January 5, 2007
By Colleen MacPherson
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Rigby |
University Council will be taking more time to discuss what is included, and what is missing, in a list of proposed themes set up to guide the institution through its second integrated planning cycle.
The lack of attention paid to sustainability in the eight main themes was raised repeatedly at the Dec. 14 University Council meeting when both Council members and guests from the campus community were invited to respond to the list. An impassioned address by Margret Asmuss, sustainable development coordinator with Facilities Management Division, drew applause as she described sustainability as “the issue of our generation.” If universities cannot provide a model for how to deal with sustainability, “then no one can,” she said, suggesting the U of S is lagging far behind other Canadian institutions in addressing the issue.
“The University of Saskatchewan does not appear to be embracing sustainability, at least not in a holistic way,” said Asmuss, suggesting a lack of attention in this area could be detrimental to both the University’s reputation and its enrolment.
The integrated planning themes – enhance student life; practice effective enrolment management; accelerate research momentum; foster an engaged university; enhance aboriginal programming and scholarship; champion faculty recruitment and retention; build a high-performance organization; and innovate and focus – are inward-looking, said Asmuss. “They don’t address how we relate to the world.”
John Rigby, chair of Council’s Planning Committee, said it was hard to disagree with Asmuss’ points. Sustainability was in fact one of several original themes “that didn’t make it through the play-offs” to the final eight, “but that doesn’t mean it’s not reflected here.” He pointed out that stewardship gets specific mention under the main theme of building a high-performance organization.
Provost Michael Atkinson admitted “we might have done a better job of rescuing that theme and making it more prominent.”
The list of themes was brought before Council for feedback as preparation continues for a process that will result in approval of the University’s second integrated plan some 16 months from now. Atkinson told the meeting there “were a lot of lessons to be learned from the way we did this last time,” including the need to provide more direction to colleges and units preparing individual plans.
“We need to be more conscious of the initiatives we’re agreeing to, the metrics, and of making sure we’re not taking on too much,” said Atkinson. That requires a more focused approach to planning so identifying areas of strategic focus is one way “to kick-start” the process.
In introducing the themes, Rigby asked Council to keep in mind that “planning on this campus has been and will continue to be a collegial process. We hope these themes are mostly right … but if you tell us these themes are wrong, we’ll try very hard to hear you say that and to do something about it.”
He also reminded the meeting of the importance of planning, of “bringing our interests, our strengths, our passions to this great institution called the University of Saskatchewan.” Finally, Rigby stressed the development of themes for the second cycle “is intended as a continuation of the first integrated planning cycle. The same statements of strategic directions are still in place.”
As discussion from the floor continued, other speakers raised points of concern about the themes. Claire Card, chair of Council’s International Activities Committee, said a lack of attention to internationalization suggested “a disconnect” between the themes and the University’s stated strategic goals.
Another committee chair – Alison Renny of the Budget Committee – commented on the need to consider enrolment in all University planning. “Any strategic plan that comes forward that doesn’t look at enrolment … is not viable,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of a group of “concerned teachers”, curriculum studies professor Richard Schwier said the University should capitalize on the momentum created by last fall’s Provost’s Series on Teaching and Learning with a theme specific to undergraduate teaching.
“If we want to develop a culture of teaching, we need to invite, nurture and defend it,” said Schwier. “It is such an important element to the future of the University … (and) I think units want to stake a claim to teaching as a priority in their plans.”
Rigby responded by pointing to one theme where teaching is an implicit component: “I don’t know how we can enhance student life without focusing on teaching.” He then reminded Council that many initiatives from the first integrated plan, including those designed to enhance teaching, will carry over into the second plan.
Following a couple of other speakers, Card rose again, this time to suggest Council members needed more time to consider the themes and the changes proposed at the meeting. Although “deans are anxious for this part of the process to end” so they can move into preparation of college plans, Atkinson said he had no difficulty continuing the discussion at Council’s Jan. 25 meeting. He added he will provide new drafts of the themes “based on your comments.”
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