies, and governments, which attempt to prevent the formation or expansion of trade unions...
.
At both Ryerson and Concordia, Lajeunesse made the controversial first step of giving himself a 50% pay raise, and increases of 20-50% for his immediate entourage. Lajeunesse defended his actions stating that the pay increase brought parity with other universities in Canada. Unions were critical of the move, however, as their membership had gone without wage increases for 5 years and the university's offer of a 2.5% increase did not address parity or even the cost of living increase. Union members were also required to give up job security
Job security
Job security is the probability that an individual will keep his or her job; a job with a high level of job security is such that a person with the job would have a small chance of becoming unemployed.-Factors affecting job security:...
while Lajeunesse and the administration retained theirs.