REPORT OF A MEETING OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
8:00 a.m., FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2011
ROOM 238 COLLEGE BUILDING
Board members present: Nancy Hopkins (chair), Art Dumont, Linda Ferguson, Peter MacKinnon,
Grit McCreath, Susan Milburn, Vera Pezer, Greg Smith, Garry Standing, Chris Stoicheff
and David Sutherland.
Resource officers: Karen Chad, Barb Daigle, Brett Fairbairn, Richard Florizone, and Sandra Calver (acting
secretary).
Also present: Pauline Melis, for item 3.0; John Rigby for item 6.2
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
Subject
Minutes of the meetings
of December 15, 2010
The minutes were adopted as circulated.
2
Business from the
minutes
Risk presentation –
Success in Research
Funding
In camera items (board
members only)
There was no business arising from the minutes.
3.
4.
Comments/Decisions
The board received a briefing from Vice-President Chad
on the risk of not securing tri-agency and other research
funding.
An overview of the university’s senior administrators was
presented by the president and provost. The board then
met in camera.
The president's written report is appended.
5.
Report of the president
5
6.1
Standing committees
GOVERNANCE AND
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
6.1.1
Minutes of December 14,
2011
6.1.2
Joint committee report on The revised search and review procedures for senior
the searches and review
administrators were approved effective immediately for all
of senior administrators
searches and reviews whose committees have not yet had
their first meeting.
Preparation for the 2011 Board members were provided with an opportunity to
board annual public
review the agenda and presentations planned for this
meeting
meeting.
6.1.3
The committee met on March 3. Members in attendance
were Art Dumont (chair), Nancy Hopkins, Peter
MacKinnon, Susan Milburn and Greg Smith. Also in
attendance: Linda Ferguson, Grit McCreath, Vera Pezer,
Garry Standing, Chris Stoicheff and David Sutherland.
The minutes were received for information.
6.1.4
Distribution of board
materials
6.1.5
Update on protocol for
appointment and reappointment of board
members
6.1.6
Process for presidential
evaluation
The board considered the distribution of board packages
through electronic means and a more limited distribution
of board agenda packages.
The chair updated members on the proposed memorandum
of understanding between the universities of Saskatchewan
and Regina and the province regarding the protocol for
order in council appointments to the board. Further
redrafting is required.
Suggested revisions to the process for the president’s
annual evaluation were discussed.
6.1.7
Sensitive issues media
calls
A protocol will be developed for board members for
handling media calls.
6.1.8
Reappointment and
recruitment of board
members
Due diligence of board
members
Configuration and succession of board members was
discussed.
Safety, environment,
health and wellness
report
Bargaining and Labour
relations update
6.1.9
6.2
6.2.1
6.2.2
Board members discussed the issue of due diligence for
ethical conduct and liability and requested a further update
at the next meeting.
HUMAN RESOURCES The committee met on March 3. Members in attendance:
Grit McCreath (chair), Art Dumont, Peter MacKinnon,
COMMITTEE
Vera Pezer, and David Sutherland. Others in attendance:
Linda Ferguson, Greg Smith, Garry Standing and Chris
Stoicheff.
Minutes of December 14, The minutes were received for information.
2010
6.2.4
Senior administrative
appointments
An annual update on safety, environment, health and
wellness initiatives with a focus on key performance
measures and outcomes was received for information.
A verbal report on the status of bargaining and labour
relations with PAIRS and CUPE Sessional Lecturers was
received for information.
A list of senior administrative appointments was received
for information.
6.2.5
Senior academic
appointments
A list of senior academic appointments was received for
information.
6.3
LAND AND
FACILITIES
COMMITTEE
The committee met on March 3, 2011. Members in
attendance: David Sutherland (chair), Linda Ferguson,
Vera Pezer, Garry Standing, and Chris Stoicheff. Also in
attendance: Art Dumont, Peter MacKinnon, Grit
McCreath, Nancy Hopkins, Susan Milburn, and Greg
Smith.
6.3.1
Minutes of December 14,
2010
The minutes were received for information.
6.3.2
Marquis Hall renewal –
Phase 2 – stages 3 & 4
Board 2 approval was granted for the realigned Marquis
Hall Renewal project to provide improved Food Services
operations, and enhance the overall student, faculty and
staff experience.
6.2.3
6.3.3
Lease of land at Sable
Island from the Crown
6.3.3.a
Centre for Innovations in
Cyclotron Science
6.3.4.1
Naming of the graduate
student residence
6.3.4.2
College Quarter
undergraduate student
residences (Phases 1 and
2)
6.3.4.3
Naming of the Canadian
Feed research Centre
6.3.5
Beef Cattle Research and
Teaching Facility
6.3.6
InterVac project update
6.3.7
Children’s Hospital of
Saskatchewan progress
review – schematic
design phase
Off-campus land and
mineral holdings
summary report
Major capital projects
status report
An update on progress of the planning and design of the
Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan was received.
6.3.10
Update on administrative
approvals
An overview of the administrative approvals made related
to projects, programs, and the campus physical plan was
received.
6.4
FINANCE AND
INVESTMENT
COMMITTEE
The committee met on March 3. Members present: Greg
Smith (chair), Art Dumont, Nancy Hopkins, Susan
Milburn, Garry Standing, and Chris Stoicheff. Others in
attendance: Peter MacKinnon, Grit McCreath, Linda
Ferguson, and David Sutherland.
6.4.1
Minutes of December 14,
2010
The minutes were received for information.
6.4.2
Services and process
enhancement project,
Phase II
The board approved an expenditure of up to $250,000 to
commence Phase II of the service and process
enhancement project (SPEP).
6.3.8
6.3.9
Approval to lease at Sable Island from the Crown for an
ongoing ecological research study of the wild horse
population was approved.
Board 1 approval (SCI-CS) to establish a Saskatchewan
Centre for Innovations in Cyclotron Science was granted
and purchase of a cyclotron.
The Board approved the naming of the graduate student
residence, a component of the College Quarter.
The following names of the undergraduate student
residences of the College Quarter were received for
information:
Northwest Building – Pine Hall
Northeast building – Birch Hall
Southwest Building – Aspen Hall
Southeast Building – Spruce Hall
Received for information: The feed production facility
located in North Battleford and managed by the College of
Agriculture and Bioresources was named the Canadian
Feed Research Centre.
An update on the status of discussions surrounding the
Beef Cattle Research & Teaching Unit project was
received.
An update on various components of the InterVac project
was received.
A summary of all off-campus land holdings and minerals
rights as at December 31, 2010 was received.
An overview of the current status of capital projects in
accordance with the committee’s work plan was received.
6.4.3
Capital debt policy
6.4.4
Consumer Services
internal loan – Marquis
Hall renewal Phase 2,
stages 3 & 4
6.4.5
Consumer Services
internal loan – Academic
Health Sciences Parkade
6.4.6
Centre for Innovations in
Cyclotron Science
6.4.7
Quarterly financial
reports
6.4.8
Tuition strategy and rates
for 2011-12
6.4.9
Operations Forecast
2011-12 information
update
Financial metrics
6.4.10
6.4.11
6.4.12
6.4.13
2009-10 and 2010/11
budget measures
Quarterly investment
reports
Investment compliance
reports
6.4.14
U of S Development
activity report
6.4.15
Federal indirect costs of
research update
Canada Foundation for
Innovation update
Canada Research Chairs
Program update
6.4.16
6.4.17
6.4.18
Innovation and Science
Fund update
Approval was granted to formalize a capital debt policy
which will provide a framework for the uses and approval
process for capital debt.
The board approved an internal loan to a maximum of $1.5
million for Consumer Services’ Marquis Hall Renewal
Phase 2 – Stage 3 and 4 – capital project, with subsequent
repayment of the loan by Consumer Services’ ancillary
operations.
The board approved an internal loan to a maximum of
$1.184 million to Consumer Services for construction of
the Academic Health Sciences Parkade, with subsequent
repayment of the loan by Consumer Services’ ancillary
operations.
This item was discussed under land and facilities
committee – see agenda item 6.3.3.a
A quarterly consolidated report on the financial results to
January 31, 2011, and a forecast to year-end of projected
operating fund results compared to budget was received
for information.
Feedback from the Board regarding proposed tuition
increases for 2011/12 was initiated. A final
recommendation will be presented to the board at its
special meeting on April 11, 2011.
An update on the submission to the provincial government
was received for information
A preliminary draft of key financial indicators that might
be used by the university to track financial performance
over time was received.
The board received for information a final report on the
results of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 budget measures.
A quarterly investment report as of December 31, 2010
was provided to the board for information.
A quarterly report on investment manager compliance with
investment policies was provided to the Board in
accordance with the work plan.
A progress report of philanthropic revenue and donations
received from May 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010, was
received.
An annual update to the board on the Federal indirect costs
of research programs was received for information.
Received for information.
An update on the status of the Canada Research Chairs
Program and its management was received for
information.
The board received an annual update of the Innovation and
Science Fund.
6.4.19
6.4.20
Saskatoon Centre for
Patient-Oriented
Research
Residence and Food
Services rates
6.5
AUDIT COMMITTEE
6.5.1
Minutes of December 14,
2010
Format of 2010/2011
financial statements
6.5.2
6.5.3
6.5.4
Report on Audit Services
Activities
Final Audit Services
reports
The board was updated on the creation of the Saskatoon
Centre for Patient-Oriented research (a three-year pilot
project).
A revised report related to consultation around the
Residence and Food Services Rates Policy was received
for information.
The committee met on March 3. Members present: Susan
Milburn (chair), Linda Ferguson, Grit McCreath, and Greg
Smith. Also in attendance: Art Dumont, Garry Standing,
Chris Stoicheff, and David Sutherland.
Received for information.
The board approved the format of the draft consolidated
financial statements in preparation of the 2010-11
consolidated financial statements.
An update on the progress of audit projects since the
previous reporting period was received.
The final executive summary audit reports since the last
audit committee meeting was received. This regular report
ensures that completed internal audit reports are provided
in a timely manner and in accordance with the terms of
reference of the audit committee.
An overview of the results of the evaluation of the
structure of risk management and related functions at the
university was received.
A report on payments and remittances was received to
provide assurance to the board that the university has met
all obligations which may result in personal liability.
There was no other business
6.5.5
Report on Risk Review
6.5.6
Report on payments and
remittances
7.
8.
Other business
Items for information
8.1
Items approved since
December 15, 2010
board meeting
8.2
Meeting schedule for
2011 and 2012
To inform the board that the mail-out ballot of January 27,
2011 regarding the final terms of funding for the
Diefenbaker Centre with the federal government had been
approved.
A schedule of upcoming meetings for 2011 and 2012 was
received.
9.
Communications
There were no items.
10.
Other business – items by Members of the board (except the president) met briefly in
board members
camera
10.1
Approval of the February
28, 2011 board minutes
The minutes were adopted as circulated.
11.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:45 am