AGENDA ITEM NO: 8.0
UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
PLANNING AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
PRESENTED BY:
Jay Kalra, Chair
DATE OF MEETING:
January 21, 2010
SUBJECT:
Planning and Priorities Committee Mid-Year Report to
Council
COUNCIL ACTION:
For information only
ATTACHMENTS:
Planning and Priorities Committee Mid-Year Report for 2009/10
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP:
Jay Kalra, Chair
David Parkinson, Vice Chair
Pat Renihan, Vice Chair
Jim Basinger
Brett Fairbairn
Brent Cotter
Moira Day
David Dodds
Nicholas Fraser
Peter Grant
Rob Hudson
Laura Kennedy
Warren Kirkland
Heather Magotiaux
Eric Neufeld
Alison Renny
Karen Semchuk
Bing Si
Mariane Trepanier
Resource Personnel
Ginger Appel
Bryan Bilokreli
Pauline Melis
Colin Tennent
Sandra Calver, Secretary
MID-YEAR REPORT TO COUNCIL
of the
PLANNING AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE
During the first half of the year, the Planning and Priorities Committee held 11 regular
committee meetings. To facilitate further in-depth consideration of the university’s
finances and capital affairs, this year the Planning and Priorities Committee established
an ad hoc Finance Subcommittee and an ad hoc Capital Subcommittee. In addition,
committee members serve as representatives on a number of university-level advisory
committees, including the Centres Subcommittee, which exists as a standing
subcommittee of the Planning and Priorities Committee.
The following is a brief summary of the committee’s activities this year to date and an
indication, where appropriate, of future discussion planned.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
In keeping with its mandate to conduct and report to council on university–wide planning
and review activities, the committee reviewed and commented on the following reports:
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Task Force on International Research Final Report [discussion held with the
chairs and representatives from the Research, Scholarly and Artistic Work
Committee and the International Activities Committee]
Enterprise Risk Management
Medical Isotopes submission
Budgetary Priorities for ITS, EMAP, and the Library
Fundraising Priority Setting Policy
2009 Census Day Enrolment and Long-Term Enrolment Strategies
Information and Communications Technology Update
In addition, the committee has been actively engaged in the broad consultation
undertaken to develop an Institutional Positioning Statement for the university, led by
Vice-President of University Advancement, Heather Magotiaux. The initiative is based
upon the aspiration to more effectively position our university relative to other
institutions and enhance our competitive ability. A set of positioning strategies have been
developed as options for discussion with the university community.
The Planning and Priorities Committee has always been actively involved in
development and consideration of the university’s Aboriginal initiative, dating from the
identification of the goal to respond to the needs of Aboriginal peoples, as identified in A
Framework for Planning (1998), and continuing, with the committee submitting the
Foundational Document on Aboriginal Initiatives to council for approval in 2003. In
2007-08, the College Plans Review Committee considered the reflection of Aboriginal
initiatives within college and administrative unit plans in light of the institutional
imperative within the Second Integrated Plan for the university to embrace “the
fundamental importance of its relationships First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Indigenous
peoples.”
Within this context, the Planning and Priorities Committee considered the Bylaws
Committee request for input regarding Aboriginal representation on council committees.
The Planning and Priorities Committee engaged in a full discussion on this question, and
a formal response will be submitted to the Bylaws Committee. However, in summary,
the committee’s view is that the university’s Aboriginal initiative is best served by
ensuring all members of the university exercise their responsibility for engagement with
Aboriginal peoples and issues. For council, this would entail that all committees of
council ensure that whatever their mandate touches upon, consideration of the
university’s Aboriginal initiative is a primary consideration. In the committee’s opinion,
the creation of a council committee with responsibility for Aboriginal issues and
initiatives was seen to have merit as a means to focus attention on related issues;
however, this opinion was outweighed by the concern that such a committee would be
seen as absolving the university community of its overriding responsibility in this area. If
the university is to truly make progress in engaging with indigenous peoples, the central
message is that all are equally responsible in this regard.
INTEGRATED PLANNING
The Planning and Priorities Committee believes the university must continue to make
strategic choices guided by the principles associated with the planning process and the
Second Integrated Plan. The implementation of the commitments of the Second
Integrated Plan continues to occupy the committee on an ongoing basis. In November,
the committee presented the university’s first Achievement Record to council in
November as a direct outcome of the Quality and Accountability Commitment.
Given the importance of integrated planning to the committee’s mandate, the committee
will report fully on its engagement with the commitments of Second Integrated Plan in a
separate report.
UNIVERSITY FINANCES
2010-11 Operations Forecast
The Planning and Priorities Committee reported earlier to council on the 2010-11
Operations Forecast funding request from the province, in light of the financial risks
facing the university, chief among which are a decline in the provincial grant, a decline in
student enrolment and associated tuition revenue, reduced investment income returns, and
pending salary and benefits negotiations with USFA and CUPE.
Budget Measures
The committee is engaged in ongoing discussion of effect of the investment market on
the university’s operating budget, trusts and endowments, and pensions as areas of
financial pressure. The selective budget measures taken to address the approximately
$10.0 million budgetary reduction in 2009/10, have been discussed in relation to the
impact of the measures upon academic and administrative units.
The university is now approaching the second year of the two-year phased in adjustment,
and the committee supports that a strategic view be employed by all units to the
approaches chosen to meet the financial targets required as year two approaches and
modified plans are submitted. Most importantly, communication at all levels between
and among units and with senior administrations is critical to ensure that the effects of the
budget measures are transparent and clearly understood, and that novel approaches
employed can be shared for the benefit of all.
Multi-Year Operating Budget Framework
Over the course of the next month, the Planning and Priorities Committee will be
involved in discussions regarding updating of the 2008/09 – 2011/12 Multi-Year
Operating Budget Framework. Updating the framework was deferred last year pending
greater signs of financial stability.
Tuition Policy Strategy
A multi-year tuition strategy is being developed, based upon the principles of
comparability, affordability and accessibility, and enabling quality. This topic will be
presented in greater detail to the committee in preparation for Board approval of the
university’s 2010-11 tuition rate increases, which have been targeted towards an overall
4.5% tuition rate increase.
CAPITAL PLANNING
In the coming months, the ad hoc Capital Subcommittee will be involved in the
development and review of the university’s Annual Capital Plan. The magnitude of the
deferred maintenance of the university’s aging physical infrastructure has been identified
as a serious concern, and will be discussed further by the subcommittee in relation to the
university’s annual capital allowance.
Major Capital Projects
The following project briefs were considered and recommended to proceed to the next
stage of consideration under the Major Project Planning Process:
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Agriculture Phytotron Project [Modernization of Plant Growth Facility]
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Steam Distribution System Upgrade [Replacement of the Buried Steam
Distribution System from WCVM to VIDO]
A summary of the Major Projects Planning Process and status of each project is found on
the Facilities Planning section of the Integrated Planning web site at
www.usask.ca/ip/inst_planning/major_planning/capital_planning/progress_report.php
Clicking on the individual project name links to project specifics, such as overall
projected cost, project approval stage, executive sponsor(s), and visual representations.
Capital Equipment Start-up Fund Allocation Committee
The committee reviewed the new model employed for the distribution of start-up funds to
faculty with the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations, and determined, in consultation with the
Research, Scholarly and Artistic Work Committee, that the Capital Equipment Start-up
Fund Allocation Committee, as a standing subcommittee of the Planning and Priorities
Committee, be dissolved. In its place, the Planning and Priorities Committee and
Research, Scholarly and Artistic Work Committee will receive an annual report on the
distribution of the fund.
ACADEMIC
Notices of Intent
To date, the committee has reviewed notices of intent for the following programs:
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M.A. in Religion and Culture
M.A. Applied Linguistics
M.Sc. in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment (course-based)
The committee has also reviewed an early stage notice for a School of Architecture, with
a number of options being explored regarding the master’s degree qualification required
for accreditation by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board. As the proposal is
more fully considered and developed, the committee will apprise council of the
possibilities presented.
In addition, the committee reviewed the proposed operating principles for the JohnsonShoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, which have been written as an addendum to
the MOU between the Universities of Regina and Saskatchewan to create a single
provincial graduate school of public policy. The operating principles identify the
differing institutional norms and requirements between both universities, while
embracing an integrated academic goal.
Centres
The International Centre for Northern Governance and Development was reviewed by the
Centres Subcommittee and Planning and Priorities Committee. This existing Type B
centre has evolved from the International Centre for Governance and Development. The
centre has revitalized and refined its mandate to strategically focus on northern affairs
and development as a reflection of the university’s presence and sense of place.
It has been my pleasure to continue in service as chair of the Planning and Priorities
Committee this year. I wish to recognize and acknowledge the contributions and efforts
of all members in supporting council’s commitment towards the university’s academic
affairs.
Jay Kalra, Chair