This report is intended as an informative and unofficial summary of the matters discussed by the board. The
formal record of this meeting, which includes the wording and disposition of motions (including abstentions), is
contained in the official minutes, which will be approved at the next regular meeting of the board.
REPORT OF A MEETING OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN BOARD OF GOVERNORS
BOARD ROOM, COLLEGE BUILDING
8:00 am, Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Board members present: Nancy Hopkins (chair), Art Dumont, Linda Ferguson, Scott Hitchings, Peter
MacKinnon, Grit McCreath, Susan Milburn, Vera Pezer, Greg Smith and David Sutherland.
Regrets:
Garry Standing
Resource officers: Karen Chad, Brett Fairbairn, Richard Florizone, Heather Magotiaux, and Lea Pennock (secretary).
Further information about the composition of the Board of Governors and its committees, as well as the bylaws and
annual work plan of the board, are available at http://www.usask.ca/university_secretary/board/
Agenda
Item
1
2
Subject
Minutes of December 9, 2011
and February 13, 2012
meetings
Business arising from the
minutes
3.
In camera items
4.
5.
5.1
Report of the President
Standing committees
Human Resources Committee
5.1.1
Minutes of December 8, 2011
5.1.2
Re-appointment Provost and
Vice-president Academic
5.1.3
Review of Associate VP
Research-Health/VP Health
Region
Comments/Decisions
The minutes were approved with minor amendments.
A memo from the chair of the Audit Committee regarding
expectations for the current year’s audit was received for
information.
The board met in camera.
The president's written report is appended.
The committee met on March 5. Members in attendance:
Grit McCreath (chair), Nancy Hopkins, Peter MacKinnon,
David Sutherland. Others in attendance: Art Dumont, Linda
Ferguson, Scott Hitchings, Greg Smith, Vera Pezer, and Susan
Milburn.
The minutes were received for information.
The board approved the appointment of Brett Fairbairn as
Provost and Vice-president Academic effective July 1, 2013
for a further five-year term.
The board approved the continuation of the joint position the
U of S and Saskatoon Health Region, and re-appointment of
Beth Horsburgh as AVP Research Health/VP Research &
Innovation, Saskatoon Health Region, subject to approval by
the health region of the continuation of the position and of
the re-appointment of Dr. Horsburgh.
5.1.4
Safety, environment, health
and wellness update
5.1.5
Bargaining and Labour
Relations update
An annual update on the safety, environment, health and
wellness initiatives with a focus on key performance
measures and outcomes was received.
A verbal report on the status of bargaining and labour
relations was received for information.
5.1.6
Senior administrative
appointment
The appointment of Louise Humbert as Associate Dean in the
College of Kinesiology was received for information.
5.1.7
Senior academic appointments
A list of senior academic appointments was received for
information.
5.2
Governance and Executive
Committee
5.2.1
Minutes of December 8, 2011
The committee met on March 5. Members in attendance
were Vera Pezer (chair), Art Dumont, Nancy Hopkins, Peter
MacKinnon, Susan Milburn and Greg Smith. Also in
attendance: Linda Ferguson, Scott Hitchings, Grit McCreath,
and David Sutherland.
The minutes with a small amendment were received for
information.
5.2.
Business arising for the
minutes
The board received a report on subsidiary companies and a
verbal update on use of metrics in presidential evaluation.
5.2.3
Third Integrated Plan
The board approved the Third Integrated Plan as a framework
for action for the planning cycle 2012/13 to 2015/16.
5.2.4
Update on searches and
reviews of senior
administrators
Canadian Centre for Nuclear
Innovation
This item was received for information.
De-brief on Presidential search
process and transitional
activities
Preparation for the 2012
board public meeting
Board members reviewed and commented on the recently
completed presidential search process and were updated on
plans for the transition of presidents.
Board members were provided with an opportunity to review
the agenda and presentations planned for this meeting.
5.2.8
Update on board
appointments
An update on the status of the provincial protocol revisions
and appointments to the board was received.
5.2.9
Proposal and demo for
electronic board agendas
A solution for providing board materials electronically was
received and approved as a pilot for the next meeting.
5.3
Land and Facilities Committee
The committee met on March 5. Members in attendance:
David Sutherland (chair), Linda Ferguson Scott Hitchings, Vera
Pezer. Also in attendance: Art Dumont, Peter MacKinnon,
Grit McCreath, Susan Milburn, and Greg Smith.
5.3.1
Minutes of December 8, 2011
The minutes were received for information.
5.3.2
Multi-year capital framework
Board approval was granted for the multi-year capital
frameword for 2012-13 to 2015-16.
5.2.5
5.2.6
5.2.7
An update regarding the CCNI was received for information.
5.3.3
WestGrid High Performance
Computing Storage Facility
The Board approved a revised budget for this facility due to
larger-than-expected vendor discounts.
5.3.4
Central Heating Plant –
replacement of boiler #2
Preliminary approval for the replacement of boiler #2 in the
Central Heating Plant was granted..
5.3.5
Distributed Health Sciences
education project – College of
Nursing Regina site
WCVM Veterinary Anatomy
Laboratory renewal
The board approved preliminary funding requirements and
approved a conditional offer to lease space in Regina for this
project.
Board 1 and2 approval was granted for the Veterinary
Anatomy Laboratory renewal at the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine.
A ground lease with Preston Crossing Properties, Inc. for
approximately .88 acres of land was approved.
5.3.6
5.3.7
Preston Crossing – lease
approval
5.3.8
U of S Traffic Bylaws
5.3.9
Children’s Hospital of
Saskatchewan
5.3.10
InterVac Project update
5.3.11
Off campus land and mineral
holdings summary
An annual report providing information on how off-campus
land holdings are managed was received for information.
5.3.12
Preston Crossing Phase 4
An update on the progress of development of Preston
Crossing Phase 4 was received for information.
5.3.13
RenewUs – A proposal to
renew our core campus
5.3.14
Saskatchewan Centre for
Innovations in Cyclotron
Science (SCI_CS)
Stone Barn – Structure and
safety issues for long term
stability
The board approved various revisions to reflect current
practices, update fine amounts and reflect more legally
accurate and updated terminology to the Traffic Bylaws
An update on the planning underway to ensure support for
the academic mission, particularly patient-oriented research,
and the design of the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan at
the Royal University Hospital site was received for
information.
The board received for information an update on various
components of the InterVac project.
5.3.16
Major capital projects status
report
An introduction and status report on the RenewUS proposal
at the U of S was received. This proposal is to address critical
capital deficiencies and align them with academic renewal in
the form of renewal of our core campus. Projects will be
prioritized through a blending of capital stewardship,
academic priorities, and financial and planning opportunities.
The board received for information an update on the four key
dimensions of this project: scope, budget (cost and funding
strategy), schedule and people and governance.
An update on the work required to address the immediate
safety concerns and enhance the structure of the barn to
ensure the longer term stability of the Stone Barn was
received for information.
An overview of the current status of capital projects was
received for information.
5.3.17
St. Thomas More building
expansion
An update on St. Thomas More building expansion was
received for information.
5.3.15
5.3.18
Major capital projects
operating costs status report
An overview of the current status of the operating funding for
capital projects was received for information.
5.3.19
Update on delegated
administrative approvals
5.4
Finance and Investment
Committee
The board delegated certain administrative approvals related
to capital projects, programs and the campus physical plant.
This report provides the board with an overview of these
approvals since the December report.
The committee met on March 5. Members present: Greg
Smith (chair), Art Dumont, Susan Milburn, and Scott Hitchings.
Others in attendance: Linda Ferguson, Peter MacKinnon, Grit
McCreath, Vera Pezer, and David Sutherland.
5.4.1
Minutes of December 8, 2011
The minutes were received for information.
5.4.2
Multi-year budget framework
The board approved the U of S multi-year budget framework
for 2012/13 to 2015/16.
5.4.3
Supplementary Executive
Retirement Plan
5.4.4
Proposed tuition strategy and
rates for 2012/13
5.4.5
Pension strategy and analysis
5.4.6
Quarterly financial reports
5.4.7
Services and process
enhancement project update
(SPEP)
Student managed investment
account
The board approved the Associate Vice-president
Communications for membership in the supplementary
executive retirement plan
The board reviewed and provided feedback regarding
proposed tuition amounts for 2012/13. Two scenarios were
provided.
Information regarding the provincial government’s
consultation paper on a new funding regime for public sector
plans and the university’s draft response was received for
information.
A quarterly report on the financial results of the university to
January 31, 2012 and a forecast to year-end of projected
operating fund results compared to budget was received for
information.
An update on the status of Phase II of the SPEP was received
for information
5.4.8
An update on the status of the student managed brokerage
account was received for information.
5.4.9
Quarterly investment report
A quarterly report on investment income was received for
information.
5.4.10
Quarterly compliance report
5.4.11
University Advancement
development activity for third
quarter
List of research related
acronyms at the U of S
Canada Research Chairs
program
A quarterly report on investment manager compliance with
investment policies was provided to the board in accordance
with the board work plan.
A progress report of philanthropic revenue received for the
period November 2011 to January 31, 2012 was received for
information.
At the request of the Finance and Investment Committee the
board received a list of research related acronyms.
An annual update on the status of the Canada Research
Chairs program and its management at the U of S was
received for information.
5.4.12
5.4.13
5.4.14
Innovation and Science Fund
5.4.15
Federal Indirect Costs of
Research Program
5.4.16
Canada Foundation for
Innovation
5.5
Audit Committee
5.5.1
Minutes of December 8, 2011
5.5.2
Draft financial statement
format
Internal Control Project and
Audit Remediation/Progress
report on the Provincial
auditor’s recommendations
5.5.3
5.5.4
Audit Services’ update on
Audit Remediation Process re
Internal Control Project
5.5.5
Report on Audit Services
activities
5.5.6
Crisis and emergency
measures planning report
Report on payments and
remittances
5.5.7
5.5.8
Environmental protection
programs and processes
5.5.9
Final Audit Services reports
6.
6.1
Other business
Use of University of
Saskatchewan name by the
Faculty Club
An annual update on the status of the innovation and Science
Fund and its management at the U of S was received for
information.
The board received an annual update on the status of the
Federal Indirect Costs of Research Program and its
management at the U of S.
An annual update to the board on the status of Canada
Foundation for Innovation funding and its management at the
U of S was received for information.
The committee met on March 5. Members present: Susan
Milburn (chair), Linda Ferguson, Grit McCreath, and Greg
Smith. Also in attendance: Art Dumont, Scott Hitchings, and
David Sutherland.
The minutes of the October 12, 2011 Audit Committee were
received for information.
The board approved of the 2011/12 draft format financial
statements.
An update on the status of the internal control project since
the December board meeting and a report of activities
undertaken and planned in order to address the issues
identified as an outcome of the 2010/11 annual audit, were
received for information.
This report was received for information. The intent of this
report is to provide the board with an independent and
objective update on the status of the Audit Remediation
relative to the Internal Control Project.
An update on the progress of audit projects since the
previous reporting period was received for information. This
is to ensure that the Division of Audit Services is meeting its
responsibilities in carrying out the audit plan as approved by
the Audit Committee.
An update regarding crisis and emergency measures planning
activity at the U of S was received for information.
This is a regular report received for information in accordance
with the audit committee's work plan. Its purpose is to
provide assurance to the board that the university has met all
obligations which may result in personal liability.
An executive overview of programs and practices at the U of S
in support of environmental protection and due diligence was
received.
Executive summary audit reports were received for
information. This protocol ensures that completed internal
audit reports are provided in a timely manner and in
accordance with the terms of reference of the Audit
Committee.
The board granted approval for the Faculty Club to use the
proposed name of “University of Saskatchewan Club”, subject
to the execution of an agreement to give the university
control over the use of its name.
7.
7.1
Items for information
Items approved by the board
since December 9, 2011
7.2
Meeting schedule for 2012
8.
Communications
8.1
Letter from Janet Wright
A letter of thanks from the consultant for the Search
Committee for the President was received.
8.2
Letter from Minister Norris
9.
Other business-items by board
members
A letter from the Minister of Advanced Education,
Employment and Immigration regarding the role of postsecondary institutions in development of public service
renewal and the upcoming budget process was received,
along with a draft response.
The board met briefly in camera.
10.
Next meeting-Tuesday, May 8,
2012
The board approved administrative leave for Vice-president
Florizone effective April 1/12 to March 31/13 by mail-out
ballot on January 15, 2012. Note: date was subsequently
changed to April 15, 2012 to April 14, 2013.
A list of meeting dates for 2012/13 was received for
information
The meeting adjourned at 11:15 am.