University Council is currently composed of 105 voting members – 64 faculty representatives from academic units on campus, 20 administrators, 10 representatives from affiliated and federated institutions and 11 student representatives. It is the most important decision-making body on campus. It is responsible for overseeing and directing the university’s academic affairs. It has the power […]
Read More »Hello everyone. The next USFA member social is on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 from 4:00 – 6:30 pm at the University Club in the Windows Room. Please join me, other Executive Committee members and USFA staff for some refreshments. There’s a lot happening on campus and this is an opportunity to connect with colleagues in […]
Read More »Hello everyone. I have just finished writing our next issue of Collectively Speaking. It is a message from me to USFA members about TransformUS and the deficit senior administrators keep talking about. You will be receiving a hard copy in the next few days. It’s also available on the USFA website at the following link. […]
Read More »A pdf is available here. Dear Members: There is much discussion with respect to opinions being expressed about TransformUS and the action, or inaction, of the USFA. Based on the many emails I have been receiving from members, I think it is clear that there are a few misconceptions. First let me say that the […]
Read More »We have had a bounty of submissions this year to VOX and we hope that it continues. It is important for all of us to be actively involved in dialogue about issues of relevance to the U of S. While at times it takes courage to put our views in writing, we have a responsibility […]
Read More »VOX is an arm’s length publication sponsored by the USFA. VOX has an independent editorial board and the USFA Executive does not evaluate nor endorse the articles appearing in VOX. VOX allows members of the University community to express their views regarding issues and topics related to the University and our profession. The opinions and […]
Read More »Whether public or private, the single most important defining characteristic of a university is its faculty. Faculty transform both the university and the generations of students they teach by means of the advancement and dissemination of shared knowledge. As is the case at many universities, some faculty at the U of S were educated here, […]
Read More »The USFA has recently been asked to endorse an open letter expressing dissatisfaction with the TransformUS process and to pass a motion of non-support for the TransformUS process because of its perceived inadequacies. The position of the Executive is that these issues should be addressed and resolved through collegial governance via University Council and the […]
Read More »Many people are concerned about the TransformUS process as a means of academic decision making at the University of Saskatchewan. The model on which TransformUS is based is being implemented, or being considered for implementation, at several Canadian Universities and many at those institutions are likewise concerned (http://ocufa.on.ca/wordpress/assets/Dickeson-Right-for-Ontario-Craig-Heron.pdf, http://www.academicmatters.ca/2014/01/doing-the-ppp-a-skeptical-perspective/). At the U of S the […]
Read More »“The goal for TransformUS is to obtain $20-25 million in permanent annual savings, or approximately five per cent of the university’s total operating budget. In addition, $5 million will be reallocated to top priority programs and services that would benefit from increased resources.” (Provost and Vice-President Academic Fairburn, report to University Council, January 2014) The […]
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