Integrated planning supports strategic decision-making by providing a comprehensive view of resources and commitments that ensures the alignment of financial and capital resources with academic priorities. Prior to adopting integrated planning, fragmented planning activities occurred across the U of S, resulting in confusion about the university’s priorities and use of resources. Integrated planning at the University of Saskatchewan has typically occurred in four to five-year cycles.

Several important documents set the stage for the integrated planning process at the U of S.

Integrated planning is a way for the campus community to set strategic priorities for the university together, while better coordinating the use of resources. The University of Saskatchewan undertakes planning to show transparency and accountability in its activities.

Integrated planning will …

be an open process. By open, we mean a process that is known, widely understood and accessible to the general university community. Resource allocation and re-allocation decisions are based on the process and results are widely communicated.

be a comprehensive process. By comprehensive we mean a process that requires participation from all academic and administrative units and which ensures the effective integration of institutional goals with college/unit goals by requiring completion of a common framework or template.

be a structured process. By structured we mean a process which has a published time-line for submissions and for decision-making.

be a powerful process. By powerful we mean a process that results in real decision-making with real resources attached to decisions. We also mean a process that unites us with a common purpose, which identifies shared responsibilities, and which propels the University’s vision and academic priorities forward.

be a consultative process. By consultative we mean a process which provides timely opportunities for the university community to offer advice and guidance and to approve emerging initiatives.

be an action-oriented process. By action-oriented we mean a more robust and principled budget and planning process that results in decisions on the allocation and re-allocation of resources. College and unit plans have consequences.

be a streamlined process. By streamlined we mean a process which reduces duplication and which organizes institutional effort around selected strategic initiatives and directions. We also mean a process that keeps bureaucracy to a minimum.

be a flexible process. By flexible we mean a process that provides a mechanism to respond to emerging opportunities.

be an accountable process. By accountable we mean a process which links decisions to assigned responsibilities, results in decisions, and which can be explained to a variety of communities. We also mean a process which supports the delegation of budget responsibilities to the level at which operational decisions are made and which provides information on resource requirements, institutional data, budget projections and other documentation on a timely basis.