U of S criticizes provincial budget

Posted March 31, 2004


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 31, 2004 2004-03-33-OTHER

U of S criticizes provincial budget

Officials at the University of Saskatchewan today criticized the Province's
2004/05 budget, which allowed for a 2% increase in the operating grant to
universities.

"This institution has a greater prospect of return on investment than any
other public institution in the Province. We can deliver research funding,
we can attract people and we can keep people here," said Peter MacKinnon,
University of Saskatchewan president. "This budget does not offer any
recognition that the benefits of investment in higher education include
enhanced growth and wealth generation for Saskatchewan."

With a cost base that is driven in large part by the 3% wage guideline set
by the Province, a 2% increase for universities is effectively a cut to the
operating grant and will almost certainly have implications for both tuition
and staffing levels at the U of S.

"In spite of an operating grant that results in an effective cut to our
university's budget, we are committed to protecting the academic core and
investing in key areas that will strengthen both the institution and the
Province," said MacKinnon.

In 2002 the University of Saskatchewan released its Strategic Directions
statement, outlining its vision to become known for:
- International standards,
- Academic pre-eminence in key areas, and
- Sense of place.

The statement further identified four strategic priorities that will be
pursued in support of the vision. They are to:
- Attract and retain outstanding faculty,
- Increase campus-wide commitment to research, scholarly and artistic work,
- Establish the University as a major presence in graduate education, and
- Recruit and retain a diverse and academically promising body of students,
and prepare them for success in the knowledge age.

"We will remain firm on our direction because we believe that is what
Saskatchewan people expect from the University of Saskatchewan - a tier one,
competitive institution that will provide opportunities for their children
and will be a major economic and social driver within the Province," said
MacKinnon.

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For more information or to arrange an interview with University of
Saskatchewan officials, please contact:

Cindy Paquette
Director of Government Relations
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6640
(306) 261-0890 (cell)
cindy.paquette@usask.ca