Dec. 2 and 3, 7 Pm Vs

December 2, 2011 Volume 19, Issue 8 Publication Mail Agreement #40065156 News [email protected] news.usask.ca ForecastInside 2012–13 Operating grant increase, initiative funding requested Colleen MacPherson University of Saskatchewan officials are asking the provincial government for a 5.8 per cent increase in the operating grant for 2012–13 as well as some $24.6 million for specific initiatives that will continue to enhance the student experience, support innovative programming and improve the affordability of and accessibility to post-secondary education. In the annual operations forecast, A research-intensive submitted to the government in mid- university like ours is key November, the university details its priori- to the kind of province ties for the coming budget year as well Saskatchewan will be in as longer-term objec- tives. Brett Fairbairn, the future.” provost and vice- Brett Fairbairn president academic, views the document as an interpretation of the institution’s plans in a one-year financial window but also a description of the role the university plays in Saskatch- ewan life. “Our students provide future leaders, including most of the province’s professionals,” said Fairbairn, “(and) our research and development drive economic and social innovation. A research-intensive university like ours is key to the kind of province Saskatchewan will be in the future.” Fairbairn Fairbairn said the forecast “emphasizes the health of the university’s core” which includes both core programs as well as core facilities. Detailed in the document is the new RenewUS initiative designed to “reconceptualize and revitalize key academic buildings.” (See story page 5). The university also commits to continuing to improve its operational effectiveness through the Service and Process Enhancement Project (SPEP) and other initiatives. In addition to the base grant increase to $300 million for COLLEEN MACPHERSON 2012-13, the university has raised a number of other proposals that may align with provincial priorities: the further development The door man of the Aboriginal achievement model; expansion of the master’s Carpenter Bob Whittaker, who will retire from the Facilities Manager Division early in the New Year, proudly program in Northern Governance and Development; the Gordon shows off his latest and last major project for the university – new exterior doors for the Thorvaldson Building. Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre; a student amenities building at When it became apparent the original doors could no longer handle modern hardware, Whittaker set about College Quarter; and possible new programs in architecture and crafting four new ones. Over several weeks this fall, he designed and built the replica doors from 2.5-inch thick laminated oak. The quality of hisNews workmanship and his contribution to the university are noted on one of the See Ops, Page 7 [email protected] whichn Kevinew Paur,s.u managersas ofk.ca architectural services, had engraved with Whittaker’s name and the date. Inside Exciting potential Page 6 Where there’s smoke ... Page 9 2 December 2, 2011 ocn Singing used as treatment for COPD Lisa Buchanan Whether on a stage or in the Goodridge and her team are I’ve been doing that, too. It’s all support of that breath.” shower, everybody sings and for examining how singing can help been working really, really well.” Funded by the Lung Asso- some, this everyday activity has people already involved in tradi- Symptoms of COPD include ciation’s Canadian Respiratory important health benefits. tional pulmonary rehabilitation a persistent cough, shortness of Health Professionals section, Thanks to a team of further improve their health and breath and fatigue. As a result, the project involves researchers researchers at the University wellness. people with COPD often have from nursing, physiotherapy, of Saskatchewan, patients with The study, the first of its trouble carrying out normal medicine, education and music chronic obstructive pulmonary kind in Canada, is already activities. “Over 1.5 million therapy. disease (COPD) may soon showing results. Canadians currently report a The first phase of the be singing as part of their “My breathing has really diagnosis of COPD and there research project was completed standard care. COPD affects improved,” said participant may be just as many Canadians earlier this year. A group of 13 the air passages in the lungs Betty Braun. “Even though I’m who have the condition, but participants met weekly with the and makes it hard to breathe. not the best singer, we’ve been haven’t been diagnosed yet,” said music therapist. “In our singing U of S nursing Professor Donna encouraged to sing at home and Goodridge. She said singing has group, we work on breath received relatively little attention exercises, vocal warm-ups and as a form of pulmonary rehabili- singing, all of which engage the Goodridge tation. breath in helpful ways,” Eliason Rehabilitation programs said. the activities of patients, it can focus on education and exercise, “The results were very be isolating and lead to depres- and as an exercise for the lungs, positive in terms of quality of sion. singing is a natural fit. It requires life, perceptions about control To gather with the group effective control of the breath over illness, and participants’ each week “lifts the spirits,” said and engages respiratory muscles perceptions of their ability to participant Roy Parker, “and Provost and in ways that are different from control their breath,” Goodridge you’re getting stronger at the just talking or exercise. said. same time, so it’s a multi-faceted Vice-President “Singing is physical work,” Along with the physical program.” said music therapist Ruth benefits, the program is also Recruitment of participants Academic Eliason. “It takes effort to sing, concerned with the social for the second phase of the study to have breath control and aspect. Because COPD limits will begin in January. This phase Review involves more rigorous cardio- pulmonary exercise testing In accordance with the Search and Review where the researchers hope to Procedures for Senior Administrators, a detect physiological changes review committee has been established to brought on by singing. review the performance of the provost and The team produced a short vice-president academic. video—Singing for Pulmonary Rehabilitation—which will be The review committee invites members posted on the Canadian Lung of the university community to provide Association website. feedback on Dr. Brett Fairbairn’s service as provost and vice-president academic. Lisa Buchanan is a graduate student intern in the Research Communications Please send your written comments to: SPARK (Students Promoting Awareness of Research Susan Bertolo, secretary Knowledge) program. Provost and Vice-President Academic Review Committee c/o President’s Office, room 222, College Building or by email to: [email protected] by Friday, January13, 2012 In Memoriam All submissions will be treated in confidence by Garry Schlichemeyer (Pension Office), Oct. 2 the review committee. Please be advised that all comments received Margaret Harder, Oct. 3 will be summarized and provided to Dr. Fairbairn Marjorie Jamieson (Psychiatry), Oct. 24 with all identifying information removed to ensure the highest level of confidentiality. James Michael Yourk, Nov. 3 Elizabeth Hobson (Physicians Business Office), Nov. 6 www.usask.ca Elinor Chelsom Stinson, Nov. 12 Harry Giles (U of S Services), Nov. 17 Congratulations from Culinary Services to the fabulous staff at the U of S Starbucks in the Murray Library Winners of this year’s Be Merry Award for the best holiday launch among Starbucks Coffee licensed stores. Keep up the great work! www.usask.ca ocn December 2, 2011 3 Enrolment up overall; Aboriginal, grad student numbers plateau Kris Foster While student enrolment is is the number of self-declared up across the board at the Aboriginal students on campus, U of S, data from the Oct. 11 which has not changed notice- census day showed plateauing ably for several years, Hannah numbers in two key recruitment said. “Our goal is to have areas—graduate and Aboriginal Aboriginal students make up 15 students. per cent of the student popula- “Our enrolment is up 2.9 tion by 2020. We haven’t moved per cent overall, which is the the needle on this group of largest increase since 2003,” students for a while, and have said David Hannah, associate been hovering around eight per vice-president of student affairs, cent since at least 2007.” of the Enrolment Report data All in all, Hannah said, collected at the start of October. “this year’s enrolment is a good “It is particularly gratifying news story.” And to ensure because the number of high this momentum continues in Hannah school grads in Saskatchewan the years ahead, the univer- has been steadily declining. We sity—with the help of outside not only held our ground, but student enrolments are up 11 consultants—will be developing made gains during this decline.” per cent. We are very happy with a Strategic Enrolment Manage- This year’s fall enrolment this because it has been an area ment (SEM) plan that will guide factors, like size and diversity involved in the process and have is the highest in U of S history, of emphasis in recruitment.” the university’s enrolment of the student body, the demand their goals reflected in the plan, he explained, and is the third All of these increases are goals through to the end of the for our programs, our institu- he explained. “SEM will make year of enrolment increases certainly positive, he continued, decade. tional position relative to our sure goals are aligned at all following long and steady but a few red flags became “The SEM plan should be competitors, provincial demo- levels of the university and that decreases from 2003 to 2008. apparent with the release of the ready by the end of next summer.

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