In January 2024, the federal government announced that Canada will set a new two-year temporary intake cap on international student permit applications for 2024 and 2025. This change did not affect international students already in Canada, nor graduate students. It did make a difference for new undergraduate international students considering enrolling in Canadian institutions, including USask, in fall 2024.

For 2024, Minister Marc Miller has reported that the federal government plans to admit around 292,000 new international students. Each province has been told how many study permit applications they will be allocated.

As of January 22, an international student applying for a study permit must now be able to show that they have been endorsed by the province they are applying to study within, through holding a “provincial attestation letter” (PAL). The province of Saskatchewan has been allocated 12,000 PALs. USask has been allocated 2106 of these PALs.

USask welcomes applications from suitably qualified international students. We recognize that these changes have created uncertainty amongst some of our international student population as well as prospective international students. To provide some clarity and assurances, we know that any student who applied for an international study permit before January 22 is exempt from changes being made. The new rules do not affect current international students at Canadian institutions, and also do not apply to international master’s and PhD students. The new requirements apply to undergraduate students and any visiting or exchange student who seeks to stay in Canada for more than six months.

International students are welcome as members of the USask community. As one of the goals of the International Blueprint, USask has set its mission to be “The University the World Needs”. Part of engaging with the world means bringing the world’s best and brightest students to USask, and giving them access to the university’s world-class education, and unparalleled opportunities for growth. The International Blueprint established USask’s goal to grow the size and diversity of the university’s international student body, to attract top talent, and to strengthen its impact across the world.

In 2022/2023, USask had a total of 3,609 international students (out of a total enrolment of 26,165, or 14 per cent), including 1,970 who are undergraduate international students (out of a total of 21,372, or 9 per cent). In 2023-24, USask welcomed approximately 700 new international undergraduate students. Over the last five years, the university has experienced steady growth in line with the enrolment goals set out and approved in the Learning, Teaching, and Student Experience Plan.

The university is committed to the well-being and success of international students. With a continued focus on the university’s International Blueprint goal of growing the size and diversity of the university’s international student population, USask has moved quickly to adjust to the new requirements in order to assist international student applicants and to stabilize planned enrolments. This work represents strategic enrolment management in action. Although the deadline for implementation set by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is March 31, USask is already

These IRCC changes have prompted many questions by members of the university community. As USask continues planning and implementation, there are opportunities to share what is known at present and how USask is adapting to best support international students moving forward.

Information for international students at USask about immigration can be found in the international student study guide on students.usask.ca.

Detailed and up-to-date information about the study permit application process can be found on the Government of Canada study permit page and the required study permit immigration documents page.

Book club members can join the gatherings in person or online via Zoom. Registration is not required in advance. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and retirees are welcome to attend one, two, or all three weekly sessions. Please note that there will be no book club gathering during USask’s Winter Mid-Term Break, which is scheduled from Feb. 19 to Feb. 23, 2024.

FEB. 7, 2024

12 noon -  1 pm: PMB 206 (Peter MacKinnon Building)
Zoom: https://usask-ca.zoom.us/j/92000182593?pwd=QjBhaXM4d29oY1FtRXE1aFBDRE51UT09&from=addon
Host: Natalya Mason, community engagement specialist, Division of Social Accountability, College of Medicine
Readings:

• “Mulatto Nation” by Marika Warner, p. 467
• “The Drinking Gourd: Three Tales” by Miranda Martini, p. 541

Optional materials:

• Between: Living in the Hyphen by Anne Marie Nakagawa (National Film Board of Canada)
• “Grey” by Khodi Dill, p. 495
• “Grey” by Khodi Dill – live performance

FEB. 14, 2024

12 noon – 1 pm: Admin C210 (Administration Building)
Zoom: https://usask-ca.zoom.us/j/93464409712?pwd=bXZ2TnRXUENBN2R5UGZBb1I0UzN6QT09&from=addon
Host: Deputy Provost Patti McDougall, with book editor Karina Vernon to join this session
Reading:

• Letters by Mildred Jane Lewis Ware, p. 50

FEB. 28, 2024

12 noon – 1 pm: Admin C210 (Administration Building)
Zoom: https://usask-ca.zoom.us/j/94182085831?pwd=bVF2MEsyYkVoeVpwYWR2OHRtYnZNdz09&from=addon
Host: Provost and Vice-President Academic Airini
Reading:

• “I can” by Wakefield Brewster, p. 380

Supplementary material:

• The power of “I can,” Wakefield Brewster, TEDxCalgary

Content warning: The text below discusses gender-based violence and gun violence.

On this day in 1989, 14 young women were murdered at Polytechnique Montréal in an act of gender-based violence that shocked Canadians from coast to coast. Known as the Montreal Massacre, this brutal act of femicide exposed the extreme ways in which hatred based on gender identity can manifest.

The mourning continues as does the remembrance of those who died. This violent act of misogyny led the Canadian Parliament to officially designate December 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

While the tragedy at Polytechnique Montréal occurred 34 years ago, gender-based violence remains a significant issue in our province, in our country, and around the world. Women, girls, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community continue to face discrimination and violence in many forms.

Today is a time to honour and remember all those who have experienced gender-based violence. It is also a time for us to take action.

Learning: Guidance is available on speaking out against gender-based violence and against discrimination in all its forms. Here is one example: 16 ways to end gender-based violence.

Solidarity: The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is informally called White Ribbon Day, and wearing a white ribbon is a symbol of a shared commitment to ending gender-based violence. Across the country there is a ‘rolling’ observing of a moment of silence at 11 am.

Policy and procedures: USask is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and positive environment in which any form of sexual assault and sexual misconduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The USask Sexual Assault Prevention Policy and its corresponding procedures provide a framework and firm commitment to prevention, education, awareness, and to fostering engagement from the university community to enable its members to recognize and to help prevent sexual assault and sexual misconduct on campus. All members of the USask community have a right to work, live, and study in an environment that is free from any form of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct. The procedures and a response protocol have been developed for incidents of sexual assault and sexual misconduct at USask. The USask community is committed to creating safe spaces free of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. This commitment extends to addressing incidents of sexual assault or sexual misconduct and creating a safe environment for reporting.

Disclosing or raising a concern or complaint: If you are experiencing workplace incivility, harassment, or discrimination, advice is available. Students can contact Student Affairs and Outreach by calling 306-966-5757 or by booking an appointment online. To book a mental health intake, students can call 306-966-5768 or visit the Student Wellness Centre. For after-hours support, please contact Saskatoon Mobile Crisis at 306-933-6200 or Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566. USask offers a safe and confidential environment to raise and discuss matters of discrimination and harassment through Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services (DHPS), which is available by calling 306-966-4936 or by filling out a complaint form. Additionally, faculty and staff can contact their Human Resources Strategic Business Advisor (SBA). The Conflict Engagement Specialist (CES) is also available to students, faculty, and staff. A list of additional resources, both on and off campus, can be accessed online.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women reminds us of the victims more than three decades ago, and that more actions are needed today to end gender-based violence. The USask community believes in the principles of diversity, equality, and human dignity and is committed to acting in accordance with the values of inclusiveness and respect.