IP commitment leaders to be named this summer

July 11, 2008

By Jennifer Millard

As incoming provost, one of Brett Fairbairn’s top priorities is implementing the university’s new integrated plan and he has an idea for how to do it: collaboratively.

“Collaboration is about achieving results that are critically important to everyone at the University of Saskatchewan,” said Fairbairn.  “University units already have experience working with each other in a variety of ways, but now we must intentionally take it to a higher level.”

The Second Integrated Plan, approved by the Board of Governors May 2, sets three priorities for the next four years – improving the student experience, enhancing research profile and working together. Within each priority are specific commitments, 20 in total, which will require investment and attention, he said.

At a workshop June 20 to outline how the new integrated plan will be implemented, Fairbairn spoke to over 50 academic and administrative leaders as well as representatives from the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Association. Student involvement is critical given much of the plan is about improving students’ experiences and building relationships. “We can’t achieve these kinds of goals, those needed by the entire university, alone.”

This summer, Fairbairn will appoint one person to lead each of the 20 commitments detailed in the integrated plan. A commitment leader is a facilitator and an animator, he said, someone who can pull a team together to achieve results that have impact at the university-wide level. He went on to explain that the leaders’ efforts would support the current work of colleges and units. 

Fairbairn expects these new positions will last up to four years and hopes that in time, many of the new ideas created by these teams will be part of the university’s day-to-day work. “Serving as a commitment leader will not be a full- time job nor a permanent one,” he said. “Commitment leaders will be appointed to get a job done.”

He hopes that people from all corners of campus will get involved, which is why he will select a variety of leaders. “It is time for a cultural change at the University of Saskatchewan. Our attitudes, our behaviours, and our structures need to be more open, more flexible, and more collaborative.”

Jennifer Millard is a communications specialist with the Integrated Planning Office and University Communications.