MinutesofUniversityCouncil
2:30p.m.,Thursday,October24,2013
Neatby‐TimlinTheatre
Attendance:J.Kalra(Chair).SeeappendixAforlistingofmembersinattendance.
Thechaircalledthemeetingtoorderat2:33p.m.,observingthatquorumhadbeenattained.
AtributetoDr.AllanBackman,SchoolofPublicHealth,waspresentedbyDr.JohnRigby,associate
professorandheadoftheDepartmentofManagementandMarketing.Amomentofsilencewas
observed.
1. Adoptionoftheagenda
KULSHRESTHRA/D.BRENNA:Toadopttheagendaascirculated.
CARRIED
2. Openingremarks
Dr.Kalrawelcomedmembersandvisitorsandexplainedtheprocessfordebateanddiscussion
attheCouncilmeeting.Votingmemberswereinvitedtositinthecentersectinandnon‐voting
membersandgueststositonthesidesections.Thechairadvisedthatthoseindividuals
wantingtospeakaretoberecognizedbythechairandaretoidentifytheirnameandwhether
theyareamemberofCouncil.Generally,Councilmembershavefirstprioritytospeak.Dr.
KalranotedtheitemstobeaddressedatCouncilandintroducedthestudentrepresentatives
onCouncil.
3. MinutesofthemeetingofSeptember19,2013
D’EON/ALBRITTON:ThattheCouncilminutesofSeptember19,2013beapprovedas
circulated.
CARRIED
4. Businessfromtheminutes
Inresponsetoarequestbythechair,ElizabethWilliamson,universitysecretary,provided
commentsonadmissionnumbers.SheadvisedthatunderTheUniversityofSaskatchewanAct,
1995,Councilhasthepowertoprescribeandlimitthenumberofstudentswhomaybe
admittedtoacollegeandalsohastheabilitytodelegatethispower.UniversityCouncilhas
delegatedthesettingofadmissionnumberstofacultycouncilsunderitsbylaws.Target
numbersneednotbesubmittedtoUniversityCouncilforapproval,butneedtobeapprovedat
thefacultycouncillevelandthenreportedtoCouncil.Theuniversitysecretaryadvisedthat
herofficeisworkingwiththeProvost’sofficetodetermineanefficientwaytocollectreports
fromfacultycouncilsregardingadmissionnumbers,andthereportingwilllikelycomethrough
theplanningandprioritiesoracademicprogramscommittee.Shealsonotedthatthereisan
expectationthatafoundationaldocumentonstrategicenrolmentmanagement(SEM)will
cometoUniversityCouncilforapprovalwithinthenexttwoyears.OncetheSEMfoundational
documentisapprovedbyUniversityCouncilandSenateinaccordancewithCouncil’sand
Senate’sbylaws,collegesaretomanagetheirenrolmentinaccordancewiththeapprovedplan.
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Theuniversitysecretaryencouragedcollegesinthemeantimetocontinuetotakeacollegial
approachwithconsultationregardingenrolmentchangesoccurringamongaffectedcolleges.
5. ReportofthePresident
PresidentIleneBusch‐VishniacspokebrieflyabouttheCollegeofMedicinebeingputon
probation,notingthecollegeistheonlymedicalschoolinCanadatobeplacedonprobation
twice.Thepresidentnotedthattherearegreatfaculty,cliniciansandscientistsintheCollege
ofMedicine,butthatchangesareneeded,andthesewilltaketime.SheinformedCouncilthat
theuniversitychosetobetransparentwiththepublicandannouncedthecollegebeingplaced
onprobationuponbeinginformedbytheaccreditingbodies.Thepresidentnotedthatthe
modelfortheCollegeofMedicinethatwascreated60yearsagoisnotworkingincurrenttimes
andhasresultedinabrokengovernancestructurebecausetheresponsibilityforhealthcare
belongstothehealthregionsratherthantheuniversity.Thepresidentnotedthatthereisa
goodunderstandingwiththeprovincialgovernmentthatchangeisnecessaryandthatthe
universitycontinuestoworkwithitspartnerstofindawinforeveryone.
ThepresidentnotedthatthereisanewformerprovincialMinisterofAdvancedEducation,Rob
Norris,whoknowstheuniversityandtheleadershipoftheinstitutionandisfamiliarwiththe
role.ThereisalsoanewfederalMinisterofIndustry,JamesMoore,whoobtainedhismaster’s
degreeattheUniversityofSaskatchewan;thepresidentnotedshemetwithMinisterMoore
recentlyinOttawaaswellaswiththenewMinisterofStateforWesternEconomic
Diversification,MinisterRempel.Thepresidentnotedthatpost‐secondaryeducationwasnot
featuredineitheroftherecentfederalandprovincialthronespeeches.
ThepresidentnotedthatOctoberisaverybusymonthintermsofgovernanceforthe
universityasBoard,SenateandCouncilallmeetinOctober.Thisprovidesagoodopportunity
tobeintouchwitheveryconstituencythatplaysaroleingovernanceattheuniversity.She
notedthatattheupcomingFallConvocationtheuniversity’snewChancellor,BlaineFavel,will
beinstalledinthemorningandthereareanumberofpeoplereceivingawardsandtwo
honorarydegreesattheceremonies.ThepresidentencouragedfacultytoattendConvocation
notingthatthisisatimeofcelebration.
ACouncilmemberinquiredaboutthetransmittalletterregardingtheCollegeofMedicineand
wasadvisedthattheletterisontheCollegeofMedicinewebsiteandwaspostedthedayitwas
received,Friday,October18,2013.
ACouncilmemberaskedaquestionregardingTransformUSnotingthatattheGeneral
AcademicAssemblyinSpringhehadaskedforassurancesthatthecostsofserviceteaching
wouldbetakenintoaccountproperly.HenotedthatinAugusttheco‐chairsdirectedthe
templatepreparerstorollthosecostsintoitemsthathadnothingtodowithteachingand
askedwhatassurancescouldbegiventhatthiswouldbecorrected.Thepresidentnotedthat
nooneabovethelevelofdepartmentheadhasbeenallowedtoserveonthetaskforcessoshe
didnothaveinformationregardingthisandaskedwhetheroneoftheco‐chairspresentwished
torespond.LisaKalynchuk,co‐chairoftheacademictaskforce,informedCouncilthatthe
templatehasasectionwhereunitscanindicatetheamountofteachingdoneineachunitand
thetaskforcefeelscertainthatithasenoughinformationtoassessserviceteachingineach
programandthiswillbereflectedinthetaskforcereports.
ACouncilmembercommendedtheprocessfordevelopmentoftheVision2025statementas
anopenprocess.Hesuggestedthattheword“spirit”inthetitlebereplacedwith“aspiration”
ashebelievedthiswordtobeclosertothenatureofacademicwork.
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6. ReportoftheProvost
AsBrettFairbairn,provostandvice‐presidentacademic,wasunabletoattendthemeeting,the
presidentindicatedshewouldansweranyquestionsonbehalfofDr.Fairbairnregardinghis
writtenreport.Noquestionsorcommentswereraised.
7. StudentSocieties
7.1 ReportfromtheUSSU
MaxFineDay,presidentoftheUniversityofSaskatchewanStudents’Union,presentedanoral
reportontheOpenTextbookProgramcampaign.Heexplainedthatopentextbooks,as
implementedinBritishColumbia,putthe40mostpopulartextbooksonlineforstudentsto
accessonlinewithnocost.TheUSSUislobbyingtheprovincialgovernmentandishaving
conversationswithadministrationregardinghowtodosomethingsimilarinSaskatchewan.
Henotedthatthereisapetitionwithnearly800signaturessofarfromstudents,facultyand
othersinourcampuscommunitysupportingopentextbooks.Mr.FineDayadvisedthatthe
waytextbooksareavailablenowisnotworkingforstudents.
Mr.FineDayspoketothefollowingimplicationstoprofessorsandfaculty:
 Facultywillcontinuetochoosewhichtextbookstheyuse;
 Thereisagreementthatwewanttoseestudentssucceed,andanopentextbook
programisawaytodothat;
 Thecostforpost‐secondaryeducationisprohibitiveandthecostoftextbooksis
amongthetopthreetofourcostsforstudents;
 Professorswillbeabletocustomizetextbooksallowingmorelocalcontent;
 BoththegovernmentsofWashingtonStateandBritishColumbiahaveinvested
approximately$1.0Mtosimilarinitiatives,andWashingtonStatehasalreadyseen
savingsof$3.5Mfortheirstudents;
 Thehopeisthatprofessorswillhaveopendiscussionswithstudentsintheir
classroomsregardingopentextbooks;
 ThepetitionbeingcirculatedbytheUSSUwillbepresentedtoMinisterNorrisandis
availableatthemeetingtodayifanyonewouldliketosignit.
ACouncilmemberaskedMr.FineDayifhewouldpreferfreetuitionoranopentextbook
situation,towhichMr.FineDayadvisedthathewouldliketohavebothbutnotedtuitionisthe
biggestcostforstudents.TheUSSUbelievesinaffordabletuitionandifeverthepossibilityof
freetuitionbecameavailable,theUSSUwouldbeveryhappytoseethis.
ACouncilmembernotedthatthefrontpagestoryintheSheafonOctober17thwasabout
freedomofexpressiononcampusandexpressedhisappreciationandthankstotheUSSUfor
whattheyaredoinginsupportoffreedomofexpression.
7.2 ReportfromtheGSA
EhimaiOhiozebau,presidentoftheGraduateStudents’AssociationreportedtoCouncil.He
supportedtheUSSUinregardstotheopentextbookpolicyoncampusnotingthathebelieves
itwouldbebeneficialtoallstakeholders.
Henotedthatthereareboththought‐basedandresearch‐basedgraduatestudentsaspartof
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theGSA,andthoseinthethought‐basedprogramshavepartneredwithStudentand
EnrolmentServicesDivisiontohaveaseriesofindustrytalksthatwouldbeofinterestto
thoseinthought‐basedprograms.Mr.OhiozebaualsonotedthattheGSAisorganizinga
congressonMarch6‐7,2014,withagalaonMarch8th.Thepurposeofthecongressisto
provideaforumforUniversityofSaskatchewanandCanadiangraduatestudentstopresent
theirscholarshipandresearchinapeer‐reviewedsession.Thedesireistocreateanevent
whereallgraduatestudentswillbeabletodisplaytheirresearch.
8. PlanningandPrioritiesCommittee
Dr.FranWalley,chairoftheplanningandprioritiescommittee,presentedthecommittee
reportstoCouncil.
8.1
Reportforinformation:Vision2025:FromSpirittoAction
Dr.WalleyadvisedthattheplanningandprioritiescommitteeissubmittingtheVision2025
documenttoCouncilforinformationanddiscussiononbehalfofPresidentBusch‐Vishniac.
Shenotedthatbringingithereisalsoasignalthattheauthorisseekinginputondirectionand
depthfromallcornersoftheuniversitytoensureitisavisionofouruniversitycollective.Dr.
Walleyadvisedthatthedocumentisaworkinprogressandwillbecomeaninstitutional
statementfortheuniversity’sbroadestgoalsandobjectivesandlayapathforfutureplans.
TheintentionisforthevisiondocumenttocomebacktoCouncilforendorsementinSpring
2014.
Dr.Walleyadvisedthattheplanningandprioritiescommitteemetwiththepresidentto
discussthedraftvisionstatement.Thecommittee’sdiscussionfocusedonthereflectionof
student’sfinancialneeds,thevaluestatementsinthedocument,thedegreeofAboriginal
supportstructures,andthata“senseofplace”shouldencompasstheNorth,inadditionto
“prairieresourcefulness”.
ThechairaskedPresidentBusch‐Vishniactocomeforwardtoprovidecommentsonthevision
document.Thepresidentadvisedthatherkeyaimsaretomakesurethedocumentreflects
institutionalaimsandnotheraimsalone.Thedesireistothinkfarenoughouttoreflect
institutionalgoalsandaspirationstohelpguidethedevelopmentoftheuniversity’sfourthand
fifthintegratedplans.Sheexpressedshewouldliketomakethevisionreflecttheuniversity
anditsuniqueness.Thepresidentdescribedtheprocessshefollowedindevelopingthe
document,includingcreatingalistofquestionswhichwascirculatedtoseniorleadersofthe
university.Fromthatlistthepresidentwrotea17pagedocumentthatwasreviewedbythe
SeniorLeadershipForuminAugust.Basedoncommentsfromthisbody,thevisiondocument
waseditedsignificantlyandthensharedagainwiththeSeniorLeadershipForumandCouncil
chairs.IthasalsogonetotheBoard,SenateandnowUniversityCouncil‐‐allinOctober.The
visiondocumentisalsopostedontheuniversitywebsite,withaninvitationforcommentsand
feedback.Atownhalltopresentthedraftvisiondocumentisscheduledfornextweek,andthe
aimistofinalizethedocumentbySpring2014.
Thepresidentnotedthatshebelievedtheprocessisworking,asoneparagraphinthe
documenthaspromptedthevastmajorityofresponses.ShedrewCouncil’sattentiontothe
paragraphonthefifthpageofthedocumentspeakingtopartnershipwithAboriginal
communitiesandnotedthatitisnotbeinginterpretedinthesenseshehadintended,and
thereforetheparagraphwillberewritten.Theparagraphcurrentlysaysthattheuniversity
presentlyhasprogramsforAboriginalstudentsandprogramsfornon‐Aboriginalstudents.
HavingintegratedprogramsforAboriginalandnon‐Aboriginalstudentshasbeensuggestedas
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afuturegoal.Thepresidentadvisedthatthishasbeenperceivedasathreattosomeofthe
university’sverysuccessfulAboriginalprograms,whichwasnotwhatshehadintended.The
presidentnotedthatasawomaninthemale‐dominatedfieldsofengineeringandscience
disciplines,sheknowsthattheintendedend‐stateistohaveequalpayforequalworkand
equalrepresentationofwomeninallfields.However,withrespecttoequityofAboriginal
peoples,wedonotyetknowthedesiredendstate.Theaimisnottocuthighlysuccessful
programsbuttoaskwhatwillequitylooklikemanyyearsdowntheroadinaprovincethat
willbemajorityAboriginalwithauniversitythatwillalsolikelybemajorityAboriginal.The
presidentnotedthatsheisopentoallcommentsonthisissueandanyothersinthedocument.
ACouncilmembernotedthathewassurprisedtoseenoreferencetotrustsorendowmentsin
thedocumentandfeltthattheyarelinkedasuniversitiesusetheirtrustsandendowmentsto
supporttheirresearch.Anothermemberwasstruckbythefactthatthereisnoreferenceto
theFineArtsorartisticworkinthedocument.Heexpressedthathethoughtitimportantto
includethisbecausethisprovinceandcityhavehadaverystronghistoricalrecordasground
breakersinthisareaandthereforeitshouldbeincludedinthesenseofplaceofthisuniversity.
Insupportofhisstatement,heprovidedexamplesofwheretheuniversity,thecity,andthe
provincehavebeenattheforefrontofartisticendeavours,includingthecreationofthe
Kenderdinecampusin1936.Henotedthathebelievedthishasledtoacitythatisvibrantin
itsartsenvironmentwithartmuseumsandtheatresoftenfundedbyalumni.Thepresident
notedthatwhensheshortenedthedocument,thisreferencewasinadvertentlylost,andthe
documentshouldrefertoresearch,scholarlyandartisticwork.
ACouncilmemberaskedthatthepresidentclarifytheprocessaroundapprovalofthe
documentandwhetheritwillberevisedandcomebacktoUniversityCouncilforapproval.
Thepresidentadvisedthatsheisseekingasmanycommentsaspossibleandwillrevisethe
documentsinresponse,notingthatshewillnotbeabletomakeeveryonehappy.Shealsodoes
notwanttolosetheedgethatthevisiondocumentcurrentlyhas.Thedocumentwillcome
backtoBoard,UniversityCouncilandSenateforendorsementofallthreegoverningbodies.
ACouncilmemberrecommendedthattheparagraphunder“ourplaceinthepost‐secondary
landscape”aboutattributesberemovedasitsuggestswearelegislatinghowpeopleoughtto
behave.
ACouncilmembernotedthatonpagetwothedocumentreferstoprinciplesthatwillguideour
futureandincludes“learninganddiscovery”;hecommendedthepresidentforincludingthese
asoutcomesratherthanactivities.
ACouncilmembernotedthathismajorconcernisthatthedocumenthascomeoutoftheblue
andtheprocessisalreadyoneoftalkingbacktothedocument.Henotedthatavisionshould
comefromthepeople,nottop‐downbutbottom‐upandhissuggestionwastostartfrom
scratchandaskthepeoplethatworkandstudyherewhattheirfundamentalvaluesare.He
alsoadvisedthathethoughtthevisiondocumentshouldbeasetofprinciplesandthis
documentreadsasaplanningdocumentnotavisiondocument.
ACouncilmembernotedthathewassensitivetotheportionofthedocumentspeakingto
gratuitousduplicationandaskedthepresidentwhatshemeantbythereferencetogratuitous
duplicationonpagetwoofthedocument.Thepresidentadvisedthatthishasalsobeen
identifiedasasensitivepointandneedstoberewritten.Shenotedthattherearemany
reasonswhyhavingmorethanoneprogramintheprovinceisjustifiedinthattheyserve
differentpurposes,takedifferentapproachesortheprogramdemandistoohightobemetby
oneinstitution.Thepresidentnotedthatherpointwasthatshedidnotwanttogrow
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programsjusttogrowprogramsbutratherthereneedstobeaclearbusinesscasetogrowa
program.
Therebeingnofurthercomments,thepresidentinvitedCouncilmemberstogotoherwebsite
andprovidecommentsonline.
8.2
Reportforinformation:TheWayForward:ImplementationPlanfortheCollegeof
Medicine
Thechair,beingamemberoftheCollegeofMedicine,askedthevice‐chair,HansMichelmann
tochairthisportionoftheCouncilmeeting.
Dr.FranWalleyadvisedthattheimplementationplanfortheCollegeofMedicinewasbeing
presentedforinformationtoCouncilasafollow‐uptoCouncil’spreviousdecisiontoapprovein
principlethecollege’svisiondocument.InDecember2012thedocument,ANewVisionforthe
CollegeofMedicine,waspresentedtoUniversityCouncilandapprovedinprinciple.Atthat
timeitwasrecognized,thevisiondocumentsetforwardavisionforthecollegebutwasnota
comprehensiveplan.Councilthereforerequiredthedevelopmentofanimplementationplan,
whichwouldaddressthecriteriaestablishedbytheplanningandprioritiescommitteefor
assessmentofanyrenewalplanforthecollege.
Dr.Walleyadvisedthattheimplementationistheresponsibilityofthedeananddean’s
executive.Councilisconcernedwithacademicprogramsandcollegestructuresthathousethe
academicprograms.Althoughtheplanpaintsapictureofwhatmaybeimplemented,thesteps
takentoimplementtheplanstillneedtobedetermined.Councilhasalreadyapprovedin
principlethevisionforthechanges,butasthesechangesareeithernotwithinthepurviewof
Councilorarenotfullyformed,thereportisbeingpresentedtoCouncilforinformationrather
thanapproval.
Dr.Walleylistedthecriteriaagainstwhichthecommitteeevaluatedtheplanasreported
earliertoCouncilasfollows:
 Therenewalplanwillproposeagovernancestructurethatwilladdresstheconcernsof
theaccreditingbodieswithinoneyear.Inthenearterm,theproposedstructurewill
assuretheaccreditingbodiesthataccountabilityissuesarebeingaddressedeffectively.
 Theproposedgovernancestructurewillsupportthechangeprocessthatthecollege
mustundergoifitistoincreaseitslevelofresearchactivitysubstantiallyoverthenext
fiveyears.
 TherenewalplanwillprovideCouncilwithareasonablelevelofconfidencethatthe
desiredoutcomeswillbeachieved,alongwithsomesenseofthemilestonesand
metricsthatwillbeemployedtomeasureandmonitortheextentandtrajectoryof
progressoverthenextfiveyears.
 Therenewalplancanbeimplementedwithoutadditionalresourcesfromtheuniversity
anditwillincludeastrategyforresourceallocationfromthecollege’sresponsibilities
andamongtherespectiveagenciesresponsibleforacademicactivitiesandprovisional
ofclinicalservices.
 Therenewalplanwillincludeadescriptionoftheprocessemployedinitsdevelopment,
includingthedegreeofengagementoftheCollegeofMedicineFacultyCouncilin
addition,thelevelofCollegeofMedicineFacultyCouncilsupportfortherenewalplan
willbedocumented.
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Dr.Walleyadvisedthatmembersoftheplanningandprioritiescommitteewereofthe
opinionthattheplanaddressesthecriteriasetoutandconveysthemessageofgeneral
support.Shenotedthattheplansetsoutthe‘what’andthe‘how’isyettobedetermined.
Thereistheexpectationthatexplicitplansarisingfromtheplanwillbedevelopedinthe
futureandbroughttoCouncil.
Vice‐chairMichelmanninvitedtheactingdeanoftheCollegeofMedicine,LouQualtiere,and
vice‐provost,CollegeofMedicineorganizationalrestructuring,MartinPhillipson,toprovide
comments.Mr.PhillipsonprovidedanoralpresentationtoCouncil.Heexplainedthe
extensiveconsultationprocessutilizedtodeveloptheplan,whichincludednumerous
meetingsofthedean’sadvisorycommitteeandtheworkinggroups,andanumberoftown
hallspriortothedevelopmentoftheplanandafterthereleaseofthedraftplan.Headvised
thatTheWayForwarddocumentspeakstohowtoaddressthekeyissuesofaccreditation,
studentoutcomesonnationalexams,andresearchunderperformance.Thesearethe
symptomsoftheproblemsattheCollegeofMedicine.Thecauseistheunderlyingstructures
ofthecollege,whichhaveresultedinthemisalignmentofresourcesandpriorities.Mr.
PhillipsonstressedthattheCollegeofMedicineneedstobereformedasitisbeingaskedto
dodifferentthingsthanwhenitwasfirstestablished.Thereisaneedtorealigntimeand
resourcesdedicatedtoteaching,researchandclinicalservices.Thisisnotaquestionof
resourcesasthecollegehasbeenwell‐fundedandhasrenewedinfrastructuretodoleading
research.
Mr.Phillipsonadvisedthattheprocesshasbeendifficultattimes,andthereisaneedfor
furtherconsultation,whichmaybecontroversial.However,thestatusquoisnotacceptable,
andthereforethecollegemustproceed.Thisdocumentsetsoutthestartofthe‘how’tosolve
theissues.Thereisaneedtorealignwithourteachingandresearchmissionslookingatthe
followingthreeareas:realignfacultycomplement;re‐conceptualizeresearch;restructure
collegegovernanceandpartnerships.Mr.Phillipsonspoketotheissuesineachoftheseareas
andtheprogresstodate.
Regardingaccreditation,oneofthemainproblemsisthatthecollegeandtheuniversityhave
failedtodealwithaccountabilityoffull‐timefacultyandtheauthorityofthedean.Thereisa
needtodesignadifferentgovernancestructurewithamorediffusedpowerstructure.A
positivesignisthatmuchprogresshasbeenmadeoverthelastfewmonthsregardingthe
assignmentofdutiesofthecollege’sfull‐timeclinicalfacultymembers.
Regardingthefacultycomplement,themedicalfacultyrepresentsauniquecategoryof
universityappointmentsastheydonotfitthemodelofthemajorityofacademic
appointmentsoncampus,duetotheirdeliveryofclinicalservicesandlimitedcapacityto
performteachingandservice.Asaresult,thecollegeintendstoformalizeitsrelationship
withcommunity‐basedclinicalpart‐timefacultymembers,whoteachtoundergraduates,and
providethesememberswithagreatersayregardingthecollege’scurriculum.Theplan
proposestorecruitclinicaleducatorsandclinicianscientists.Theuniversityhasrequested
$10Mfromtheprovincialgovernmenttoassistintherecruitmentofhighlysuccessful
clinicianscientiststobuildthecollege’sresearchoutputs.Thereisaneedtoincreasethe
college’sresearchintensivenessandidentifyresearchprioritiesviathecollege’sTowards
2020researchplan.Thecollegemustalignitsresearchprioritieswithprovincialimperatives
andexistingresearchstrengthsoncampus.Thisisanongoingprocess.Thereisaneedto
balancethecompensationsystemsoresearchisvaluedatthesamelevelasteachingand
clinicalservices,anddiscussionsareunderwaywiththeprovinceregardinganewclinical
compensationmodel.
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Theplanintroducestheconceptofthreevice‐deanswiththeauthoritytoaddresseducation,
researchandfacultyengagement,therebyreinforcingaccountabilityandprovidinga
leadershipmodelwhichwillreducethenumberofdirectreportstothedean.Thecollegeis
committedtotheunifiedheadshipmodelwhichwillbeafocalpointfordistributedmedical
educationtoensurequalityacademicprogrammingisproducedbythecollegeacrossthe
province.Thebiomedicalsciencesrequirereconfigurationasthesefivedepartmentshave
90%oftheirteachingoutsidetheCollegeofMedicine.Incomparisontokeypeers,the
biomedicalsciencesdepartmentsareachieving50%oftheCIHRfunding.Therefore,thereis
aneedtorationalizeprogrammingandimprovetheresearchperformanceofthese
departmentsinsupportoftheCollegeofMedicine.Thefacultymemberswithinthe
biomedicalscienceshaveacknowledgedthatthereisaneedforchange,buthaveindicated
additionalconsultationisneeded.Therefore,thecurrentactingdean,incomingactingdean
andMr.Phillipsonwillformataskforcetomeetwiththebiomedicalsciencesdepartments
withinthenexttwoweekstosetoutaprocessandtimelinefordiscussiontoinvolvefaculty
fromthesedepartmentsintheredesignoftheirdepartments.
Mr.Phillipsonadvisedthattheuniversitycontinuestobeopenwiththegovernmentand
healthregionsregardingthechangesnecessarytoensurethatclinicianshaveprotectedtime
forteachingandresearch.ThehealthregionsinSaskatoonandReginaarelineduptopartner
withthecollegeandhaveacknowledgedthattheCollegeofMedicineisafundamentalpartof
theprovisionofprovincialhealthcareservices.
Mr.Phillipsonadvisedthatanyproposaltoreconfigurethebiomedicalsciencesandany
changestotheirassociatedacademicprogramswillbesubmittedtoCouncil,andthatthis
processwilltake12‐18monthsandwillincludeconsultationwiththeCollegeofArtsand
Science.
QuestionsandcommentswereinvitedfromCouncil.ACouncilmembernotedthatthe
CollegeofMedicinehasbeenfocusedonthepreparationoffuturephysiciansandnotonthe
preparationoffuturebiomedicalscientists.Hequestionedwhohastheresponsibilityto
developbiomedicalscientists,andnotedthatthisquestionrequiresfurtherconsideration
betweentheCollegeofArtsandScienceandtheCollegeofMedicineregardingtheCollegeof
Medicine’spresentmandateforitsfacultymemberstoteachstudentsenrolledinthecollege’s
M.D.undergraduateprogramandstudentsenrolledinthebiomedicalsciences.
ACouncilmembercommentedonthemechanismandprinciplesreferredtointhereportto
increaseresearchintensivenessanddecreaseadministrationandteachingloadsoffaculty.He
notedthatthisisbeingdonefromtheprinciplethatthereislimitedtimeavailableforpeople
torealignthesegoals.Henotedthatthefocusonbeingresearchintensiveaffectsteaching.
Healsonotedthattheperformanceofundergraduatestudentsonnationalexamsbeinglow
incomparisontoothermedicalschoolsisduetothecurriculumbeingoutdatedanddirecting
students’activitytoareasnotinlinewiththeexamquestions.Thisisaproblemwiththe
curriculumandnotaproblemwiththecollege’sadmissionsprocessorstudentability.Next
monthCouncilwillbeintroducedtoanewcurriculumforthecollege’sundergraduate
programtobeintroducedinAugust2014,whichmakessignificantstepsintheright
direction.
ACouncilmembernotedthathewasunclearaboutthechangestotheclinicaleducatormodel
thatwilladdresstheproblemswehaveidentifiedandquestionedhowtheaccreditingbody
willviewkeepingtheunifiedheadsthattietheSaskatoonHealthRegionwiththeCollegeof
Medicine.Mr.Phillipsonadvisedthattherewillbetwentyfacultythatwillspendmostof
theirtimeasprofessionaleducatorsandthatweneedtomaketheCollegeofMedicineand
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theclinicalenvironmentmutuallysupportiveandbalanced.Asignificantlyenhancedjob
profilehasbeendevelopedfortheunifiedheadsandwehavetomeetwithgovernmentand
thehealthregionstomakethatwork.
Dr.BillRoesler,headofthebiochemistrydepartment,providedcommentstoCouncilnoting
thatthefivebiomedicalsciencefacultiesarenotagainstchangeandrealizethestatusquois
notsustainableinlightofthelastfewyears,duetonotbeingabletore‐hireretirementsand
hiringbasedonresearchratherthandisciplineneedsforteaching.However,Dr.Roesler
notedhedidnotagreewiththerecommendationsoftheworkinggroupandnotedfurther
thatthecompositionoftheworkinggroupincludedonlyonememberofthebiomedical
sciencesdepartments.Althoughtherewasampleopportunityforconsultationandinput,the
originalproposalvarieslittlefromthefinalrecommendationsofthegroup,illustratingthat
theworkinggroupwasabletoelicitverylittlechange.Regardingthefinalstructureofone
unifieddepartmentorunit,withinthemedicalschoolsacrossCanada,thereisnoone
consistentmodelandDr.Roeslernotedthatthereareavarietyofsuccessfulmodels.While
thechasmbetweenthebiomedicalsciencedepartmentsandtheCollegeofMedicinemay
seemwideatthistime,heindicatedthatinhisviewthesegroupswerenotthatfarapart.The
fivedepartmentheadshavemetasagrouptodiscusstheparametersoftheproposedtask
forceandcontactedthein‐comingactingdeantoindicatetheywouldliketomeetwithhimas
soonasheisinhisnewposition.Dr.Roeslerindicatedthatthebiomedicalscience
departmentheadsrealizetheymustproceedexpeditiouslyandembracechange.
Dr.BenjaminRosser,headoftheAnatomyandCellBiologyDepartment,agreedwithDr.
Roesler,advisingthatthebiomedicalsciencefacultymembersarenotobstructionistsanddo
understandtheneedforchangeandtomoveforward.However,facultyinthesedepartments
donotfeeltheyhavebeenpartoftheprocessandthedevelopmentoftheimplementation
plan,whichsuggeststhatthefacultycomplementinthebiomedicalsciencesdivisionbe
reducedto60facultymembersfrom78facultymembers,andfromfivedepartmentstotwo
departments.Dr.RosserreadthemotionfromtheCollegeofMedicineFacultyCouncil;“that
theCollegeofMedicineformataskforcewithmeaningfulandsignificantrepresentationfrom
thefivebasicsciencedepartmentswithintheDivisionofBiomedicalSciencestoreviewand
revisetherecommendationsforthereorganizationofthesedepartmentsandtheirprogram
offerings.”HenotedthatthismotionwaspassedattheCollegeofMedicineFacultyCouncil
andtheformationofataskforceisaverypositivestepforward.
Mr.Phillipsonagreedthatthereisaneedtoworktogethertofindanoptimalstructure.Part
ofthepurposeoftheimplementationplanwastoprovokekeydiscussions.Althoughsomeof
thediscussionshavebeenfractious,thegoalistohavetherightdiscussionsandcometothe
rightconclusions.Henotedthatheishappytoworkwiththebiomedicalscience
departmentsandbelievesinpushingtogetherintherightdirectiontoachievedesiredresults.
Inorderforthistooccur,thecollegemustworkacrosstheentirecollegiumwithinthe
college.
9. AcademicProgramsCommittee
Dr.JayKalraresumedtheroleofchair.Dr.RoyDobson,chairoftheacademicprograms
committee,presentedtheacademicprogramscommitteereporttoCouncil.
9.1 RequestforInformation:ResolutionofChallenge
Dr.DobsonadvisedthatacoursechallengewassubmittedbytheCollegeofArtsand
Scienceregardingthecollege’ssciencerequirement.Thechangewaschallengedbythe
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divisionofscienceprimarilyonthedefinitionofwhatisasciencerequirement.Thisled
toextensivediscussionthatspannedfourcommitteemeetings.Theresolutionwasto
allowtwophilosophyclassestobelistedasneedingthesciencedistributionrequirement
inthebachelorofartsprogramsinthehumanitiesandfineartsprovidedthatthelabelof
therequirementischangedtoreflectthenatureoftherangeofclassesavailableto
studentsinthiscategory,suchas“science,mathematicsorlogic”.Inviewofthedifficulty
regardingtheresolutionofthisissue,thecommitteehasstronglyrecommendedthatthe
CollegeofArtsandSciencereviewitsbylawsonhowinter‐curricularmattersare
reviewed.PeterStoicheff,thedeanoftheCollegeofArtsandSciencethankedthe
committeeforitsresolutionandadvisedthatthereviewofthecollege’sbylawswillbe
addressedatthefacultycouncilmeetinginFebruary.
10. NominationsCommittee
Dr.EdKrol,chairofthenominationscommittee,presentedthereport.
10.1 Requestfordecision:NominationstotheReviewCommitteefortheVice‐president
Research
EdKroldescribedtheprocessfollowedtoidentifytheindividualsproposedforthe
reviewcommittee.Thechaircalledfornominationsfromthefloorthreetimes.
KROL/DOBSON:ThatCouncilapprovethefollowingnominationstotheReview
CommitteefortheVice‐presidentResearch:
FourGAAmembers:MarieBattiste(EducationalFoundations),OlegDmitriev
(Biochemistry),RobScott(Chemistry),CharleneSorensen(UniversityLibrary)
OnememberofCouncilwhoholdsasenioradministrativeposition:David
Parkinson,vice‐dean,CollegeofArtsandScience
CARRIED
11. GovernanceCommittee
RoyDobson,memberofthegovernancecommitteepresentedthisitemtoCouncilasDean
CarolRodgers,chairofthegovernancecommitteewasunabletoattend.
11.1 RequestforDecision:NominationtotheNominationsCommittee
Thechaircalledfornominationsthreetimesfromthefloor.
DOBSON/WALLEY:ThatCouncilapprovethenominationofKeithWalkertothe
NominationsCommitteeforaone‐yeartermendingJune30,2014.
CARRIED
12. Otherbusiness
Therewasnootherbusiness.
13. Questionperiod
Therewerenootherquestions.
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14. Adjournment
DESBRISAY/DOBSON:Thatthemeetingbeadjournedat4:30p.m.
CARRIED
Nextmeeting–2:30pm,November21,2013
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