SACKVILLE, NB – Mount Allison University Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research Dr. Jeff Hennessy has been named the new Chair of the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC). The two-year appointment was effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Established in 1974, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission is an arm’s-length organization accountable to the Ministers responsible for post-secondary education in the Maritimes.

The Commission Board is made up of 20 members representing universities, the public-at-large (including students), and the three Maritime provincial governments. The Commission’s mission is to assist institutions and governments in enhancing the post-secondary learning environment. It achieves this by providing assurances that university programs in the region meet established standards of quality and by conducting research on post-secondary education.

“The MPHEC is an integral part of post-secondary education reporting in the Maritimes, providing important data and insights to the sector,” says Hennessy. “I’m excited to join the commission in this role and work with their team and colleagues at universities and colleges across the region.”

In the role of MPHEC Chair, Hennessy will oversee regular meetings of the Commission, as well as its Governance and Executive and Finance Committees. He will also work with the MPHEC’s CEO on ongoing files related to post-secondary education initiatives.

“The MPHEC is pleased to welcome Dr. Hennessy as our next Chair. His experience in university administration and teaching is impressive and we look forward to working with him to continue to advance post-secondary education in the Maritimes,” says Catherine Stewart, CEO of the MPHEC.

The MPHEC provides region-specific information on a number of topics related to post-secondary education including Maritime university statistics and enrollment, measures of student success and outcomes, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It also approves new and modified programs prior to implementation and ensures universities have in place appropriate quality assurance policies and procedures to ensure the ongoing quality of programs once implemented.