The USFA Executive Committee, which meets every two weeks during Fall and Winter terms of the academic year, has held its first meeting for the fall of 2022. It is apparent already that this will be a busy year for the mix of returning and new committee members. Bargaining is on the horizon. Events for new USFA members, FARs, and Department Heads are in the works, and the Fall General Membership Meeting in October will be here before we know it.

Geraldine Balzer, newly re-elected as USFA Chair, is meeting regularly with the Provost. Topics of discussion have included ongoing challenges in the College of Nursing and the recently announced Indigenous Truth Policy, which describes the terms by which USask will implement Indigenous membership/citizenship verification. The Executive has deep concerns with the new policy and its impact on current and new Indigenous faculty members. Along with members of the Indigenous Advisory Committee established by USFA last year, members of the Executive will be meeting with the Vice-Provost Indigenous Engagement to receive information about procedures associated with this policy. 

September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is a day to honour the children who never returned home from and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. The Executive encourages you to wear orange and participate in commemorations. The USFA has a limited supply of orange “Every Child Matters” T-shirts available on a first-come-first-served basis. Please contact Johanne Brassard or Abbie Kappel if you would like one.