News Archive
FINAL NOTICE: March 31 Deadline to Submit Claims
March 28, 2014 | All News
Claims for reimbursement from any of the benefit plans must be submitted to Sun Life within 90 days of the end of the calendar year in which the expense is incurred. This means that the deadline for submitting claims incurred between January 1 and December 31, 2013 is March 31, 2014. You can find account …
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The SK Govt. may be making bad choices when it comes to funding for the U of S, but our University’s future is secure
March 20, 2014 | All News
Yesterday, the Provincial Government brought down its 2014-15 Budget. As Chair I want to provide you with the USFA reaction to the Budget and to the comments from President Busch-Vishniac in her Provincial Budget Announcement. We are concerned about choices being made by the Provincial Government with respect to the way in which it allocates …
When to go for tenure or promotion
March 20, 2014 | All News
The Collective Agreement is clear – you can elect to go for tenure or promotion in any year if you believe you have met your standards. The applicable standards may be less clear, and it may be difficult to gauge how strong your case should be. First, be sure you know which standards apply to …
March 31 Deadline to Submit Claims
March 18, 2014 | All News
Claims for reimbursement from any of the benefit plans must be submitted to Sun Life within 90 days of the end of the calendar year in which the expense is incurred. This means that the deadline for submitting claims incurred between January 1 and December 31, 2013 is March 31, 2014. You can find account …
International Women’s Day 2014
March 7, 2014 | All News
Tomorrow, March 8, is International Women’s Day (IWD). For more than a century IWD has been observed around the world to raise awareness of issues affecting women. It’s a day to recognize and celebrate the progress that’s been made in bettering the lives of girls and women while renewing our resolve to keep going. IWD …
The Mismatch: The Council and Our Fate! and Watch Us Shrink into Greatness
February 27, 2014 | All News
Important changes are facing all of us as members of the University. TransformUs, in particular, has been the lightning rod for critical comment by colleagues not only in the pages of VOX but in other print media. Nor should it surprise us that the “Dickeson model” guiding TransformUS has been rejected by universities and colleges …
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You Have Academic Freedom
February 27, 2014 | All News
Now more than ever, those of us involved in delivering academic programs need to pose questions and offer perspectives in order for informed decisions to be made. There needs to be freedom of discussion and the ability to safely offer dissenting opinions and criticisms. Whether it takes the form of speaking at University Council, providing …
University Council 2:30 Feb 27 Arts 241
February 26, 2014 | All News
The next meeting of University Council is tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, at 2:30pm in Room 241 Arts (Neatby-Timlin Theatre). At this meeting, the following motion will be considered: “The University Council expresses non-confidence in the TransformUS process as a means of making academic decisions, and Council will therefore continue to rely on existing collegial structures …
University Council and You
February 25, 2014 | All News
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 …
Member Social 4:00 p.m. February 26 University Club
February 18, 2014 | All News
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 …
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A Message from the Chair
February 12, 2014 | All News
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. …
A Message from USFA Chair Doug Chivers
February 12, 2014 | All News
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 …
STOP THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL INTRUSION INTO ACADEMIA! (Part Two)
February 5, 2014 | All News
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 …
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VOX and the USFA
January 30, 2014 | All News
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 …
STOP THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL INTRUSION INTO THE ARTS AND SCIENCES! (Part One)
January 30, 2014 | All News
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, …
Collegial Governance and TransformUS
January 29, 2014 | All News
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 …
Open letter to the President of the University of Saskatchewan
January 29, 2014 | All News
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 …
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TransformUS and the Financial Crisis
January 22, 2014 | All News
“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 …
Reminder: Millard Award & Dooley Legacy Award
January 20, 2014 | All News
There is less than one month until nominations close for the USFA Peter T. Millard Award and the USFA Peter C. Dooley Legacy Award. Nominations must be in by February 7. The Millard Award is a way for you to acknowledge fellow USFA members for contributions to the USFA and its membership. Who do you …
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TransformUS: Even Worse Than Predicted
January 20, 2014 | All News
Happy New Year!! 2013 came to a close with bitter cold and concerns about future of many academic programs at the U of S. This issue of VOX is another submission from Professor Eric Howe. It follows-up what he previously wrote and presents his thoughts on TransformUS now that the task forces have released their …