MinutesofUniversityCouncil
2:30p.m.,Thursday,March20,2014
Neatby‐TimlinTheatre
Attendance:J.Kalra(Chair).SeeappendixAforlistingofmembersinattendance.
AtributetoProfessorTerryTollefsonfromtheDepartmentofSoilScience,CollegeofAgriculture
andBioresources,wasgivenbyDr.RichardFarrell,colleagueandlong‐termfriendofProfessor
Tollefson.
Thechaircalledthemeetingtoorderat2:45p.m.,observingthatquorumhadbeenattained.
1. Adoptionoftheagenda
DOBSON/deBOER:Toadopttheagendaascirculated.
CARRIED
2. Openingremarks
Thechairwelcomedmembersandvisitors,andnotedtheitemscomingbeforeCouncil.Atthe
chair’sinvitation,theuniversitysecretaryprovidedtheelectionresultsforCouncil’smembers‐at‐
large.Theuniversitysecretaryreported:(i)the17memberswhowereelectedtositforathree‐
yeartermbeginningJuly1,2014andendingJune30,2017:MichaelBradley,BevBrenna,Roy
Dobson,AlexanderErvin,RichardGray,CalliopiHavele,JillJohnstone,RichardJulien,JayKalra,
Franz‐ViktorKuhlmann,LawrenceMartz,AllisonMuri,MatthewPaige,CharyRangacharyulu,Erin
Watson,ThomasYates,GordonZello;(ii)thetwomemberswhowereelectedtositforatwo‐year
termbeginningJuly1,2014andendingJune30,2016:WilliamBrownandHongmingCheng;and
(iii)thethreememberswhowereelectedtositforaone‐yeartermbeginningJuly1,2014and
endingJune30,2015:GapSooChang,NadeemJamali,VenkateshMeda.
3. MinutesofthemeetingofFebruary27,2014
Thechairaskediftherewereanycorrectionstotheminutes,andhearingnoneraisedfromthe
floor,heinvitedtheuniversitysecretarytonotethecorrectionsthatshereceivedpriortothe
meeting.
TheuniversitysecretarynotedthefollowingcorrectionstotheminutesofthemeetingofFebruary
27,2014,contingentontheapprovalofCouncil:
 Onpage3oftheminutes,inthesecondcompleteparagraph,thesecond,thirdandfourth
sentenceswillbecorrectedtoread:“Whenwelookatotheruniversities,weseethat
compensationcostsrisefromyeartoyearbasedonnominalsettlements,andinaddition
therearechangestoincrements,merit,benefitsandothervariables.Atotheruniversities
theseadditionalfactors,beyondnominalratesofsettlements,amounttoadditional
1.5to2%increasesyearoveryear.Thismeansanominalincreaseof2%resultsintotal
compensationcostsincreasingapproximately4%.”
 Onpage3,inthefifthparagraphthelastsentencewillbecorrectedtoread:“Healso
advisedthattuitionrevenuesharinghasbeendevolvedtocollegesthathaveusedthis
amountforstudentscholarshipsamongotherpurposes.”
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
Onpage4,inthefifthlineatthetopofthepage,thesentencewillbecorrectedtoread:
“Therearesteeringgroupsthathavereceivedsuggestions.”

Onpage4,inthesecondcompleteparagraph,thesecondsentencewillbecorrectedtoread:
“Theprovostadvisedthatthefundconsistsof$3.5Mperyearforthethirdplanningcycle
andfundswillbesetasideforthefundinthefourthplanningcycle.”

Onpage5,inthefourthparagraph,thesecondsentencewillbecorrectedandafinal
sentenceadded,sotheparagraphreads:“TheprovostadvisedthattheAPFisnot$70M
andisguidedbytheuniversity’splanningprioritiesandthenatureofthatplanningprocess
istransparent.Theplanisonethathasbeenagreedtoasauniversitythroughour
governingbodiesandrepresentstheprioritiesoftheuniversityasawhole.Theother
fundsreferencedbythequestionerincludedtargetedfundingforsalariesand
servicesintheCollegesofMedicineandNursingandfundsfortherenewalofexisting
universitybuildingssuchastheArtsTower,MurrayBuilding,Biology,andPhysics.”

Onpage9thelastparagraphwillbecorrectedtorecognizethatcommentsprovidedinthe
thirdsentenceandthereaftercamefromtwoCouncilmembersratherthanone.

Onpage12thephraseinthefirstsentenceofthefifthfullparagraphwillbecorrectedto
read:“roughly5%to10%ofitsfaculty”.
InresponsetoaCouncilmember’squestion,thechairnotedthatthesewerecorrectionstoreflect
whatwassaidatthemeeting.
KALYNCHUK/deBOER:ThattheCouncilminutesofFebruary27,2014beapprovedas
amended.
CARRIED
4. Businessfromtheminutes
Dr.Findlaynotedthathethoughttheminutesreflectedafairandfullrecordofhissentiments.He
commentedonhisdisappointmentinhowthemotionhehadputforwardwasrevisedand
diminished.Heclarifiedthathewasnotcommentingonthevalidityofeithertheprocessorthe
vote,butaskingthatinthefuturewhenanindividualputsforwardamotionaccompaniedbya
rationaleforconsiderationbythecoordinatingcommittee,aswasdoneinhiscase,thatitbetreated
differentlyandthattherationaleaccompanythemotionwhenitisputforwardtoCouncil.The
chairthankedDr.Findlayforhiscommentsandassuredhimthatinfuturesuchsituationsthe
coordinatingcommitteewillbringtherationaleforwardwiththemotion.
5. ReportofthePresident
PresidentIleneBusch‐VishniacspoketoanumberofitemsofinteresttoCouncil.Shereportedon
theprovincialbudgetinwhichtheuniversityreceiveda2%increasetotheoperatingbudgetas
requested,inayearwhenoverallbudgetexpendituresaredown.Shenotedthatthisillustratesthe
provincialgovernment’srecognitionoftheimportantrolethattheuniversitiesplayinhelpingthe
province.Theuniversityhascontinuedtoreceivesupportfromtheprovincialgovernmentformany
keyprojects,includingthehealthsciencesbuilding,thenursingandmedicalexpansion,continued
supportforstudents,andexpandedfundingforthegraduatestudentretentionprogramtoinclude
bothgraduateandundergraduatestudents.Thepresidentadvisedthattheuniversityreceived
morethanwhatwasexpected,butnotenoughtoreverseconcernsaboutfiscalrestraints.
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Onthefederallevel,thepresidentnotedthechangesresultingfromMinisterFlahertyresigningas
MinisterofFinance,inthatMinisterRickfordhasmovedfromtheMinistryofStateforScienceand
TechnologytoNRCanandEdHolderhasbecomethenewMinisterofStateforScienceand
Technology.ThepresidentreviewedMinisterHolder’sbackgroundandwhathebringstothe
position.Alsoatthefederallevel,thepresidentnotedthatthedeputyministeradvocateforour
universityandtheUniversityofRegina,ColleenVolk,whoservesasdeputysecretarytocabinetand
thedeputyministertotheclerkofthePrivyCouncil,hasbeenvisitingbothuniversitiesin
Saskatchewan.
Regardingrecenteventsofnote,thepresidentpraisedtheresearchconferenceandgalahostedby
theGraduateStudents’Association.Sherecognizedthecommendableperformancesof:theHuskie
women’sbasketballteamthatwenttothenationalchampionshipandplacedfourth;andtheHuskie
women’shockeyteamthatwonCanadaWestforthefirsttimeandabronzeatthenational
championship.ThepresidentalsonotedthatHuskiemen’shockeyteamwascurrentlyhostingthe
CanadianInteruniversitySport(CIS)universitycup.Thepresidentthankedeveryonewhohelped
organizetheAboriginalAchievementWeekcommendingtheUSSU,CandaceWasacase‐Laffertyand
othersonthearrangements.Shespecificallynoted:theannouncementoftheestablishmentby
BuffySainte‐MarieoftheSaskatchewanCradleBoardInitiativetoencourageAboriginalstudentsto
pursuemath,science,engineeringandtechnology;andthetalksbybothCindyBlackstockand
ShawnAtleospeakingaboutchallengesandprogressatthefederallevel.Thepresidentalsonoted
theAlumniofInfluenceGalaforArtsandScienceandtheITEPRoundDance,bothofwhichhad
goodattendanceandwerewonderfulevents.
ThepresidentprovidedanupdateontheCollegeofMedicineadvisingthatthereiscontinuedgood
progress.Aletterhasbeenreceivedfromtheaccreditorsacknowledgingthattheuniversityis
addressingthemajorissuesidentified,buttherearestillsomemodestissuestoaddress.The
accreditorswillreturnin12‐15monthstoreviewprogressatthattime.Thepresidentnotedthat
thegovernmenthasbecomeprogressivelymorealignedwiththeuniversity’ssenseofthe
structuralchangesrequiredandgenerallythingsaregoingwellwiththehealthregions.The
presidentindicatedshewaspleasedtoreportthatthisyear63%oftheuniversity’smedical
studentschosetostayinSaskatchewantocompletetheirresidencies;thisratehasnotbeenabove
50%inrecenthistory.ThepresidentconcludedherremarksregardingtheCollegeofMedicineby
notingthatareportfromtheBasicSciencesdepartmentsisexpectedinaboutamonthregarding
theirproposedrestructuring.
ThepresidentspoketotheVision2025documentcommentingthatshehasmetwithwellover700
peopleandhasreceivedasignificantnumberoflettersandemails.Shehasgeneratedanewdraft
incorporatingmany,althoughnotall,ofthecommentsreceived.Thenewdrafthasrecentlygoneto
theplanningandprioritiescommitteeandsheanticipatesitcomingforwardtoUniversityCouncil
andSenateinAprilandtotheBoardofGovernorsinMay.
ThepresidentreportedthattheBoardofGovernorshelditsannualpublicmeetingonMarch18th.
SeveralfacultymembersandstudentsspokeprimarilyontopicsrelatedtoTransformUSand
tuition.Therewerealsoquestionsandpositivecommentsaboutchangestotheuniversity’s
discriminationandharassmentpreventionpolicytoincludetransgenderpeople.
Thepresidentconcludedherremarksbyspeakingaboutchildcarefunding.Sheadvisedthatshe
feelsresponsiblefornothavinghandledinformationregardingchildcarefundingaswellasshe
shouldhave.Theuniversityreceived$1.25Mfromtheprovincialgovernmentforchildcareaswell
asapromiseof$1MfromtheUSSUovertenyears.Thepresidentexplainedthatthedifficultyis
thatthecostoftheplannednewbuildingwouldbe$7M,whichwouldrequireapproximately$5M
plusoperatingcoststoberaisedbeforeconstructingthenewfacility.Thepresidentadvisedthat
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shedoesnotwanttospend20yearswaitingtoraisethemoneybecausetheneedisurgent.
Thereforeshehasaskedadministrationtore‐examinetheoptionsforexpandingtheuniversity’s
childcarefacilitieswithoutbuildinganewfacility,soastobringdownthecosttoanaffordable
levelandallowtheservicetobeprovidedmuchsooner.Thepresidentadvisedthatitwasclearthat
whenpreliminaryapprovalwassoughtfromtheBoard,thattheBoardwouldnotentertainfinal
approvalwithoutthefundingbeinginhandorpledged.Thepresidentstatedthattheuniversityis
notabandoningitscommitmenttochildcare.
Thepresidentcalledforquestions.ACouncilmemberaskedwhetherontheissueofchildcare
therehadbeenanythoughttoapproachingfacultyandstafftopledgeasmallamountpermonthto
allowthisinitiativetokeepmovingforward.DavidHannah,associatevice‐president,student
affairs,notedthatifapprovalfromtheBoardisreceived,administrationhasconsideredbringinga
requestforwardtostaffandfaculty.AnotherCouncilmembernotedthatUniversityAdvancement
isconsideringachildcarecampaignamongfacultyandstaff,andaskedwhetherthiswashighon
theagendawithintheupcomingcapitalcampaign.ThepresidentnotedthatasHeatherMagotiaux,
vice‐presidentadvancementandcommunityengagement,wasunabletoattend,shewasnotcertain
astotheanswerbutthoughtthatsomedonorshadbeenapproachedaboutachildcarecentreand
therehadbeennointeresttodate.
6. ReportoftheProvost
BrettFairbairn,provostandvice‐presidentacademic,notedhiswrittenreportanddrewattention
tofourmatters.ThefirstwashisacademicaddressdeliveredinFebruaryentitled,“Can
UniversitiesChange?”Henotedtheaddressisnowpostedontheuniversitywebsite.Secondly,the
provostprovidedanupdateonimplementationoftheThirdIntegratedPlan.Hehighlightedone
projectcompletedistheidentificationofthoseAboriginalsymbolstheuniversitywillincorporate
initscommunications.Theprovostreiteratedtheannouncementoftheextensionofthe
implementationperiodfortheThirdIntegratedPlan,thatwillnowbefiveyearsandconcludein
2017.ThiswillallowmoretimetoimplementprojectsandtoalignwiththeVision2025document
underdevelopment.HedrewCouncil’sattentiontoinhiswrittenreportregardingkeymilestones
thatwillinvolveCouncilconsultationfortheuniversity’sFourthIntegratedPlan.
ThethirdmatterraisedbytheprovostwasCALDO,aconsortiumofanumberofU15universities,of
whichtheUofSisamember.TheprovostnotedthatoneactivityofCALDOistherecruitmentof
internationalstudents,particularlygraduatestudents.RecruitershavebeentravellinginSouth
Americaandinitialreportsareverypositive.HeencouragedCouncilmemberstowatchforfurther
resultsofthisgroup.
Asthefourthitemofnote,theprovostcommentedontheannouncementofMichellePrytulaasthe
newdeanoftheCollegeofEducationbeginningJuly1,2014,andintroducedhertoCouncil.He
thankedthecurrentactingdeanRobertRegnierandothersinthecollege.Henotedthatthisbrings
toconclusionthecurrentcycleofsearchesandreviewsfordeansattheuniversity,andthatthenew
cyclehasalreadybegunwithfournewreviewsthisspring.
Theprovostcalledforanyquestions.ACouncilmemberquestionedsomeofDr.Fairbairn’s
commentsaboutmodelsofinterdisciplinaryprogramswithintheprovost’sacademicaddress.The
provostadvisedthatwhatheincludedinhisaddressregardinginterdisciplinaryprogramscould
standonitsown.
ACouncilmembernotedtheresearchwithSouthAmericancollegesandaskedwhetherasa
consequencetheuniversitywasinterestedinmaintainingitscoursesinSpanishorpossibly
Portuguese.Theprovostadvisedthatwhenlookingatrecruitinginternationalstudentsthedirect
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tieforouruniversityisthepreparationoftheincomingstudentsforEnglishasanadditional
language–althoughhenotedhisbeliefthatthestudentsfromothercountriesenhanceourcampus
inallways.TheCouncilmemberclarifiedthatshewasthinkingofcollaborativeresearchtowhich
theprovostadvisedthatoneoftheuniversity’sfocalpointsshouldbethedevelopmentofmulti‐
developmentalpartnershipswithotherinstitutions.
7. StudentSocieties
7.1 ReportfromtheUSSU
JordanSherbino,vice‐presidentacademicaffairsoftheUSSUpresentedthereporttoCouncil.
HeadvisedthattheUSSUelectionswereunderwaywithvotingonMarch26thand27thand
resultstobeannouncedMarch27th.
Mr.Sherbinocommentedontheimportantissueoftuition,anissuethatisrelevantforboth
undergraduateandgraduatestudents.Henotedthattuitionposedamajorroadblockfor
manystudentsinlowersocioeconomicdemographicsandmayprohibitstudentsfromcoming
touniversity.Hecommentedontherecenttuitionincreaseof4.5%thataccompaniesa
climateofcutsanduncertainty,withmanystudentsconcernedabouttheacademiceducation
theyarereceivingandstudentservicesupport.Headvisedthatheisraisingthisissuebefore
CouncilbecausealthoughtuitionincreasesaresetbytheBoardtheyareinfluencedbydeans
andothersincolleges.Henotedthatalthoughtheprovostbelievesdeansarespeakingwith
studentsonthisissue,thisisnotthecase.Withoutthisoccurring,theBoarddoesnotreceive
fullandcompleteinformationforitsconsideration.IftheBoardisfollowinggoodprocedure
andgovernanceallsidesandperspectivesshouldberaisedwhenthesedecisionsarebeing
made.Henotedthathebelievesthereisafailureofcommunicationsbothwithinthecolleges
andfromthecollegestotheprovost.
Mr.Sherbinoadvisedthatstudentshavecompellingstoriesregardingaccessibilityand
affordabilityandCouncilshouldcareaboutthesestories.Todothismeansbringingstudents
tothetable,welcomingthemascolleagues,peersandpeoplewhohavesomethingto
contribute,andlisteningtothemtolearnwhattuitionmeansasafinancialburdenandwhat
theyarereceivinginreturn.Hesuggestedthatthisshouldbedonethroughouttheyear,not
justintheleaduptotuitionincreases.Mr.Sherbinonotedthattuitionisnottheonlyissueof
concerntostudentsbutthemostrelevantrightnow.
7.2 ReportfromtheGSA
KariStaples,vice‐presidentoftheGraduateStudents’Association,presentedtheGSAreport
toCouncil.RegardingtheUPASSreferendum,Ms.Staplesadvisedthattherewasa40%
turnoutofstudentseligibletovoteandoverwhelmingsupportfortheUPASS,whichwillnow
beineffectfortheforeseeablefuture.
RegardingtheGSAbursaryfund,Ms.Staplesadvisedthattherewere60applicantsforthe
wintertermand15bursariesof$1,000eachwereawarded.Shenotedthatthecallfor
nominationshadgoneoutforelectionsofthenewGSAexecutiveandvotingwillbeonApril
11th.Shelookedforwardtoasmoothtransitionforthenewexecutive,whichwillinclude
addressingthelackoftransitionalmemory.
Ms.StaplesreportedontherecentGSAconferencenotingthattherewereanumberof
prominentkeynotespeakers,suchasSenatorLillianDyck,resultinginasuccessful
conferenceandthankedallthosewhoassisted.RegardingtheGSAgala,Ms.Staplesadvised
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thatitwasawonderfuleventwithapproximately400inattendanceand10deserving
awardees.Sheextendedthankstothepresident,Councilchair,deansandunit
representativeswhowereabletoattend.
8. Teaching,LearningandAcademicResourcesCommittee
ProfessorAaronPhoenix,chairofthecommittee,presentedthisitemtoCouncil.
8.1 ItemforInformation:ExperientialLearningConceptPaper
ProfessorPhoenixnotedthepowerfullearningopportunityoftheExperientialLearning
Conceptpaper.Thepredecessoroftheteaching,learningandacademicresourcescommittee
commissionedtheconceptpaperinsupportofimplementationoftheThirdIntegratedPlan.
WiththeassistanceoftheGwennaMossCentreandtheresearchandprojectsofficefromthe
provost’soffice,theexperientiallearningconceptpaperwasdevelopedandisnowbeing
presentedtoCouncilforinformation.HeinvitedDr.McDougalltoprovidefurthercomments.
PattiMcDougall,vice‐provost,teachingandlearning,advisedthatthedatainthepaperreflects
theregularacademictermsfromSeptembertoApril,butadditionalsummerdatawillbe
integratedintothefinalreportbeforeitbecomespublic.In2012‐13therewere80courses
offeredinthesummerthatwereofanexperientialnatureresultingin1,000additional
studentsaccessingexperientiallearning.
9. ItemforInformation:WinterTermEnrolmentReport
RussIsinger,universityregistraranddirectorofstudentservices,presentedthereporttoCouncil.
Henotedthereportisbasedoninformationtakenasofthewintercensusday,February10,2014.
Theoverallenrolmentwas20,305students,down0.2%fromlastyear.Thisplateaufollowsyears
ofmoderategrowth.ThehandoutdistributedattheCouncilmeetingthatsummarizeshisreportis
attachedasAppendixB.
Followinghisreport,Mr.Isingerreceivedanumberofquestions.ACouncilmemberaskedwhether
tuitionincreasesmayaffectretentionorattractionofstudentstothecampus,andwasthereany
waythiscouldbetrackedwiththedatathathasbeencollected.Mr.Isingeradvisedthatitwould
probablyrequiremoresurveydata.Heexplainedthatasurveyisconductedofstudentsadmitted
whochoosenottocometoascertaintheirreasonsandsuggestedthatthenecessarydatacouldbe
soughtduringthatprocess.DaveHannah,associatevice‐presidentstudentaffairs,notedthat
Saskatchewanhasalowparticipationrateforuniversityattendanceoverall,beinginthebottom
quartileofthecountry,butitisdifficulttoteaseoutwhetherthisisduetothelureofgoodjobsor
tuitionrates.
AquestionwasaskedregardinghowtheinternationalanddomesticnumberscomparetotheU15.
AdministratorsfromtheCollegeofGraduateStudiesandResearchadvisedthattherearemore
internationalstudentsattheUniversityofSaskatchewanandthattheinternationaldifferential
tuitionhasnotreducedthenumberofourinternationalstudents.
Therewasaquestionregardingwhythecreditunitswerelowerinthewintertermthaninthefall
termtowhichMr.Isingeradvisedthattherewerefewerstudentstakingfewerclassesonthewinter
censusdaythanonthecensusdayinOctoberbecausetheuniversitylosessomestudentsoverthe
year.Therewerenofurtherquestions.
10. Otherbusiness
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Therewasnootherbusiness.
11. Questionperiod
Therewerenoquestions.
12. Adjournment
ThechairremindedCouncilmembersthatelectionsforfacultyrepresentativesonUniversity
CouncilareongoinginthecollegesofAgricultureandBioresources,Medicine,andVeterinary
Medicine,andtheyarescheduledtocloseonMarch27th.HeencouragedallCouncilmembersin
thosecollegestovoteandtoencouragetheircolleaguestovote.
DOBSON/KROL:Thatthemeetingbeadjournedat4:05p.m.
CARRIED
Nextmeeting–2:30pm,April17,2014
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