Claude Lajeunesse

Claude Lajeunesse (born 1941) 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.

Career

Claude Lajeunesse was born in Quebec City, 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.^[1]

Criticism and public perception

Lajeunesse has been criticized for "corporatization"^[2] of the universities he has headed by emphasizing part-time labor, raising tuition fees ,^[3] and union busting.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[2] Union members were also required to give up job security while Lajeunesse and the administration retained theirs.

References

• President Claude Lajeunesse installation speech, Oct. 21, http://news.concordia.ca/administration/005163.shtml 
• Statement from President Claude Lajeunesse on of his resignation from Concordia..., http://news.concordia.ca/administration/011619.shtml 
• Concordia News : Claude Lajeunesse appointed President of Concordia University (2005)
• Concordia News : Claude Lajeunesse steps down as President of Concordia University (2007)
• The Eye Opener (Ryerson University): Bye, Claude. You won't be missed (2007)
• The Eye Opener (Ryerson University): Ex-Rye head resigns from Concordia (2007)
• The Link (Concordia University): Concordia university president resigns (2007)
• The Link (Concordia University): Faculties demand answers about Concordia president’s resignation (2007)

• Macleans's : Leaving Concordia (2007)

Citations

1. ^ News@Concordia: Claude Lajeunesse steps down as President of Concordia University
2. ^ ^{a b} Curran, Peggy (April 16, 2007), "Concordia Incorporated", The Montreal Gazette, http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=bf918eb4-3b0e-4a04-9d25-0248e84bbb4e&k=6467 ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Valiante, Giuseppe, Lajeunesse says students agree to increased tuition, http://thelink.concordia.ca/view.php?aid=39364 ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Curran, Peggy (February 15, 2007), "Union protests against $35,000 stipend", The Montreal Gazette 
5. ^ Don, McHoull (August 14, 2006), Raking it in, http://www.theeyeopener.com/article/1023 

External links

• Claude Lajeunesse Biography

Academic offices
Preceded by Terry Grier	President of Ryerson University 1995–2005	Succeeded by Sheldon Levy
Preceded by Frederick Lowy	President of Concordia University 2005–2007	Succeeded by Judith Woodsworth

Preceded by Peter Boag

President and Chief Executive Office, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada Nov. 30, 2007

Succeeded by

Persondata
Name	Lajeunesse, Claude
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Date of birth	1941
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