NOTE:
- the time change
- you can also watch the meeting on-line
- the original notice of meeting is appended, scroll down.
For Saskatonians: Come to the University tomorrow (May 16th). The University has racked up a pile of debt (Provost Brett Fairbairn). They are holding a “Financial Town Hall Meeting”.
Who will be held to account for the huge debt? How will the situation be resolved?
Lockheed Martin is plying the University with dollars. Will corporate interests take over this extremely valuable public institution for a few shekels? Will we just let it happen?
1. ORIGINAL NOTICE OF MEETING, RECEIVED MAY 2 – scroll down, it’s appended.
2. NOTICE OF MEETING (REVISED), MAY 14 (below)
3. MY LETTER TO THE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS, MAY 7, Click on http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=5325
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2. NOTICE OF MEETING (REVISED), May 14
(Note: Anyone who received the original notice will not know from the subject line that the meeting time is changed.)
From: Leonhardt, Lesley [mailto:lesley.leonhardt AT usask.ca]
Sent: May-14-12 2:08 PM
Subject: Financial Town Hall, May 16th
We will provide updated information on the university’s financial situation, including the 2012-13 detailed operating budget, and provide more information on the emerging strategy related to budget adjustments at a financial town hall:
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Time: 1:30 – 2:30 pm (please note this is a new time from what was previously scheduled)
Place: Convocation Hall, College Building
We encourage everyone to attend. If you are unable to, you can watch live online at www.usask.ca/finances. The video of the presentation, including the question and answer period, will also be available on this website by May 18.
We also encourage you to continue to submit your ideas for financial solutions through www.usask.ca/finances or email them directly to finances@usask.ca, by May 23.
Kind regards,
Brett Fairbairn, Provost and Vice-President Academic
Greg Fowler, Acting Vice-President Finance and Resources
For more information, contact:
Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic at 966-8484
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3. MY LETTER TO THE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS, MAY 7th
Who is responsible for Debt situation? Vulnerability to Lockheed Martin Corp.
Click on http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=5325 .
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ORIGINAL NOTICE OF MEETING
RECEIVED: Wed 02/05/2012 9:43 AM
SUBJECT: Financial Town Hall May 16, 2012
Members of Senate: please see the email announcement below.
Lea Pennock
University Secretary
Financial Town Hall May 16, 2012
U of S Campus Community,
As part of the ongoing process related to the current financial pressures our university is facing, we are holding our next Financial Town Hall (on the topic of “Emerging Strategy”) on May 16 at 11:30 am in Convocation Hall. Everyone is welcome and we encourage you to attend. You may also watch the event live online at www.usask.ca/finances
At this town hall, we will talk about how the university’s plans have started to come together since the last town hall on April 3, including the process, governance and timelines of upcoming initiatives to balance the university’s budget. We will also discuss how your ideas assist in forming the strategy to narrow the gap between our revenue and expenses.
As you now know, we face a potential shortfall of $20 million to $40 million annually by 2016. The first challenge in narrowing this gap between our revenues and expenses will be to address the projected $15.5 million deficit for 2012-13. At their May meeting, the Board of Governors will consider actions that can be taken to mitigate a portion of the 2012-13 projected deficit through the detailed operating budget; details of these actions will be shared with you at the May 16 town hall.
In connection with the first town hall, we asked you for your ideas, comments and suggestions. We have heard from individuals from all areas of campus, including students, alumni, staff and faculty. We are very pleased with the participation we have seen so far, and we continue to look to all of you to share your thoughts with us at finances@usask.ca.
Submitted ideas range from short-term to long-term solutions and include suggestions such as offering more online classes, allowing more flexible work weeks and looking at more energy-efficient options to reduce utility expenses. On behalf of the Provost’s Committee on Integrated Planning (PCIP), the two of us are assembling an ad hoc committee to oversee the process of budget adjustments and to receive and consider ideas from across the campus. This committee will consider these ideas as we use the initial campus community consultations to co-ordinate a strategy to address the gap. At the town hall we will say more about this committee and its make-up.
Hearing from you will continue to be a vital part of this process. Key to our deliberations and actions as a university will be focus: focus on the priorities all of us have already identified in integrated planning; focus on choices; and focus on sustainable long-term solutions. In light of the budget pressures we face, we must continue to invest our resources in the areas we have identified in Promise and Potential, our third integrated plan, while also mitigating the risks inherent in our situation.
For more information, including the presentation and video from the last financial town hall, we encourage you to visit www.usask.ca/finances
Kind regards,
Brett Fairbairn
Provost and Vice-President Academic
Greg Fowler
Acting Vice-President Finance and Resources
For more information, contact:
Provost’s Office at 966-8484
Think out side the box; seek partners!