The newly constituted USFA Committee on University Administrative Practice provides a forum for USFA members to monitor, discuss, and provide commentary on administrative practice at the University of Saskatchewan. By ‘administrative practice’ we mean those practices undertaken by senior administration, support staff, and faculty under the heading of ‘administrative duties’, all intended to manage and […]

At last week’s special meeting of the General Academic Assembly (GAA), the motion pursuant to Article 67(2)(a) of the University of Saskatchewan Act, to direct University Council to reconsider its May decision to create three new divisions in the College of Medicine was passed with a solid majority (200 in favour, 93 opposed). A strong […]

The U of S Act provides that the General Academic Assembly (GAA) may direct University Council to reconsider a decision authorizing the Board of Governors to establish or disestablish Colleges, Departments or Institutes. To do that, 50 or more members of the GAA must request that a special meeting of the GAA be called for […]

The USFA Executive Committee wants to express its deepest condolences to the family and friends of our colleague, Peter Dooley. The University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association would not be what it is today if not for his work. Peter was Chair of the Faculty Association when it became a certified trade union in the 1970’s […]

On April 16th the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) announced that it had reached an agreement with Access Copyright about a model licence agreement to cover reproduction and digital content on university campuses. On April 17th CAUT released a statement in response urging institutions to refuse to enter into the agreement and, […]

The Fairbairn motion related to the College of Medicine concept paper that was passed by University Council on May 17, 2012 is another example of the undermining of collegial self-governance and decision making.  Against 100 years of collegial tradition, the concept paper was sent to University Council for a decision prior to input from faculty […]

Recent cuts to Library and Archives Canada included the elimination of the National Archival Development Program (NADP), a peer-reviewed funding agency that supports local archival activities across Canada, including some in University Archives at the U of S. Funds from this program are essential to University Archives and enhancing access to primary source research resources. […]

The USFA Executive recently communicated its concerns about the proposed “restructuring” in the College of Medicine. The timing and process associated with these announcements raises troubling questions. The Concept Paper, which contemplates the elimination of the Clinician-Teacher category of faculty appointment (of which there are more than 100), was announced just as the President and […]

In an article printed on May 3rd and May 4th, the Star-Phoenix reported that, based on the StatsCan final data for 2010–11, mean salaries at the U of S were $148,754 for Full professors, $121,339 for Associate professors, and $105,102 for Assistant professors.  We wish these numbers were accurate, but they are not.  The numbers […]