March 16, 2012 Volume 19, Issue 13 Publication Mail Agreement #40065156 News [email protected] news.usask.ca Inside Jason Disano and Carolyn Brooks in the Social Sciences Research Laboratory. LIAM RICHARDS Taking the pulse of a province Survey exemplifies interdisciplinary research Kirk Sibbald Few and far between are phones on March 5, conducting gration and diversity; health, arity of the social sciences,” plinary research, increasing research projects that can bring telephone surveys of more wellbeing and Saskatchewan said Jason Disano, director of community engagement and together more than 30 faculty than 1,000 randomly selected families; and moral issues. the SSRL, noting that Taking providing hands-on research members, 40 students and residents across the province An agreement has been the Pulse of Saskatchewan opportunities for students are engage an entire province. to gauge attitudes on several struck with Postmedia News involves researchers from all keystones of the SSRL, said That is the aim, however, of contemporary, and oftenand the CBC, so results of the seven departments within the Disano, and this survey ties Taking the Pulse of Saskatch- divisive, topics. The survey is survey will be unveiled through Division of Social Science in the into all three objectives. ewan, an ambitious survey comprised of 42 questions, all The StarPhoenix, The Leader College of Arts and Science. To develop the survey being undertaken by the Social of which fall under one of seven Post, and CBC Saskatchewan “I think you would be hard questions and methodology, Sciences Research Laboratory’s themes: sustainable resource this coming fall. pressed to find any initiative researchers worked in six (SSRL) new survey facility. development; crime and public “This survey is really reflec- within the college or university thematic-based teams. Forty Undergraduate students safety; Aboriginal issues; the tive of the diverse research that brings together 31 faculty.” hired for the project hit the Saskatchewan economy; immi- interests and interdisciplin- Encouraging interdisci- See Data, Page 8 Promise and potential: third plan approved Colleen MacPherson Having received the stamp of At the board’s annual reporting this university.” decide what they mean for us in approval from both the Board session following the meeting, In a brief presentation, 2012-16.” of Governors and Council, the Fairbairn told an audience in Fairbairn outlined the consul- The plan contains four areas third integrated plan becomes Convocation Hall that it is not tations that began in the fall of of focus—knowledge creation, the map Provost Brett Fairbairn the plan itself that will make 2010 as the third plan took shape. Aboriginal engagement, culture believes is “going to take our the difference for the University He pointed out its development and community, and innova- university another four years of Saskatchewan but rather “the was guided by the university’s tion in academic programs down the path of transforma- actions that we take as a result of strategic directions and foun- and services—that include 12 tion.” our plans.” dational documents, and built commitments, each of which Promise and Potential: The Board Chair Nancy on the accomplishments of the is accompanied by a strategy, Third Integrated Plan 2012-2016 Hopkins said the plan, which previous two plans. “The task actions and measurements to was endorsed by the board at details priorities and directions now,” he said, “is to interpret our gauge success. The areas of focus its meeting March 6 following a for the institution, “is in and Newsof university’s enduring priorities Hopkins similar vote byocn Council@us Marchas 1. k.caitself a strategicnew advantages.usas for k.caover the next period of time and See Plan, Page 2 Inside Expansion plans Page 5 Old news Page 6 2 March 16, 2012 ocn Plan influences board priorities four years, “the kind of questions The integrated plan, she From Page 1 the board will be asking as it concluded, “is hugely important Students, communities and the public are going are also reflected in the indi- reviews new proposals are, ‘how to the institution from many vidual planning parameters set does this proposal resonate with perspectives.” to be the beneficiaries of the work we do. out in each of the university’s the goals and priorities articu- In addition to defining colleges and units. lated in the third integrated priorities, Fairbairn said the Brett Fairbairn In addition to driving plan?’ or ‘what are the possible plan serves to guide the univer- the university’s academic and consequences for us if we do this, sity’s investments of time, energy administrative agendas, Hopkins or don’t do this?’, and ‘are the and resources. So, as in previous university has identified partic- our priorities.” said it also influences board risks involved outweighed by the planning cycles, the new plan ular financial pressures. These The financial framework decisions and priorities. Just as benefits?’.” is accompanied by two addi- include a highly competitive will be a topic of discussion previous plans “are always in the She went on to say that tional documents. One is the hiring strategy, pensions and for Council and at an April 3 back of our minds, and on the without “a robust and well- multi-year capital plan that deferred maintenance issue on campus town hall meeting. front of the pages that come to us respected planning process aligns academic priorities with infrastructure. In concluding his presenta- for our consideration, the same among our sister institutions capital planning and manage- “We are mindful of those tion to the meeting, Fairbairn will be true as we move forward across the country,” the U of S ment. It lists the university’s pressures,” he said. “We can see said it is important to see the with the third integrated plan. would not likely have attracted capital priorities for the coming that over the next four years, if new integrated plan as a group As the board reviews matters the quality of candidates it four years as the infrastruc- we took no action, those kinds effort, “not the work of one set that will come before us over the did in the recent search for ture renewal and revitaliza- of pressures would cause our of hands or one mind but of next four years, it will do so in a new president. And hiring tion program called RenewUS; expenditures to grow more many hands and many minds. It the context of the plan.” the president, Hopkins said, strategic capital projects; inno- quickly than our revenues. That’s is our plan.” And the difference Hopkins pointed out that is arguably the single most vative use of the university land not going to happen of course, it will make will not be felt just in the previous planning cycle, important job of the Board of base; and support for growing because we will not let it happen.” on campus; the third integrated with its emphasis on areas Governors. Ilene Busch-Vish- distance education and distribu- Speaking after the presen- plan will mean “society will be like the student experience niac, who takes over as president tive learning programs. tations, Fairbairn stressed that better served by our university and enhancing the universi- July 1, has reviewed various drafts The second accompanying the document is not a budget in Saskatchewan and far beyond. ty’s national and international of the plan, said Hopkins, and document, the multi-year budget but rather a framework based on Students, communities and the research profile, the board was provided “personal and strategic framework, projects revenues “reasonable assumptions.” That public are going to be the bene- prepared “to assume the risk of feedback” that is reflected in and expenses over the four-year framework identifies accumu- ficiaries of the work we do.” moving forward” with projects the final version. That involve- planning cycle. Fairbairn lating deficits that will require Promise and Potential: The like the Gordon Oaks-Red Bear ment will help ensure a smooth pointed out that “much of work on both the revenue and the Third Integrated Plan 2012-2016 Student Centre and the Canada presidential transition and that the picture remains unclear,” expense side, he said, “but we’ve as well as the capital plan and Excellence Research Chair in “the board and the president are particularly around the provin- done this before, and we’ve done budget framework can be viewed Water Security. In the coming aligned in our focus.” cial government grant, but the it while continuing to invest in at www.usask.ca/plan Fairbairn reappointed Brett Fairbairn has been reap- for Dr. Fairbairn’s work.” pointed to the position of provost Fairbairn’s association with and vice-president academic for the U of S goes back to his days as a second five-year term that will a history student during which he begin July 1, 2013. served as president of the students’ The university’s Board of union. He continued his education Governors confirmed the reap- at Oxford University where he pointment as its meeting March 6, was awarded a BA Honours and a and it was announced the next day DPhil, both in modern history. He by President Peter MacKinnon. was a faculty member and head in MacKinnon said a wide-ranging the U of S Department of History, review of the provost’s perfor- and director of the Centre for the mance since his initial appoint- Study of Co-operatives before his ment in 2008 showed a “high appointment to senior adminis- degree of satisfaction and respect tration. OPPORTUNITY IS COMING TO SASKATCHEWAN. BE AN AMBASSADOR OF CHANGE. SASKATOON IS TAKING CENTRE STAGE IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS. Now is the time to build your edge and stand out from the competition.