Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic

Programs and Initiatives

Major Strategic Initiatives

• Integrated Planning

  Since 1997, beginning with A Framework for Planning at the University of Saskatchewan , a number of independent planning initiatives have been launched at various levels across campus. Some of these have been in response to requests from Government, but most have been the product of our own internal planning processes. Given the variety and importance of these planning initiatives, it was deemed essential in 2001 to integrate these planning efforts into a cohesive, integrated plan for the University.

  Integrated Planning is a process involving the drawing together of University-wide and unit-specific planning efforts that permits strategic decision making and provides a synoptic view of resources and commitments. Integrated Planning serves as a focal point for institutional initiatives and resource allocation. Integrated Planning is the integration of planning and budgeting, financial oversight, and academic and administrative planning.

  The core elements of Integrated Planning are the President’s Strategic Directions, Foundational Documents, college and unit plans, and the multi-year budget framework.

  “Integrated Planning is intended to allow [the University] to make difficult decisions in a collegial manner with evidence appropriately assembled.” (Provost’s White Paper , p. 6)

  In 2004, the University’s Board of Governors and University Council approved the University-level integrated plan, A Framework for Action: University of Saskatchewan Integrated Plan 2003-07 . The plan features broad initiatives consistent with the Strategic Directions and will serve as the institution’s work plan out to 2006-07.

  The University’s Integrated Planning initiative is lead by the Provost and supported by the Integrated Planning Office (IPO). The IPO, headed by the Assistant Provost, Integrated Planning and Analysis, is an integral function in the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic and consists of four Directors: Institutional Planning, Budget Planning, Integrated Facilities Planning, and Institutional Analysis. The Systematic Program Review office also reports to the Provost through the IPO.

  For more information about Integrated Planning, please call the IPO at 966-1823.

• Canada Research Chairs Program

  In 2000, the Government of Canada announced a new program called the Canada Research Chairs Programs (CRCP). This program created 2,000 chairs in universities across the country over a five-year period. Each institution received a notional allocation based on tri-council funding calculated from a three-year rolling average. The University of Saskatchewan initially received 31 chairs and in spring 2005 was awarded 3 additional chairs based on increased tri-council funding activity. The Oversight Committee, whose membership includes the Provost and Vice-President Academic and the Vice-President Research, oversees the CRCP at the University of Saskatchewan.

  CRC Implementation Plan - June 2007 (PDF)
  
        Memo from Provost & VP Academic and VP Research (PDF)

• Priority Determination Process

  In 1998, the Planning Committee of Council, working with the Vice-President Academic, initiated a process to identify areas of priority that were intended to assist in the strategic renewal of the University of Saskatchewan. Part of the task of making choices involved selecting areas in which to invest.