Support for graduate education

February 27, 2009

The University of Saskatchewan continues to build its presence in graduate education with a recent funding announcement that brings investment from the Academic Priorities Fund (APF) in its three interdisciplinary graduate schools to $1.78 million.

The School of Public Health, School of Environment and Sustainability and Johnson-Shoyama School of Public Policy will receive the funding by 2011-12. The latest investment brings the total committed to the schools, including almost $1 million for Centennial Chairs and Canada Research Chairs, to $4.68 million. The breakdown by school is $1.24 million for environment and sustainability, $1.42 million for public policy and $2.02 million for public health.

The Provost’s Committee on Integrated Planning has also announced a $1 million increase in permanent funding from the APF for the College of Graduate Studies and Research. That money is earmarked for graduate scholarships, teaching fellowships and new faculty awards. The college will also receive an additional, one-time investment of $780,000 for improvements to programs and services including the university teaching course and an English language support program for graduate students.

In a memo to the campus community, Provost and Vice-President Academic Brett Fairbairn said environment and sustainability, public health and public policy will “continue to be major areas of academic development” at the U of S for the next several years with the schools being the focus of that effort. The creation of the schools and subsequent investment in their programs is the university’s largest single initiative to result from either of its integrated plans, said Fairbairn, moving the U of S closer to its strategic goal of being a major presence in graduate education.

He added that in the current economic situation, it is important  the U of S continues to fund its innovation agenda.