Greg Smith on His Role, Priorities for Board on Campus News Writer Kris Foster Sat Down with Greg Priorities for the Board in the and Changes
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October 24, 2014 Volume 22, Issue 5 Publication Mail Agreement #40065156 ON CAMPUS NEWS [email protected] news.usask.ca MUSIC MAKERS Psychology student Brittany Arsenault plays while Dylan McInnes, a computer science student, sings at a piano recently installed under the ramp in the main entrance of the Arts Building. Read more about the instrument on Page 4. KRIS FOSTER New in the chair Greg Smith on his role, priorities for board On Campus News writer Kris Foster sat down with Greg priorities for the board in the and changes. We worry about year ahead? deferred maintenance, the Smith on October 16, the day of his election as chair of capital requirements and there the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors, to talk GS: Our most important role in are always funding risks. about his views on his role, risk and the path forward. the coming year is to appoint the Not all risks are financial president. and certainly the risks we are On Campus News (OCN): What limited. I was pleased to take on concerned about impact whether convinced you to let your name the role of chair with the support The other significant responsi- or not we can be successful in stand to be chair of the board? of my fellow board members. I bility is to monitor the connec- achieving our strategy and deliv- don’t see the chair as a having tion between strategy and ering on our mission. Greg Smith (GS): When I took on an agenda or being in a position mission. For us to perform the position of vice-chair I wasn’t of particular influence; the at a high level we need to be OCN: How does the board deal seeing the position as a precursor role is defined by our terms of cognizant of the risks that face with risk? to the chair position. I would have reference. the institution and be vigilant been quite content to have Susan as to how the risks are being GS: For those risks we believe (Milburn) continue her term and OCN: How do you see the role managed and how we are eval- have the potential for significant to serve as vice-chair under her. of chair? Smith uating risk. We need to ask impact, we look at our mitiga- Unfortunately timing did not difficult questions of manage- tion strategies and evaluate our allow for that to happen. So, there GS: The term I would use is members to support that work. ment and probe and test their options. We can insure against was a natural progression, from the Latin phrase primus inter assumptions about alignment certain risks, we can accept vice-chair to chair. pares; first among equals. The One of the significant responsi- with strategy in the operations certain risks and put controls in chair does not drive a partic- bilities is the chair of the board of the university. place to monitor those risks or A number of board members are ular agenda; I need to facilitate also chairs the presidential search we can eliminate risks; these all relatively new to the board and our agenda. I need to perform in committee. Given our current OCN: What are some of the come at a cost and of course we given that a certain number of particular areas of responsibility circumstance we are actively risks that are top of mind? do not have unlimited resources the 11 members are not eligible that are assigned to the chair searching for our next president. so we must make choices. to serve (as chair), the pool of in our governance model and GS: The risk register moves; it candidates becomes somewhat I will look to my fellow board OCN: What are some of the is a document that is dynamic See U of S, Page 2 INSIDE STEAMY 2 PITCH PERFECT 6 2 October 24, 2014 Finding his inner engineer KRIS FOSTER Rob Grosse has a hot and steamy story. After a nine-day course at the Western Development Museum (WDM) this summer, Grosse, who provides unit support in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), is certified to operate antique steam equipment. It’s an unusual hobby but he comes by it quite honestly. “My dad was a steam engineer; he built and engineered steam engines as a hobby and Rob Grosse, above, on his dad’s steam-powered car (circa then fit those into quarter-size 1980) and at the Western Development Museum. cars. I was his test pilot,” said Grosse with a laugh. “He built a steam bike that received memories. SUBMITTED one car with reverse steering. local, provincial and national “As a kid Dad explained the steering to me attention as the first of its kind I remember falling asleep to still love that smell to this day.” engineers. I was even a junior before I tested it, but as soon as in Canada. While Grosse never sound of a lathe and milling Growing up, Grosse was member of the Saskatoon Model I started, I promptly ran the car got the chance to pilot the bike— machine running in dad’s shop. surrounded by “steam engineers Engineering Society into the into an oak tree.” it is on permanent display at the Dad machined everything from who were always tinkering ‘90s.” Among his father’s inven- WDM—he does count it among scratch. Add to that memory the and building. It was a culture tions, Grosse continued, was his most valued childhood subtle odour of pipe tobacco; I of steam professionals and See Grosse, Page 9 U of S on path to renewal: Smith colleagues, not that they shared that sentiment articulated by been through some difficulties excites me the most. From Page 1 with me at least. each and everyone of the board this spring and I don’t want to members. When you have that underplay that, but in the rich The campus is an exciting OCN: The board was involved We ask tough questions and we orientation, I think it is a little history of the university and the place to be; it’s vibrant. You in a tough time this past spring. must make difficult decisions. I bit easier to make the required bright future that we see for it, come here and there are young Was there a point where you think it is easier to make those decisions. I don’t want that to define us. people learning, research being thought “I really don’t want to decisions when you are fully I think we are on the path to undertaken, people engaged in do this anymore?” invested in the wellbeing of the OCN: How have the events of renewal and we’ve made some discovery, developing great part- institution. Every board member the past spring affected the strong appointments in our nerships. GS: Oh no, not at all, (laughing). has a strong affinity for the university? interim president and interim I don’t think that ever happened U of S and cares deeply about the provost. They are doing some OCN: Any other key agenda to me and I don’t think it institution; I know this to be the GS: The U of S has been here for tremendous things to help the items? happened to any of my board case for myself and I’ve heard more than 100 years. We have campus heal. GS: A secondary issue I look We are still interested in our forward to is having the College teaching and discovery missions. of Medicine realigned and We were teaching students and working under full accredi- conducting research before the tation. There is tremendous spring and we continue to do potential and service in that that now. It is important work. college; it is such a significant part of our university and I look OCN: What are some of the forward to them realizing their issues you’re looking forward potential under the leadership of to dealing with? Dr. Preston Smith. GS: It’s not an issue but I am OCN: Those are big issues. really looking forward to the presidential search and identi- GS: (laughing) Well, these are fying the next president of the some of the issues that face us and Facilities Management Division, Protective Services, Safety Resources, and Consumer Services (Culinary Services) University of Saskatchewan. We others will present themselves. are currently in the midst of That is the nature of what we do Take Our Kids to Work Day populating a search committee as a board. We have a fiduciary Mini-Trade Show whose 12 members should be responsibility for the resources identified by end of the month. that are entrusted to the univer- Please join the staff at FMD on We are anxious to get underway sity by our funders. This is a Wednesday, November 5, 2014, 9:30 am – noon and will take the time necessary weighty responsibility, but I think University Services Building and exert the effort required to … we still have to be nimble to 110 Maintenance Road, U of S Campus identify the very best possible react to what comes before us. We are proud to showcase our organization’s commitment candidate and secure that indi- I believe we have tremendous to the education of our youth —they are our workforce of vidual to be the next president. capacity in that regard. the future! Meet and speak with trades personnel and a broad OCN: What are the selling We have a great set of skills range of professionals. points for the U of S in around the board table.