Board approves 1999-00 operating budget
Posted May 12, 1999
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 12, 1999
99-05-04-OTHER
Board approves 1999-00 operating budget
The University of Saskatchewan's Board of Governors today approved an
operating budget that will see expenditures increase by $7.3 million in
1999-00. This increase will meet the established provincial pattern for
salary settlements; projected increases in utilities; critical investment in
the renewal of the University, including investment in an employee
recruitment program; faculty start-up grants; graduate student support; and
information systems development. The University's operating budget for
1999-00 will amount to $188 million.
The University was able to fund this increased expenditure level from an
increase in its operating grant of $1.4 million and an additional $5 million
transfer from the Government of Saskatchewan, following an agreement between
the Government of Saskatchewan and the Millennium Scholarship Foundation.
The remainder will come from an increase in tuition of 1.9%.
The tuition increase means that tuition levels at the University of
Saskatchewan will be far lower than all other major western universities,
except for those in British Columbia where the provincial government has
frozen tuition fees.
The budget focuses on maintaining high quality programs and an enhanced
learning experience for students, through such measures as:
- allocating almost $4.3 million to scholarships and graduate teaching
fellowships. Of this sum, approximately $3.9 million is earmarked for
graduate scholarships and teaching scholarships; the remainder goes toward
funding undergraduate scholarships.
- maintaining the $1.05 million allocation toward student recruitment and
retention. This sum includes $675,000 for bursaries and $75,000 for graduate
service fellowships.
- an increase of 5% for library acquisitions. This increase will not
completely offset the anticipated 9.6% inflation rate for library
acquisitions next year, which means that fewer materials will be purchased.
- $200,000 for learning technologies. This will provide staffing support
necessary to use the new equipment in lecture theatres and classrooms.
- an increase of 1% for all non-salary expenses. This budget line has not
been increased since 1991-92. At this point, some colleges' faculty members
are no longer supplied with pens or paper.
- $700,000 to recruit the best faculty for the next generation. In a period
when the University of Saskatchewan is attempting to recruit a significant
number of junior faculty, as are many other universities across Canada, our
lack of competitiveness would be a major problem.
- $500,000 for start-up grants for new faculty. The full amount is not an
ongoing commitment, but it will be continued for a three-year period, during
which the majority of new faculty will be hired.
- $1 million for information systems development.
Highlights of the 1999-00 Operating Budget are provided (see below).
For more information, please contact:
Hal Wyatt, Chair
Board of Governors
(403) 240-5519
(403) 233-7538 (h)
or
George Ivany, President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6212
(306) 975-1081 (h)
or
Tony Whitworth, Vice-President (Finance & Administration)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6631
(306) 242-4670 (h)
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1999/00 Budget Highlights
Tuition
A student enrolled in all Category I classes would pay $3,057 in tuition,
compared with $3,000 last year. This level is far lower than that charged by
other major western universities, such as the University of Alberta
($3,551), the University of Calgary ($3,650), and the University of Manitoba
($3,155).
Although the exact sums paid by students will vary depending on the courses
they take, in general first-year students enrolled in the following programs
will pay (sums cover a two-semester period):
Agriculture $3,179
Arts $3,088
Science, Education, Nutrition $3,118
Commerce $3,057
Dentistry $7,775
Medicine $5,815
Engineering $3,164
Law $3,363
Nursing $3,149
Physical Education $3,164
Pharmacy $3,592
Physical Therapy $4,050
Veterinary Medicine $4,982
Graduate students will pay $3,839 in tuition. Dentistry students will pay
$7,775 in tuition, in line with the new funding model for the College of
Dentistry announced in January 1999. This model provides for $30,000 in
tuition for all students, with the potential for U of S bursaries of $17,225
and a provincial bursary of $5,000.
Recruitment and Retention
The University's $1.05 million allocation will be maintained to fund a
variety of mechanisms for student support including bursaries, retention and
recruitment initiatives.
Library Acquisitions
To help combat a 9.6% annual inflation rate for library materials, the
budget allows for an increase of 5% for library acquisitions. The U of S has
recognized the importance of the library throughout its years of budget cuts
and has tried to preserve the library?s acquisitions budget as much as
possible.
Salary settlements
The budget projection includes a provision for salary settlement increases
which are in keeping with the established provincial pattern.
Utilities
A 5% increase in utilities is projected which allows for both price and
usage increases. The primary factor contributing to this increase is the
increase in natural gas cost.
1999-00 Capital Budget
The University received $14.4 million from the provincial government for its
1999-00 capital budget, frozen from last year. These funds will be allocated
as follows:
- $6.2 million to repairs, rehabilitation and adaptation of buildings
Major projects include repair or replace roofing ($714,000); steam tunnel
replacement ($500,000); electrical system replacement ($290,000); building
code upgrades ($205,000).
- $1.3 million to equipment
Allocated based on prioritized submissions from academic and administrative
units.
- $1.4 million to computer network and lecture theatres
- $0.5 million to a program to assist new faculty establish their research
programs. This continues a program established last year.
The allocation of funds for the purchase of equipment has been cited
repeatedly by numerous committees at the U of S as essential as faculty
renewal occurs. This allocation will allow the U of S to be more competitive
in recruiting top quality faculty.
- $5 million for the Thorvaldson and Kinesiology construction projects.
To supplement this university allocation, the provincial government has
allocated an additional $7 million per year for the next five years to meet
this need.
