Watch above: In an annual address to students, the interim president of the University of Saskatchewan spoke of successes and areas to improve. Meaghan Craig says those in attendance used the opportunity to bring up a few other issues.
SASKATOON – In front of what was described as a “thin” turnout, the University of Saskatchewan’s interim president Gordon Barnhart delivered the annual state of the university address on Wednesday. The hour-long address featured facts and figures including how the university’s student body has now reached 20,289 students which is comprised of 17 per cent international students, 14 per cent out of province and 76 per cent of students homegrown in Saskatchewan.
Research revenue at the U of S has also climbed to $195.6 million dollars, the highest it’s been since 2010.
“People have described the campus as calm and I’m thinking calm as long as it’s not complacent because we do have to make change,” said Barnhart.
As part of the address, eight priority points set in September were outlined and updates were given in terms of progress.
Since 2000, there’s been a 50 per cent increase in the number of graduate students at the university and in the last five years, the number of aboriginal students on campus has increased by 29 per cent.
“Our retention now amongst aboriginal students is at 66 per cent which is considerably higher than it was, it used to be below 50 per cent but it’s still not good enough ye,” explained Barnhart.
“Our retention for non-aboriginal students is 76 and so at least we want to have it up to 76 and if not higher for all students across the board.”
An accreditation visit is also expected next month at the College of Medicine. While the college is still fully accredited it remains on probation until deficiencies are addressed.
The college was warned of the possibility in 2011, and placed on probation in 2013. This is the second time the college has been placed on probation. The first time was in 2002 which lasted about six years and is the only medical school in Canada to be on probation twice.
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“I think if the probation was removed we’d be delighted but I think the Dean has been very clear to not raise expectations that it will happen this spring but the normal course of events would be by the spring of, roughly the spring of 2017,” Barnhart stated to the media.
During the question and answer period following the address, the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) sparked several questions in light of it’s president, Izabela Vlahu, being accused of financial wrong doings and allegations that an unauthorized individual accessed the GSA’s financial records.
Ed Tymchatyn, a Department of Mathematics professor, stated he attended two GSA meetings as an observer and what he witnessed at both meetings was what he could only describe as “lynch mob” behavior.
“During those meetings, there was no serious attempt made to provide a safe environment in which reasoned, academic discussion could take place,” said Tymchatyn.
“Knowing that the senior member of your administration, who is most responsible for the welfare of graduate students, sat through not one but two meetings watching a graduate student being savaged and yet that official sat there and didn’t say a word, he ignored his duty.”
Barnhart responded by saying, “I defend him totally and he’s been keeping me and our senior administration advised of what’s been happening with GSA”.
He would also note to the media the association is an independent body, elected by graduate students and he did not want to interfere with what’s been going on since elections are underway.
“We are offering support the best that we can as I mentioned in terms of the audits and also help in governance and we’ll see if the new elective takes us up on that.”
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