MinutesofUniversityCouncil
2:30p.m.,Thursday,December19,2013
Neatby‐TimlinTheatre
Attendance:J.Kalra(Chair).SeeappendixAforlistingofmembersinattendance.
Thechaircalledthemeetingtoorderat2:34p.m.,observingthatquorumhadbeenattained.
1. Adoptionoftheagenda
MICHELMANN/CHANG:Toadopttheagendaascirculated.
CARRIED
2. Openingremarks
Dr.Kalrawelcomedmembersandvisitors,extendingspecialthankstoMs.SusanMilburn,chair
oftheBoardofGovernorsforattendingthemeeting.HereportedthatafterasurveyofCouncil
membersregardingtheirpreferencetoreceivepaperorelectronicagendapackages,awide
majorityofCouncilmembershaveelectedtoreceivetheirCouncilagendapackageinelectronic
form.HeconcludedhisremarksbynotingtheitemscomingbeforeCouncilandtheprocedures
fordebateanddiscussion.Inparticular,henotedtomemberstheintentionthatthediscussion
ofitem10.2TransformUStaskforcereportsfocusontheprocessusedtocreatethereports,
ratherthanonthesubstanceofthereports,referringtotheopportunitytodiscussthetask
forcereportrankingsandrecommendationsattheJanuaryandFebruaryCouncilmeetings.
3. MinutesofthemeetingofNovember21,2013
ACouncilmembernotedacorrectiononthebottomofpage2oftheminutesthat“eluded”
shouldreadas“alluded”.
CHANG/MICHELMANN:ThattheCouncilminutesofNovember21,2013beapproved
withthecorrectionnoted.
CARRIED
4. Businessfromtheminutes
Therewasnobusinessarisingfromtheminutes.
5. ReportofthePresident
PresidentIleneBusch‐Vishniacprovidedupdatesinadditiontoherwrittenreport.She
reflectedthatthepastyearhadbeenbusyoneandextendedbestwishesfortheholidaystoall
presentandhergratitudeandappreciationfortheserviceofCouncil.Sherecalledthe
discussionatCounciloverthefallterm,includingdiscussionoftheCollegeofMedicine
implementationplanTheWayForwardandtheconcernsraisedatCouncilregardingthe
recommendationsintheplanrelatedtothebasicsciencedepartments.Thesedepartmentsare
nowworkingonaplanoftheirowntobesubmittedinthenearfuture,whichwillfitwithinthe
parametersofthecollege’simplementationplan.Anexcitingannouncementrelatestothe
appointmentofanewDeanofMedicinetoleadthecollege.
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InOctober,thedraftVision2025documentwaspresentedtoCouncilandatothervarious
meetingsandevents,withover700peopleaskeddirectlyfortheircommentsonthedraft
statement.ThepresidentindicatedallcommentsreceivedwillbereviewedinJanuaryandthe
processofrevisionofthedocumentwillbegin,althoughcommentswillcontinuetobereceived
duringthisperiod.DiscussionoftheVision2025documentwasdirectedinitiallyinternallyto
theuniversityandwillnowbegintobefocusedexternally,withcommentssoughtfromalumni,
governmentandcorporationsthatinteractwiththeuniversity.Overall,thereactiontothe
draftdocumenthasbeenpositive,andmanygoodsuggestionsforchangehavebeenreceived.
ThevisionstatementwillbesubmittedforconsiderationofendorsementtoCouncil,Senate
andtheBoardofGovernorsinthespringof2014.
TheTransformUStaskforcereportsweremadepubliconDecember9andaprocesssetupto
receivecommentsonthereports.Thereleaseofthereportsconcludesthefirstphaseofthe
TransformUSprocess.Muchworkneedstobecompletedinnextphaserelatedtothe
developmentofanimplementationplan,whichwillacceptsomeoftherecommendationsof
thereportsandnotacceptotherrecommendations.
ThepresidentdrewCouncil’sattentiontothereportofthegraduateeducationreview
committeeappendedtoherreportasanotherpotentiallytransformativechange.Thereportis
theresultoftheeffortsofasmallcommitteetoreviewthestructureandfunctionoftheCollege
ofGraduateStudiesandResearch(CGSR).Thereviewwasundertakeninconsultationwiththe
GraduateStudents’Association(GSA)andtheactingdeanofthecollege.Therecommendations
inthereportcorrespondtothetaskforcerecommendationsregardingthecollegealthoughthe
reviewswereundertakenseparately.Thereportsuggeststhatthecollegechangefroman
academicunitwithafocusonmonitoringthecomplianceofprogramstoanadministrativeunit
withafocusonfacilitatinggraduateprograms.Ifthereissupportforthischangewithminimal
controversy,thenextstepwillbetoformalargertransitionteamwithbroadrepresentation.
Thisteamwillbegintofleshoutthedetailsofaproposalforanewmandateandstructure
relatedtothecollege.Anystructuralchangeswillundergotheuniversity’snormalgovernance
processes.
Thechairinvitedcommentsandquestionsofthepresidentrelatedtoherreport.ACouncil
memberaskedwhetherthesuggestedchangetotheCGSRwouldmeanthatthecollegewould
nolongerbeabletohouseacademicgraduateprograms,specificallyinterdisciplinaryPh.D.
programs.Thepresidentindicatedthisquestionwouldbereferredtothecommitteetasked
withdevelopingatransitionplan.Presumablytheseprogramswouldcontinuetobeoffered,
althoughanyofthetaskforcerecommendationsrelatedtotheseprogramswouldalsorequire
consideration.Anothermemberrequestedthattheresponsibilityofthecollegerelativeto
establishingpoliciesandstandardsonauniversity‐widebasiscontinueasthisisanimportant
role,althoughthisresponsibilitymightbeassignedelsewhere.Shealsoexpressedher
appreciationoftheinternationalworkdonebythecollegeinbringinginternationalpartners
andstudentstotheuniversity.
Othercommentsincludedthesuggestionthatafundamentalprincipleadoptedbetoarticulate
therolesoffacultyvis‐à‐visstudents,andtoensurethatnon‐facultyindividualsarenotmaking
decisionsregardinggraduateprogramsandstudentacademicmatters.ThePresidentagreed
withthisprinciple.ACouncilmemberinquiredofhowgraduatescholarshipswillbe
administeredinthefuture.Inreply,thepresidentindicatedthatinitialconsiderationsuggests
thatstudentfinancialaidmaybebestcentrallyadministered,andthatthereforetheremaybe
minimalchangetotheadministrationofgraduatefunding.
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6. ReportoftheProvost
BrettFairbairn,provostandvice‐presidentacademic,referredmemberstohiswrittenreport
inthemeetingmaterials,highlightingrecentactivitiesrelatedtotheoperatingbudget
adjustments(OBA)andsearchesandreviews,withfivesearchandreviewcommitteesof
senioradministratorsneardecisivestages.
Withrespecttotheoperatingbudgetadjustments,henotedaquestionthathasarisenisabout
thetargetfor2016andwhethertheuniversitystillneedstomakefinancialadjustments.
Specifically,thequestionhasarisenofwhetherthegoalofachieving$20.0to25.0millionin
savingsfromTransformUSremains.Councilwasapprisedin2012‐13thatifnoactionwere
taken,abudgetarygapof$44.5millionwouldexistby2016.ThepurposeoftheOBAprojectsis
toavoidthedeficitsthatwouldotherwiseoccur,basedonprojectionsagainsttheuniversity’s
keyrevenues,suchastheprovincialgovernmentgrant,tuitionandinvestmentincome,andkey
expenditures,suchascompensationandutilities.
Workforceplanninghashadapositiveeffectonuniversityfinancesresultinginapermanent
reductionintheoperatingbudgetof$15.6millionby2016.TransformUSisexpectedtorealize
afurther$20.0millionreduction,with$5.0millionearmarkedforprogramreinvestment.
Thereremainsafurther$10.0millionreductiontobeachieved;themeansforthishavenot
beendetermined.Asaresultofthepermanentmeasuresachievedthroughworkforce
planning,theuniversityisnotinadeficitpositionatyear‐end.However,theprojecteddeficit
remainsasthebasisforthecontinuedoperatingbudgetadjustments.Theprovostindicated
thesewerereasonableprojectionsandwerebasedona2%increaseintheprovincialgrant
beingallocatedtotheuniversity.Thegoalistohaveauniversitythatissustainableonan
ongoingbasis.TheTransformUSprocessisalsoaboutthevitalityoftheuniversityand
strengtheningareasofpriority.
ACouncilmemberquestionedthesentenceintheOBAsectionoftheprovost’sreport,which
referstotheresultbeingastrongeruniversity,andaskedwhetherthereisanyevidencewithin
theU15groupthatfollowingthisapproachhasresultedorwillresultintheuniversitybeing
stronger.Dr.Fairbairnindicatedthestatementisacommitmentandreflectsthepremise
behindtheuniversity’sinstitutionalplanning,whichallocatesresourcestoprioritiesand
supportstheuniversity’sstrengths.Anothermemberreferredtothecriteriabywhichprogram
prioritizationdecisionswillbemade,andnotedhefounditoddthattheusualcriteriawould
apply,asthesituationisnotusualandthetaskforcesfollowedacomplexsystemofscoring.
Further,henoteddifficultieswiththeinputdataandinconsistenciesinhowunitsapportioned
outinformation,whichdonotfitwithevidence‐baseddecision‐making.Heaskedthatthe
provostarticulatethespecificcriteriabywhichtheuniversitywilldeterminewhatactionswill
betakenandalsotocommentonthedataissues.TheprovostindicatedthatPCIPwilllookto
itsownprinciplesindevelopingtheimplementationplan.Theimplementationplanwillmap
outwhichproposalgoestowhichgoverningbody,andproposalswillbeconsideredagainstthe
regularcriteriawhichapplytosuchdecisions.Newdecisioncriteriaarenotbeingproposed.
Henotedthereisatendencytoregardthereportsasoutcomes,butthatthereportsareinputs
intotheprocess.Hedeferredcommentingonthedataissues,asCouncilwillconsiderthe
processusedtocreatethereportsunderitem10.2.
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7. StudentSocieties
7.1 ReportfromtheUSSU
JordanSherbino,vice‐presidentoftheUniversityofSaskatchewanStudents’Union,presented
abriefoverviewoftheworkoftheUSSUovertheyearwithhighlightsasoutlinedbelow:
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Theestablishmentofaconstructiveandprogressiverelationshipbetweenthenew
USSUExecutiveandtheuniversity’sadministrativeunitsandgoverningbodies;
TheopeningofLouis’Loftasanewbusinessventure;
Thesettingofstudentmentalhealth,engagementwithstudentcollegesocieties,and
transparentcommunicationregardingtheoperatingbudgetadjustmentsasUSSU
priorities;
ThenamingofstudentrepresentativestotheTransformUStaskforces;
TheestablishmentofaprocesswherebytheUSSUwillgatherandsubmitstudent
feedbackinresponsetothetaskforcereports;
Apetitiontogovernmentwithover1300signaturestoorganizeaprogramwiththe
universityontheopenlicensingoftextbooks;
Auniversity‐widestudentsurveytogaugestudentinterestinhavingareadingweek
duringthefallterm;
StudentMentalHealthAwarenessweek;
StudySmartcampaign;
SexualAssaultAwarenessweek;
SubmissionofastudentevaluationontheSEEQcourseevaluationtool;
TheUndergraduateResearchSymposiumtobeheldonJanuary28,2014intheupper
concourseofPlaceRiel;
AboriginalAchievementWeek;
AcontinuedcloseworkingrelationshipwiththeAboriginalStudents’Centre.
Inclosing,Mr.Sherbinoindicatedthatitwasadynamictimetobeworkinginstudent
governanceandassuredCouncilofthecontinuedcommitmentoftheUSSUtoadvancing
studentmovementsandaccessibilitytopost‐secondaryeducation.
7.2 ReportfromtheGSA
IzabelaVlahu,vice‐presidentacademicoftheGSApresentedtheGraduateStudents’
AssociationreporttoCouncil.Ms.Vlahureportedthemostpressingmattersunder
considerationbytheGSAaretheTransformUStaskforcereportsandthereviewoftheCGSR
andgraduateeducation.InDecembermembersoftheGSAmetwithMinisterNorristodiscuss
thegraduateretentionprogramtoimprovegraduatestudentuptake.OnMarch6–8,2014,
theGSAwillhostitsannualconferenceculminatinginagalaonMarch8.Thethemeofthe
conferenceisCuriosityinResearch.SheextendedthankstoPresidentBusch‐Vishniacforher
financialcontributioninsupportoftheconferenceandencouragedfacultymemberstotake
theleadintheirdepartmentstocoachandassistgraduatestudents,asthisiswherestudents
gaintheirpassionforresearch.
8.
NominationsCommittee
8.1 RequestforDecision:ReplacementontheUniversityReviewCommittee
Dr.TerryWotherspoon,vice‐chairofthenominationscommitteepresentedthereportto
Council.
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WOTHERSPOON/BRENNA:ThatCouncilapprovethenominationofOon‐DooBalik,
ChemicalandBiologicalEngineering,totheuniversityreviewcommitteeforaterm
endingJune30,2014.
CARRIED
9.
AcademicProgramsCommittee
Dr.RoyDobson,chairoftheacademicprogramscommittee,presentedthereportstoCouncil.
9.1RequestforDecision:Dentistry–changestoadmissionrequirements
Dr.Dobsonpresentedthemotionsandspoketotheproposedchangestotheadmissions
requirementsoftheCollegeofDentistryDMDprogram,whichifapprovedwillrequirean
undergraduatedegreeasanadmissionrequirementandacriminalrecordcheck.These
changeswillbringthecollegeinlinewiththeadmissionrequirementsofothercollegesof
dentistryacrossCanada.Inaddition,curricularchangesintheCollegeofMedicinehave
resultedintheneedforaconsequentialchangetotheDMDprogramrelatedtothehuman
physiologyprerequisiterequirement.
Discussionfocusedonthemotiontointroduceacriminalrecordcheck.ACouncilmember
expressedconcernthatinaprovincewithsegmentsofsocietyhavingadisproportionate
negativerelationshipwiththejusticesystem,thatsuchacheckmightdenysomeindividuals
withacriminalrecordtheabilitytopursueacareerindentistry.Inresponse,Dr.Dobson
indicatedthatacriminalrecordcheckisapracticalrealityofobtainingalicensetopracticein
theprofessionalhealthsciencesandisrequiredbylicensingbodies.Thesignificanceofhaving
acriminalrecordasitrelatestoadmissiontotheDMDprogramisaquestiontobedetermined
bytheCollegeofDentistryinconsultationwithitsregulatorybodies.Severalmembers
commentedontheirownexperienceintheircollegeswithrespecttocriminalrecordchecks.
Notewasmadeofthefactthatacriminalrecordcheckisrequiredofstudentscompletinga
clinicalpracticuminafacilitywhichrequiresacriminalrecordcheckofallemployees.Often
twocriminalrecordchecksarerequired,thefirstattheprogramstartandthesecondatthe
pointofapplicationforlicensure.
DOBSON/GREER:ThatCouncilapprovetheadditionofahumanphysiology(suchas
PHSI208HumanBodySystemsoritsequivalent)asarequiredprerequisitecoursefor
admissionintotheDMDprogram,effectiveforadmissionsinAugust2015.
CARRIED
DOBSON/GREER:ThatCouncilapprovetheCollegeofDentistryadmission
requirementforcompletionofthreefull‐time(30‐credit‐unit)yearsofuniversity
courseworkcompletedbetweentheSeptembertoAprilacademicyearleadingtoan
undergraduateleveldegreeasaconditionofadmissiontotheDMDprogram,effective
foradmissionsinAugust2015.
CARRIED
DOBSON/GREER:ThatCouncilapprovetheimplementationofacriminalrecordcheck
asanadmissionrequirement,effectiveforadmissionsinAugust2015.
CARRIED
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9.2
ItemforInformation:AcademicCalendar2014‐15
Dr.DobsonindicatedtheitembeforeCouncilwasforinformation.Aftermuchdiscussion
regardingthetimingandfeasibilityofincludingafallstudybreakweekinthe2014/15
academiccalendar,hereportedthecommitteeconcludedthatitwasnotpossibleforthisto
occurinthecomingyear,andencouragedthatthisitembeattendedtointhespringsothatit
couldbeincludedinthesubsequentcalendaryear.Amemberrequestedthatthereligious
referencestoEasterSaturdayandEasterSundayberemovedastheyhavenoacademic
relevance.Dr.Dobsondulynotedtherequestandindicatedhewouldsubmitthesuggested
changetothecommittee.
10. PlanningandPrioritiesCommittee
Dr.FranWalleypresentedthereportsascommitteechair.
10.1 RequestforDecision:DisestablishmentoftheEnvironmentalEngineeringDivisionand
relatedCouncilbylawamendment
Dr.WalleyreportedthatafterareviewoftheDivisionofEnvironmentalEngineeringin2011,
theCollegeofGraduateStudiesandResearchandCollegeofEngineering,whichhas
operationalresponsibilityfortheenvironmentalengineeringprograms,electedtotransferthe
responsibilityfortheseprogramsfromthechairofthedivisiontoanexistingdepartmenthead
intheCollegeofEngineering.InOctober,2013,GraduateCouncilvotedtodisestablishthe
division.Duetolowenrolment,newadmissionstotheseprogramshavebeensuspended
pendingareviewoftheenvironmentalengineeringgraduateprogramsandtheoutcomeofthe
TransformUSreviewprocess.TheconsequentialamendmenttotheCouncilbylawsisto
removethedivisionfromthelistingofdepartmentsanddivisions.
WALLEY/RANGACHARYULU:ThatCouncilapprovethedisestablishmentofthe
DivisionofEnvironmentalEngineering,and
ThatCouncil’sbylawsbeamendedtoreflectthedisestablishment.
CARRIED
10.2 ItemforInformation:TransformUStaskforcereports
Dr.WalleyrecalledthatinJanuary2013Councilgaveapprovalinprincipletotheundertaking
ofaprocessforprogramprioritizationforallacademicandadministrativeprograms.Thetask
force reports mark the end of the first phase of the TransformUS process. The planning and
prioritiescommittee’sintentionintablingtheTransformUStaskforcereportswithCouncilat
thistimeistofacilitatediscussionontheprocessusedtodevelopthereports.Sheexpressed
her gratitude to the task force co‐chairs for their willingness to meet with members of the
planningandprioritiescommitteetodiscussandclarifytheprocessundertakentocreatethe
reports,andcommendedmembersofthetaskforcesforthemanyhoursofworkwhichthey
committedtothistask.
ThefloorwasthenopenedfordiscussionandDr.Walleyinvitedquestionsontheprocessused
to create the reports of Dr. Beth Bilson and Dr. Lisa Kalynchuk, co‐chairs of the academic
programstransformationtaskforceandofDr.KevinSchneiderandDr.BobTyler,co‐chairsof
thesupportservicestransformationtaskforce.
Asummaryofthekeydiscussionpointsandquestionsraisedfollows:
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Severalmembersthankedtheco‐chairsandmembersofthetaskforcesforthetremendous
undertakingincreatingthereportsandrespectfullyacknowledgedtheirefforts.
Inresponsetothequestionofhowthetaskforcesdealtwithinconsistenciesregardingthe
apportionmentofresourcestothevariouscategories,Dr.Kalynchukindicatedthatthe
inconsistencieswerenotpredominantacrossalltemplates.Inthoseinstanceswherethe
financialinformationwasunclear,theacademictaskforceattemptedtoseekclarification.In
thosecases,whereclarificationwasnotavailable,thetaskforceplacedtheprograminquintile
4asanindicationthatamoredetailedanalysisoftheprogramwasrequired.Dr.Tyler
indicatedthatthedifficultyrelatedtosomeunitsonthesupportservicessidewasnotthatthe
financialinformationsubmittedwasincorrect,butthatsomeservicesarefundedthrough
severalmeansandsources,andnotallsourceswererecordedonthetemplates.
Toavoiddatainconsistenciesinthefuture,Dr.Kalynchuksuggestedthatanauditofthedatain
thetemplatesbecompletedpriortotheirsubmissiontoanyreviewingbody,andthat
centralizeddatacollectedinamorecomprehensivemannerpopulatethetemplates.Overall,
sheexpressedthattheacademictaskforcebelieveditsrecommendationstobebasedonsolid
information.Thosecompletingthetemplateswerealsogiventheopportunitytoprovide
discursiveinformationabouttheprogram.
Amemberaskedwhethersomeunitswereatadisadvantageiftherewaslackofclarity
regardingtheirprogram,duetothefactthatnotallunitswererepresentedonthetaskforces.
Dr.Kalynchukindicatedthatasthetaskforcesadheredtoaconflictofinterestpolicy,there
wasnoadvantagetoanyunitbyhavingaunitmemberonthetaskforce.Theconflictof
interestpolicyrequiredthosememberswithanaffiliationtotheprogramunderdiscussion,or
afamilymemberaffiliatedwiththeprogram,toberecusedfromdiscussion.Memberswere
alsogiventheopportunitytoidentifyotherconflictsofinterest,whichmightnotbereadily
apparent.
Theperspectivethattherearecertaindisciplinesthatarecentraltouniversitymissionwas
submitted,withthequestionofwhetherthetaskforceviewedsomedisciplinesascoretothe
university.Dr.Bilsonnotedthatalthoughdiscussionwasinformedbyacademicvalues,all
programswerereviewedagainsttheinformationreceived,andthereforetherewasno
distinctiongivenbasedontheperceptionthatcertainprogramshadmoreintrinsicvaluethan
otherprograms.
Amemberrequestedanindicationofthepreferenceofthesupportservicestaskforce
regardingthecentralizationversusthedecentralizationofsupportservices.Dr.Schneider
indicatedthattaskforcerespondedtoevidenceofduplicationofservicesandtothe
importanceofsupportservicesmeetingtheneedsofstakeholders.Thenextphasewillcall
upontheuniversitytobegintounderstandtheappropriatemixofcentralizedandde‐
centralizedservices.Henotedthereareexamplesinthesupportservicesreportofbothtypes
ofservicemodelsthatareworkingverywell.
Giventhedifficultyoftheinconsistenciesofthedataandtheresultingperceptionthatthe
processwasflawed,aCouncilmemberaskedtheco‐chairsfortheirassessmentoftheDickeson
model.Dr.BilsonrepliedthatalthoughtheDickesontextwasfullofinterestingideasthatthe
academictaskforcediddepartfromthetextbasedonwhatthetaskforcethoughtwasa
suitableprocessfortheuniversityatthistime.Inresponsetoaquestiononthisdeviation,Dr.
KalynchukindicatedthatthetaskforcedepartedfromtheapproachadvocatedbyDickeson
relatedtotheassigningofprogramsintoquintiles,asexplainedinthereport.
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Thetaskforcebelievedthattoplace20%ofprogramsintoeachquintilewouldcompromise
theprocessandplaceprogramsintoquintileswheretheydidnotbelong.Theendresultwas
thatthequintilesweretreatedascategoriesratherthanquintiles,andDr.Kalynchuk
acknowledgedthattheuseofthewordquintilewasnolongeracorrectdescriptor.Asaresult,
thetaskforcetriedtoensurethatthelabelsassignedtothequintilesgaveanaccurate
descriptionofeachcategory.Inresponse,theobservationwasmadethattheDickesonclaim
thatthecostofeducationisdrivenbytheproliferationofprogramswasdisprovedbythetask
force,asthetaskforceplaced3%oftheuniversity’sprogramsinquintile1.Manyofthese
programsreflectuniversityprioritiesandareamongtheuniversity’scostliestprograms.
Inclosing,thechairthankedthosememberswhosubmittedquestionsandcommendedthe
taskforceco‐chairsandtaskforcemembers.
11.
12.
Otherbusiness
Therewasnootherbusiness.
Questionperiod
AmemberinquiredwhenacomprehensivesummaryofthefeedbackreceivedbyPCIPonthe
taskforcereportsmightbeexpected.Dr.Fairbairnoutlinedhisanticipationthatfeedback
wouldbewideanddiverse,andencouragedmemberstorefertothewebpagesetuptocollect
feedbackat:http://words.usask.ca/transformus/consultation‐and‐feedback/.Henotedthat
commentsreceivedwillnotbemergedintoasingledocumentbyPCIP,ratherPCIPwillreport
onthosethemesthatbecomeevidentinthefeedbackreceived.
13. Adjournment
Thechairinvitedallinattendanceuponconclusionofthemeetingtopartakeinaholiday
seasonreceptionintheNeatby‐Timlinfoyer.
DESBRISAY/PARKINSON:Thatthemeetingbeadjournedat4:30p.m.
CARRIED
Nextmeeting–2:30pm,January23,2014
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