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In April 2021, the Government of Saskatchewan in partnership with post-secondary institutions in the province signed a multi-year funding investment MOU that provided funding certainty to the sector over the next four years. Of the $60 million announced by the Government of Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan was allocated $31 million in multi-year funding.
Following the Government of Saskatchewan’s funding announcement in April 2021, Executive Sponsor and Provost and Vice-President Airini initiated a call to all deans, executive directors, and senior leadership for project concept proposals. Project concepts were submitted from colleges, schools, and vice-president portfolios and identified strategic projects where USask could potentially invest the multi-year funding.
Each project concept was developed and evaluated based on its alignment with the six areas outlined in the province's multi-year funding agreement and based on feasibility. This included clarifying the intended outcomes, identifying metrics to measure the outcomes, confirming the timelines, milestones, risks, barriers and resources required, and determining the return on investment for each project.
In total, the Horizons Project Executive Sponsor recommended 27 projects to the President’s Executive Committee for review and approval.
Through these 27 initiatives, USask is strengthening our contributions to the province, accelerating our financial sustainability, and making informed and responsible management decisions.The 27 strategic initiatives were awarded through two rounds of initiative proposals, one that ran from May to September 2021, and the other from November 2021 to February 2022.
There are a total of 27 initiatives that received investment. Of those:
- 24 initiatives are complete.
- Three initiatives have received continued funding to support progress towards implementation or operationalization. This resulted in continued investment in the Integrated Services Renewal (ISR), Administrative Services Renewal (ASR), and International Study Permit initiatives.
*As of June 2024.
The Government of Saskatchewan’s one-time investment of $31 million has provided USask with an opportunity to strengthen its contributions to the province and accelerate the university’s financial sustainability.
Through the Horizons Project, USask can consider our path forward and make informed and responsible management decisions. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce our operating costs by between 3-6% while moving forward with initiatives that will allow us to continue to deliver excellent results in research, education, and service to communities. This will achieve a balanced operating budget, restore reserves, and ensure between $12 million - $20 million is available annually for strategic investment beyond 2026.
*As of May 2023.
The Horizons Project is providing USask with the opportunity to consider our path forward and make informed and responsible management decisions. This includes reducing expenses by:
- Implementing a new administrative operating framework so USask can improve consistency and provide a continuum of high-quality administrative services across campus. It is anticipated that some positions may shift in terms of reporting, work activities may be reallocated based on function, and savings will be identified through process changes. The intent is not mass staffing layoffs.
- Negotiating incentives to encourage timely faculty retirements over short-, medium- and long-term, leading to the effective ongoing renewal of the faculty complement.
- Integrating USask stores to minimize risk and mitigate supply chain uncertainty and unify and improve material and inventory management. It is anticipated that creating efficiencies within our USask stores will reduce costs and have a positive impact on our operations and customer service across campus.
Through the Horizons Project, USask will see an economic, educational, social, foundational, and fiscal benefit from the investment. All projects align with the MOU signed with the Government of Saskatchewan and include gains such as enhanced teaching and research capacity, community engagement, strengthened administrative capacity, and growth in entrepreneurial thinking.
A return on investment has been calculated to forecast the financial impact of initiatives, where applicable. Overall, the forecasted return on the $31 million investment is 195% (restricted and unrestricted revenue) or 130% (unrestricted revenue only).
It is important to keep in mind that many of the project outcomes from the $31 million investment will require three to five years to realize the impact, including savings or revenue potential.
*As of June 2024.