UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
PLANNING AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE
REQUEST FOR DECISION
PRESENTED BY:
SUBJECT:
Jay Kalra, Chair, Planning and Priorities Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 16, 2009
Approval of the Centre for Strategic Financial
Management
DECISION REQUESTED:
It is recommended:
That Council approve the Centre for Strategic Financial
Management, effective April 16, 2009.
PURPOSE:
The Centre for Strategic Financial Management aspires to become a centre of excellence for research and teaching in the areas of wealth management and corporate control related to the building and monitoring of wealth.
CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND:
The proposed Centre is included in the 2008/09 – 2011/12 Edwards School of Business
Plan as one of a number of centres the school intends to invest in to foster research, teaching, and outreach activity. The proposed centre supports the priority initiative within the Second Integrated Plan to enhance the university’s profile in the area of research, scholarly and artistic work.
CONSULTATION:
The Centres Subcommittee reviewed the Centre for Strategic Financial Management with
Associate Dean Gary Entwistle on January 27 and February 25, 2009. Following receipt of the positive recommendation from the Centres Subcommittee that the proposed centre be approved, the Planning and Priorities Committee considered the centre proposal at its
March 18, 2009 meeting.
SUMMARY:
The centre includes a scholars program, seminar series, annual research symposium, and funding scholarships for the M.Sc. Finance program.
The committees’ discussion regarding the proposal centred upon the long-term sustainability of the centre, beyond the lifespan of the associated donor gift and the

request for greater reflection of specific outcomes related to the research vision for the centre.
In summary, the Planning and Priorities Committee supports the establishment of the
Centre for Strategic Financial Management as a Type A centre, which will enhance the research activities of the Edwards School of Business and the university’s objective to foster research excellence across campus.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposal to establish the Centre for Strategic Financial Management and related correspondence www/university_secretary/council/committees/planning_priorities/report_files/pdf/
PPApril20099.1attachmentfinancialcentre.pdf
The Centres Policy and Guidelines can be found at: www.usask.ca/university_secretary/policies/research/8_23.php