MinutesofUniversityCouncil
2:30p.m.,Thursday,April17,2014
Neatby‐TimlinTheatre
Attendance:J.Kalra(Chair).SeeappendixAforlistingofmembersinattendance.
AtributetoDr.ChaturbhujSisadiafromtheWesternCollegeofVeterinaryMedicinewasgivenby
Dr.BarryBlakley,thedepartmentheadofVeterinaryBiomedicalSciencesintheWesternCollegeof
VeterinaryMedicine.
Thechaircalledthemeetingtoorderat2:43p.m.,observingthatquorumhadbeenattained.
1. Adoptionoftheagenda
DOBSON/KALYNCHUK:Toadopttheagendaascirculated.
CARRIED
2. Openingremarks
ThechairwelcomedmembersandvisitorsandnotedtheitemscomingbeforeCouncil.Atthe
chair’sinvitationtheuniversitysecretaryprovidedtheelectionresultsforCouncil’sfaculty
representativesbeing:MichaelNickersonfortheCollegeofAgricultureandBioresources;Bill
RoeslerfortheCollegeofMedicine;andJamesMontgomeryfortheWesternCollegeofVeterinary
Medicine;allforthree‐yeartermscommencingJuly1,2014untilJune30,2017.
3. MinutesofthemeetingofMarch20,2014
Twocorrectionswerenotedfortheminutes,thefirsttonotethatDr.RichardFarrellisnota
departmenthead;thesecondtoaddtheword“socioeconomic”beforetheworddemographicsin
thesecondparagraphofthereportfromtheUSSU.
MICHELMANN/DOBSON:ThattheCouncilminutesofMarch20,2014beapprovedas
circulatedwiththeamendmentsnoted.
CARRIED
4. Businessfromtheminutes
Therewasnobusinessarisingfromtheminutes.
5. ReportofthePresident
PresidentIleneBusch‐Vishniaccommentedonanumberofeventsthathaveoccurredsincethelast
Councilmeetingincluding:theUSSUhashelditselectionre‐electingMaxFineDayasUSSU
president;IzabelaVlahuwaselectedasin‐comingGSApresident;andtheUSSUheldtheirannual
awardsceremony.Thepresidentalsonotedthatshehadattendedthesend‐offforthirdyear
nutritionstudents,metwiththeStudentMedicalSocietyofSaskatchewan,andhostedadinnerfor
theAboriginalStudentLeadershipgroup.Thepresidentcommendedtheincredibleyearfor
HuskieAthleticsnotingthat11teamsmadethenationalplayoffswithsixteamsfinishinginthetop
sixinCanada.
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ThepresidentprovidedcommentsontheAssociationofUniversitiesandCollegesofCanada
(AUCC)meetingandthediscussiononfaith‐basedinstitutionsandtheCanadianCharterofRights
andFreedom.Theissueisnotwhetherornotinstitutionsshouldbeaffordedreligiousfreedom,but
thatindescribingandconstitutingthemselvessomeinstitutionshavetakenissuewiththoseinthe
lesbian,gay,bisexual&transgender(LGBT)community.Shenotedthatatameetingofthe
executiveheadsoftheAUCCanumberofoptionswereproposed.Althoughasyetthereisno
consensus,thereisanawarenessofthesituationandadesirebytheAUCCtohaveaclearstandon
theissue.Thepresidentnotedthattherewillbemoreinformationprovidedatalaterdatewhena
motioncomesforward.
ThepresidentinformedCouncilthatshehadbeeninvitedtojointheScience,Technologyand
InnovationCouncilofCanada(STIC)whichmeetsfourtimesayearinOttawawiththeministersof
ScienceandTechnologyandofIndustry.TheTri‐councilagenciesreportthroughSTICanditisan
extremelyimportantcouncilandthepresidentnotedhowpleasedshewastohavebeeninvitedfor
athree‐yeartermbeingoneoftwouniversitypresidentsonthecouncil.
Duringthequestionsessionwiththepresident,aCouncilmembernotedthattheCanadian
AssociationofUniversityTeachers(CAUT)hasbeenclearthatifTrinityWesterninestablishinga
lawschoolrequiresafaithtestthatitwillnotberecognizedasauniversitybytheCAUT.
ThechaircongratulatedthepresidentonherappointmenttoSTIC.
6. ReportoftheProvost
Dr.BrettFairbairn,provostandvice‐presidentacademic,referredtohiswrittenreportand
highlightedthreeitemsincludingareportonexpendituresmadefromtheAcademicPrioritiesFund
sinceitsinception,whichhasbeenprovidedinresponsetoapreviousquestionatCouncil.The
actionplanthatPCIPwillreleasebyMayinresponsetothetaskforcereports,willincludeasetof
projectbriefsforeachactionproposedintheactionplandocument,andasetofresponsestothe
taskforcerecommendationstoindicatewhichonesarecoveredbyprojectsproposed,whichones
theuniversityshouldnottakeactiononandwhy,andwhichoneswillbeleftwithunitleadersfor
considerationoffurtheractions.Theprovostadvisedthattheactionplanwillincludesome
projectsthatarealreadyunderwaysuchasthegraduateeducationreviewoftheCollegeof
GraduateStudiesandResearch.Thirdly,theprovostnotedthathisreportincludestheprovost
teachingawardwinnersandhecongratulatedthemontheiraccomplishments.Theprovostthen
calledforquestions.
ACouncilmember,notingthatthereportreferstoprinciplesandcriteriafactoredintotheaction
plan,includingthenewvisiondocument,askedDr.Fairbairntoprovidemoreinformationonhow
thevisiondocumentwillfactorintotherecommendationsthatwillcomeforwardthroughthe
TransformUSprocess.TheprovostadvisedthatasPCIPhasbeendevelopingtheproposalsand
identifyingprojectstorecommendandlaunch,theyhavebeenmindfulofthediscussionofthe
visiondocumentandhavebeenconsideringwhattheemergingcontentofthevisiondocument
signifies.
ACouncilmemberaskedtheprovostwhathemeantbyverticalsilosinhisreport.Theprovost
advisedthattheconceptofsilossignifieswhenpartsoftheorganizationareinwardlyfocusedand
havedifficultycommunicatingwithotherpartsoftheorganization.
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7. ReportoftheVice‐presidentResearch
Dr.KarenChad,vice‐presidentresearch,providedherreporttoCounciloninitiativeshappening
acrossthecampusandspecificallyprovidedupdatesontheResearchMentorshipProgramandthe
OneHealthInitiative,oneoftheuniversity’ssignatureareas.
RegardingtheResearchMentorshipProgram,Dr.Chadreportedonanumberofconsultation
groupsthatlookedatthefactorsthathelpedcontributetoanindividualfacultymember’ssuccess.
Thenumberonefactoridentifiedwastheneedformentorship.Thereafterauniversity‐wide
researchmentorshipprogramwasestablishedasajointeffortoftheofficeofthevice‐president
researchandtheprovost’soffice.Theprogrammatchesapersonalizedresearchmentorshipteam
tonewfacultymembersforaperioduptofiveyears.Dr.ChadnotedthatwithintheU15thereare
12universitieswithteachingmentorshipprograms;however,onlytwooftheseareinstitutional
programs,andnoneareresearch‐focused..
Dr.ChadoutlinedthatthegoalsoftheResearchMentorshipProgramaretoimproveresearch
successfornewfaculty,enhancetheteacher‐scholarmodelacrosscampusandadvanceour
research‐intensiveculture.Sheprovidedfurtherdetailontheparticipationrateofnewfaculty
membersintheprogramandthevalueoftheprogram,asreportedinasurveyofnewfaculty
participantsandbymentors,intermsoftheirabilitytocontributetowardsthesuccessofnew
facultyenrolledintheprogram.Althoughtheprogramisstillinitsearlystages,thelong‐termgoal
istohavea100%participationrateofnewfacultymembers.
RegardingtheOneHealthInitiative,Dr.Chadadvisedthattheuniversityislookingatsolutionsfor
issuesattheintersectionofhuman,animalandenvironmentalhealth.Sheadvisedthatmorethan
40facultymembersparticipateintheOneHealthinitiative,aswellasindustryandgovernment
partners.AstrategicplansubmittedtotheCouncilofHealthScienceDeansandPCIPidentifiedthe
followingfourareasofresearchstrength:foodsafety,waterandhealth,infectiousdiseasesshared
byanimalsandhumans,andonehealthcommunityneedsandservices.Dr.Chadlistedthefaculty
membersleadingeachofthefourareas.Dr.Chadalsonotedtheuniversity’ssuccessinbeing
awardedaCanadaExcellenceResearchChairinIntegratedInfectiousDiseaseMitigation.In
concludingherremarks,Dr.Chadnotedtheundergraduateonehealthprogram,onehealth
leadershipexperienceandhowtheinitiativeisencouragingwidespreadcollaborationacross
disciplines.
Dr.Chadreceivedanumberofquestions.ACouncilmembernotedthathehadheardthatatthe
endoftheMitacsexecutiveinresidenceannouncementearlierinthemonth,aFirstNationswoman
madecriticalremarksandwasignoredbythosepresent.Dr.Chadagreedthathisdescriptionwas
fairlyaccurateandindicateditwasunfortunatethatindividualsoftendonotknowhowtodealor
respondtocommentssuchasthese.Sheacknowledgedtheimportanceoftheissueraised,which
relatestooneofthethematicareasoftheInternationalMineralsInnovationInstitute(IMII)being
socialconsciousness,publicpolicy,dutytoconsultanddutyforengagement.Dr.Chadnotedthat
shewouldbringforwardtheincidentandlackofresponse,totheIMIIasshesitsontheboard.
ACouncilmembernotedthattherewerefoursub‐groupsundertheOneHealthInitiativehowever
noneofthemappliestotheartssideoftheCollegeofArtsandScienceandrecommendedthatthe
artsbereflectedwithintheinitiative.Dr.Chadagreedthateachofthethematicareasneedsto
embraceallofthedisciplinesandadvisedthatthecallstoparticipategotothewholeacademybut
thatfurtherfacilitationmaybeneededtoreachallfaculty.
Otherquestionsrelatedto:thechallengesandopportunitiesofopen‐sourcepublishing–Dr.Chad
advisedthatshewouldreportfurtheronthemovetowardsopensourcepublishingafterspeaking
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withDeanWilliamson,UniversityLibrary;andprogressingtheResearchMentorshipProgram
throughnon‐participatingcolleges–Dr.ChadadvisedthatDr.JimThornhill(withsupportfromDr.
JimGermida)willbemeetingwithbothparticipatingandnon‐participatingcollegesandseeking
advicefromotheruniversitieswithsuccessfulprograms.
8. StudentSocieties
8.1ReportfromtheUSSU
JennaMoellenbeck,vice‐president,operationsandfinance,oftheUniversityofSaskatchewan
Students’Union,deliveredthereport.SherecalledthekeyinitiativesoftheUSSUoverthe
year,includingtheestablishmentofafallreadingweekinsupportofstudentmentalhealth,
andtheadoptionandimplementationofanopentextbookpolicyattheuniversitytoalleviate
studentfinancialstressrelatedtothecostoftextbooks,whichtheprovincialgovernmenthas
recentlysignedonto.TheUSSUwillseekfacultysupporttoimplementthepolicyintheir
classes.
RegardingTransformUS,Ms.Moellenbeckadvisedthatduringtheconsultationandfeedback
periodtheUSSUhelditsownconsultationwithdifferentstudentgroupsandcompiled
responsesintoareportthatwasprovidedtoPCIP.Thehopeandexpectationisforuniversity
leaderstocontinuedialogueswithstudentuniversityleadersaftertheactionplanhasbeen
released.Ms.MoellenbeckalsoreportedonanumberofotherinitiativesthattheUSSU
broughtforwardovertheyearandnamedthenewmembersoftheUSSUexecutivethathad
beenelectedforthe2014‐15yearincluding:MaxFineDayreturningaspresident,EliasNelson
asvice‐presidentoperationsandfinance,DesireeSteele,vice‐presidentacademicaffairsand
JackSaddleback,vice‐presidentstudentaffairs.
ThechairaskedMs.MoellenbecktopassonCouncil’sappreciationfortheworkoftheUSSUto
theentireUSSUleadership.
8.2 ReportfromtheGSA
EhimaiOhiozebau,presidentoftheGraduateStudents’Association,presentedareportonthe
workthathasbeenaccomplishedbytheGSAoverthepastthreeyears,includingaccesstothe
GSAcommons,activeparticipationbyGSAmembersingovernance,thenewGSAwebsiteand
increasedgraduatestudentscholarships.Hethankedboththepresidentforhersupportasan
advocateforgraduatestudents,andvariousacademicunitsinvolvedintheimplementationof
thedevolvedscholarshipprogram.
Mr.OhiozebauadvisedthattheGSAhasbeenworkingwiththeUSSUinmanyareassuchasthe
tuitionwaiverprogramsupportandopentextbookpolicy;andtheUSSUhasworkedwiththe
GSAontheprovincialgovernment’sstudentretentionprogram.Mr.Ohiozebaunotedthatthe
GSAprovidedincreasedadvocacysincelastyearforstudentsintheareaofracial
discrimination,andheadvisedthatthisneedstobeaddressedcalmlyandseriously,especially
forinternationalstudents.HeadvisedthathishopeisthattheGSAwillreceivesupporttohelp
studentsinthisarea.RegardingtheGSAconferenceandgala,headvisedthatbothwerevery
wellattendedandhethankedallthosewhowereinattendance.
Inclosing,Mr.OhiozebauthankedtheUniversityCouncilforitssupport,and,inparticular,
thankedhissupervisorandmemberofCouncil,Prof.PaulJonesforhiskindnessandsupport
duringhistermasGSApresident
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ThechaircongratulatedMr.OhiozebauforhisleadershipandworkdonefortheGSAand
providedcongratulationsandthankstoalloftheGSAexecutive,notingthatCouncilwill
continuetoworkeffectivelywiththenewexecutive.
AdamBaxter‐Jones,actingdeanoftheCollegeofGraduateStudiesandResearch,alsoprovided
histhankstotheworkMr.Ohiozebauhasdonenotingthathehasbeenoutstandinginhis
leadershipwiththeUPASS,scholarshipsandgraduateretentionprograms.Healsothanked
Prof.JonesforhissupportofMr.Ohiozebau.
9. PlanningandPrioritiesCommittee
Dr.FranWalley,chairofthecommittee,presentedthisitemtoCouncil.
9.1 RequestforDecision:Vision2025:FromSpirittoAction
Dr.WalleyadvisedthattheplanningandprioritiescommitteeisrecommendingthatCouncil
approvethedocumentasthenewinstitutionalvisiondocumentcontainingthenewvisionand
missionstatementfortheuniversity.Thedocumentisintendedtobecomeaninstitutional
statementoftheuniversity’sbroadestgoalsandobjectivesandlaythefoundationforthe
university’sfutureintegratedplansandfoundationaldocuments.Dr.Walleynotedthatshe
hashearditdescribedasthefoundationaldocumentofallfoundationaldocuments.Thevision
documentdoesnotsupplantthecurrentuniversity’sintegratedplan,butratherprovides
guidanceanddirectionforfutureuniversityplans.Thedocumentspeakstotheuniversity’s
collectivemission,visionandvaluesandguidingprinciplesand,assuch,itisappropriatethat
CouncilbeaskedtoapprovetheVision2025documenttovoiceitssupportofthiscollective
visionanddirectionoftheuniversity.
Dr.WalleynotedthatanearlierversionofthedocumentcametoCouncilinOctoberatwhich
timethecommitteereportedonitsdiscussionwiththepresident.Thecommitteeexpressed
supportforvariouselementsbutalsosuggestedrevisions.Inputfromthecommitteeand
subsequentlyfromCouncil,SenateandtheBoardofGovernorshelpedtofurthershapethe
documentasdidextensivefeedbackthatwassoughtthroughtownhalls,publicmeetingsand
meetingwithstudentorganizations,alumniandadministrativeunits,andgovernment
representatives.Anumberofcollegesanddepartmentsalsoinvitedthepresidenttopresent
thedraftdocumenttotheirfaculty,studentsandstaff.Dr.Walleynotedthesignificantchanges
madetothedocumentsinceOctober.
Dr.Walleynotedthatatthemostrecentcommitteediscussionofthedocumentitwasclear
thattherearemanywaysofarticulatingthevision.Inrecommendingapprovalthecommittee
signifiesthatdespitehavingdifferencesinopinionregardingthewordinginthedocument,
whentakenonbalanceandasawholethemajorityofthecommitteeagreedtothedocument.
Dr.Walleyadvisedthatitisfromthisperspectivethatthecommitteesubmitsthedocumentto
Councilforapproval.
Thepresidentwasinvitedtospeaktothemotion.Shecommentedonwhytheuniversity
needsavisiondocumentadvisingthatitallowsustoarticulatewhereweasaninstitutionare
headed,describesourvaluesandwhatmakesusuniqueamongourpeers,providesa
frameworkasatouchstoneasotherunitsaredevelopingplans,andallowsustodevelopand
refreshourfoundationaldocuments.
Thepresidentadvisedthatshefoundtheprocessofdevelopingthisdocumentdelightfuland
exciting.Shetriedtomakesureitwasopenandtransparentandsoughtinputfromasmany
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peopleasshecould.ThepresidentadvisedthatshealsowenttotheUSSU,GSA,Indigenous
StudentCouncil,alumnieventsandatleastthreecommitteesofCouncil(planningand
priorities,teaching,learningandacademicresources,andresearch,scholarlyandartistic
work).Manycommentswerereceived,whichfrequentlyreflecteddissentingviews,and
thereforenotallcommentscouldbeincorporated.
Importantly,thepresidentadvisedthatbetweenOctoberandthepresent,thedocumenthas
becometheuniversity’svisiondocument,ratherthanthepresident’svisiondocument.This
doesnotmeaneveryonewillagreewitheverywordinthedocument,butratherthateveryone
feelstheyhavehadachancetobeapartoftheprocessandisinagreementwiththestanceof
thedocument.Thedocumenthasbecomebolderandbriefer.TheAboriginalengagement
sectionwascompletelyre‐writtenafterextensiveconsultationwithstudents,facultyandstaff
oncampus.Thepresidentconcludedherremarks,byexpressingthatshehasthoroughly
enjoyedtheprocessofshapingthevisiondocumentfortheinstitutionandverymuch
appreciatedthecommentsandfeedbackreceived.
ACouncilmemberaskedwhattherelationshipwasbetweenthevisionstatementandthe
UniversityofSaskatchewan’smissionstatement.Thepresidentadvisedthatamission
statementis“whatwearemeanttodoasaninstitution”andavisionis“whatdowewantto
achievedowntheroadin10to15years”.TheCouncilmemberaskedwhethertheUniversity
ofSaskatchewanmissionstatementthatwasapprovedin1993wouldcontinuetostand.The
presidentclarifiedthatiftheVision2025documentisapprovedbyCouncil,Senateandthe
BoardofGovernors,thenthemissionstatementincludedinthisdocumentwouldreplacethe
1993missionstatement.
ACouncilmembernotedthatitisanaspirationaldocumentwithsubstantialoperational
implications,andrecommendedtablingthemotionofapprovalofthedocumentuntilafterthe
releaseoftheTransformUSActionPlantoseehowPCIPinterpretedthedocumentinrelation
totheActionPlan.Theuniversitysecretaryadvisedthatamotiontopostponetemporarilyis
notdebatableoramendableandrequirestwo‐thirdsmajorityofvotescastforapproval.
FINDLAY/BROOKE:ItisrecommendedthatthedocumentVision2025:FromSpiritto
ActionbetemporarilypostponedforconsiderationuntilthenextCouncilmeeting.
DEFEATED
ACouncilmemberaskedwhythisdocumentwasnotcalledamissionstatementsothe
communitycouldcompareboththisdocumentandthe1993missionstatementandcometoa
conclusion.Thepresidentadvisedthatthemissionstatementhasbeeninthedocumentfrom
thebeginning,althoughitswordinghaschangedslightly.Shestatedthatthishasbeencalleda
visionstatementbecauseavisioniswhatwearetryingtoachievesoitisamoreappropriate
nameforthewholedocument.
ACouncilmemberaskedhowmuchweightthepresidentenvisionedthedocumenthavingin
itsentirety.ThepresidentadvisedthatDr.Walley’sdescriptionofthevisiondocumentbeing
thefoundationaldocumentofallfoundationaldocumentsisthecorrectwaytothinkaboutthe
document.Thedocumentisastatementoftheuniversity’saspirations,thevaluesitholds
dear,anditsmissionandvision.
ACouncilmemberregisteredtwoconcernswiththedocumentinitscurrentformthefirst
beingonpagesixinthefourthbulletthatstates:“Wewillensureouremployeesreflectthe
valuesoftheuniversity”.Headvisedthatthisstatementhasacoerciveelementinitandit
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shouldberevisitedsoitdoesnotcontaincoercedcollegiality.Secondlyundertheprograms
andplanningsectioninthesecondbulletwhereitstates,“Wewillhonoracultureofplanning,
implementingplansandevidence‐baseddecision‐making”,herecommendedthat“culture”be
replacedwith“cult”whichwouldalignmorewithacademicandhealth“leanness”.
ACouncilmembernotedthatshehasbeenveryinterestedintheprocessandappreciativeof
somechangessuchasinclusionof“scholarlyandartisticwork”andalsolanguagefromthe
LearningCharterandreferringto“socialresponsibility,diversityandequality”.Sheaskedfor
thebenefitsofhavingthedocumentapprovedtoday,ratherthanhavingthedocument
discussedtodayandinvitingcolleaguestodiscussitwithintheircolleges,withalaterapproval
date.Dr.Walleyrepliedthattherewerepragmaticreasonsforbringingthedocumentto
CounciltodaybeingthedesiretohaveitapprovedbyCouncil,SenateandtheBoardof
Governorsbeforetheendoftheacademicyear.Also,therehasbeenmuchconsultationover
thepastmonthsregardingthedocument.
ACouncilmembernotedthattherehavebeenvisionaryandmissionstatementsfromWalter
Murrayandfoundersoftheuniversityandagainin1993thattheuniversitybelongstothe
peopleofSaskatchewan.ACouncilmemberalsonotedarticle4.1intheUniversityof
SaskatchewanActandnotedhefindsthatthepresentdocument,whichhebelieveshadits
originsintheDickesonalgorithmofprogramprioritizationprocesses,addsnothingthatisnot
alreadyembodiedinthecurrentmissionstatement.Hestatedthatthereisnonecessityto
approveadocumentthatisnotacreationofCouncil,howeverifCouncilshouldapprovethe
documentthenCouncilwillbeheldaccountableforwhatiswrittenandalsothesubsequent
interpretationsthatwillbemadeofit.Hisbeliefisthatthe1993missionstatementismuch
morethanthepresentdocument,andthereforeindicatedhecouldnotsupportthenewvision
document.
Anon‐Councilmemberspokeagainstthedocument,citingcomplaintswiththeinstitutes
highlightedinthedocument,andthatthevaluesarticulatedinthedocumentdonottranslate
intotheuniversity’sapproachtoworkforceplanning.
ACouncilmemberaskedtowhatextentisthedocumentamendablebyCounciltowhichthe
presidentrespondedthatpeoplewhowishtocanproposeamendmentstothemotion.
ACouncilmemberrecognizedthatmuchworkhasgoneintothedocumentandmanypeople
havebeenconsultedandhecommendedthepresidentonherinclusiveness.Nonethelesshe
providedseveralsuggestionstoimprovethedocument,relatedtogreaterfocusand
integrationofthevisionstatementwiththestatementonAboriginalmeansanddevelopment
inthedocument.
InresponsetoaconcernraisedbyaCouncilmemberregardingthetimingofthedevelopment
oftheVision2025documentandtheTransformUSprocess,thepresidentclarifiedthatadraft
ofthevisiondocumentwasavailableatthetimethetaskforcereportsandrecommendations
werebeingdeveloped.Thepurposeofthedocumentsalsodiffers,asthevisiondocumentis
intendedtohavealifespanof10to15years;whereasTransformUSismeanttoresultinmore
immediateactions.
TheprovostaddedthatPCIPconsideredthedocumentasoneofmanydocuments,principles
andcriteriathatitisreferencing.ThedocumentdoesnotcomefromtheDickesonmodeland
hasadifferentfocusandpurposeasoutlined.Thisdocumentiswell‐suitedtobeingthelonger
termvision.Therewillbestrategicdocumentsforshortertermsaswellasfour‐yearplanning
documentstofocusonfour‐yearperiods,allofwhichwillbeshapedandinformedbythis
Visiondocument.
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Dr.WalleyinformedCouncilofanamendmenttothedocumentsuggestedbythepresidentto
delete“Wewillensureouremployeesreflectthevaluesoftheuniversity,anditisour
responsibilitytomakecertainthat”inthefourthbulletunder“People”onpagesixandreplace
itwiththeremainderofthesentence,“Wewillembedsufficientprofessionaldevelopmentin
ouroperationssothatourpersonnelcangrowtheirskillsandexpandtheirknowledge.”
ACouncilmemberspokeinfavouroftheoriginalmotionnotingthatheviewsthedocumentas
onethathewouldliketoliveintoandbecomeandhewasinspiredbyit.Henotedthathesees
itmovingtheuniversityforwardinthenecessarydirection.Recognizingthatasatri‐cameral
organizationapprovalwillalsobesoughtofSenateandtheBoardofGovernors;he
recommendedthatCouncilapprovethedocument,understandingthatthepresidentmayseek
modificationsinthefuture.
ACouncilmembernotedthathebelievedthelanguagewasproblematicandifthepresident
waswillingtomakethemodificationsuggested,thatwouldencouragehimtosupportthe
document.
ACouncilmembersuggestedanadditionalmodificationtodeletethesixthbulletinthe
Resources,FocusandPartnershipsection,whichreads,“wewillcraftmechanismstohelpus
selectwhichopportunitieswewillrespondtoinatimelyfashion,”duetotheadministrative
toneconveyedbythesentence.
ACouncilmembernotedherregretthatthefollowingtwoclausesfromthe1993mission
statementwillbemissing,“today,theuniversitycontinuestoprovideliberal,artisticand
professionaleducation,enrichingthelivesofthepeopleoftheprovince,”and,“toofferarich
arrayofchallengingacademicprograms.”
Abriefrecesswastakentoconfirmtheamendmentproposedbythepresidentinthesection
on“People.”
Thechaircalledforthevote.
WALLEY/KALYNCHUK:ThatCouncilapprovethedocumentVision2025:FromSpiritto
Action,withtheamendmenttothesectionon“People”,asthenewinstitutionalvision
documentoftheUniversityofSaskatchewan.
CARRIED(50infavour,5opposed)
10. Planningandprioritiescommitteeandacademicprogramscommittee
10.1 Reportforinformation:JointreportondisestablishmentprocessesofCouncil
Dr.WalleyandDr.DobsonprovidedthepresentationtoCouncilontheroletheplanningand
priorities(PPC)andacademicprogramscommittees(APC)playwithrespecttothe
disestablishmentprocessesofCouncil.Councilwasadvisedthatthereportcontainedinthe
writtenmeetingmaterialsincludesimportantattachmentsaswellaslinkstoprovidefurther
informationandbackground.TheUniversityofSaskatchewanActisthedefinitivelegislation
governingdisestablishment,supplementedbyCouncilandcommitteeguidelines.
Dr.DobsonnotedthatrecommendationsaretocometoCouncilforprogramadditions,major
programrevisionsandprogramdeletions.APCcanapproveminorprogramsbutistoreport
toCouncilforinformation.
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Dr.Dobsonadvisedthathistorically,thecharacteristicsofprogramsconsideredfor
terminationinclude:continuallylowstudentenrolment;inactivityforlongerthanfiveyears;
significantprogramweaknessinoneormoreofteaching,researchandscholarlyworkorother
activitiesspecifictotheprogram;andpersistentlackofnecessaryresourcesorinefficientuse
ofavailableresources.
Dr.Dobsonalsonotedtheprogramterminationassessmentcriteria.Heexplainedthatif
Councilapprovesofthedisestablishmentofanacademicunit,confirmationissoughtfrom
Senate,andtheBoardofGovernorsisauthorizedbyCounciltodisestablishtheunit.Henoted
thattheuniversityisnotinafinancialexigencysituationnowbutevenifthiswasthesituation,
theBoardofGovernorsisrequiredtoconsultwithCouncil.Dr.WalleyadvisedthatPPCwould
alsobeinvolvedinacademicunitamalgamation.Ifadepartmentalamalgamationrequiresno
newresources,thedecisionremainswithCouncilanddoesnotrequireBoardapproval.The
authoritytodisestablishoramalgamateanacademicunitisadecisionmadebyCouncil.Asa
result,facultycouncilapprovalisnotrequired,butwouldbeofinteresttoPPCandCouncil.
PPCalsohastherighttoconsultwithotherfacultycouncilsorcollegecommittees.Dr.Walley
notedthattheuniversitydoesnotoftendisestablishacademicunitsoramalgamate
departmentssothereisnotmuchguidanceinthisareaandthatPPCwillconsiderdeveloping
guidelinesthatwillbeusedtoprovidesimilarguidancethatAPChasforprogramdeletions.
Giventherarityforcollegeandschooldisestablishments,PPCwillnotdevelopspecific
guidelinesforthedisestablishmentofentitiesatthislevel,andtheseitemswillcontinuetobe
consideredonacase‐by‐casebasis.
Thechairinvitedquestionstobesentbyemailtotheuniversitysecretaryandnotedthata
copyofthepresentationwouldbepostedontheuniversitysecretarywebsite.
11. Academicprogramscommittee
Dr.RoyDobson,chairoftheacademicprogramscommitteepresentedthesereportstoCouncil.
11.1 RequestforDecision:Four‐yearandhonoursdegree,biologyandbiotechnology‐
programtermination
Dr.DobsonnotedthatthisprogramwasinitiallyestablishedaspartoftheVirtualCollegeof
Biotechnology.Theprogramhasbeendisbandedandnolongerinthecalendar.The
responsiblefacultymemberisnolongeravailabletocontributetothisprogramanditno
longerservesacademicneeds.Allstudentsintheprogramwillbeabletofinishtheir
programs.
DOBSON/WALLEY:ThatCouncilapprovetheterminationofthehonoursandfour‐year
degreeinbiologyandbiotechnology,effectiveSeptember2014.
CARRIED
11.2 RequestforDecision:Four‐yearandhonoursdegree,biomolecularstructurestudies–
programtermination
Dr.Dobsonadvisedthatthebiomolecularprogramhasnostudentenrolment,facultysupport
orfunding.
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DOBSON/WALLEY:ThatCouncilapprovetheterminationofthehonoursandfour‐year
degreeinbiomolecularstructurestudies,effectiveSeptember2014.
CARRIED
12. Research,scholarlyandartisticworkcommittee
12.1 Reportforinformation:undergraduateresearch
Dr.CarolineTait,chairoftheresearch,scholarlyandartisticworkcommitteeaskedthatthis
itembemovedtobeconsideredatthenextCouncilmeeting,towhichthechairagreed.
13. Otherbusiness
Therewasnootherbusiness.
14. Questionperiod
Therewerenoquestions.
15. Adjournment
PARKINSON/CHANG:Thatthemeetingbeadjournedat4:58p.m.
CARRIED
Nextmeeting–2:30pm,May22,2014
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