UNews - President and Vice-Chancellor

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors passes balanced 2014/2015 budget

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 20:36:50 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has passed a balanced operating budget for the 2014/15 fiscal year.

“The $162-million operating budget is supportive of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s recently completed strategic plan and reflects the values of our university,” says the Chair of the U of L Board of Governors, Gord Jong. “The U of L has experienced a challenging financial landscape in the past couple of years, and we expect to face more challenging years in the future. This balanced budget is important in allowing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to focus on the future.”

“I am very encouraged by the budget that was passed today,” says U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “Funding was allocated to support quality academic programs, student experience, support for research and community connectedness. Receipt of new Government of Alberta funding to increase enrolment in targeted areas also provides the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with some capacity to implement some strategic programs."

The approval of the budget by the U of L Board of Governors completes a lengthy process that included developing a framework of values to guide our budget decisions and the implementation of a new operating budget allocation model. All budget decisions were done with extensive consultation with the Strategic Planning Committee, budget advisory committees, senior administration, deans and executive directors. The General Faculties Council (GFC) also reviewed the budget model and the proposed budget at its April meeting.

Budget 2014/15 highlights

The 2013-14 budget saw a significant decrease (4.85%) in the Campus Alberta Operating grant received by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Some budget controlling efforts put into place during 2013 were the offering of an Academic Staff Voluntary Retirement program and a hiring restriction on vacant positions. This year's balanced budget lifts the hiring restriction that has been in place since September 2013, which will allow the replacement of essential positions. Approximately half of the retirement academic positions will be replaced to allow some return to normal operations and the level of support for students that we have prided ourselves.

The operating grant provided by Innovation and Advanced Education will increase by 1.62%, comprised of 0% base operating grant increase plus $1.5 million in targeted enrolment funding.

Tuition fees, which are regulated by the Alberta government, will rise by one percent.

High school iGEM team best in the world

trevor.kenney — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 20:23:42 +0000

A team of Lethbridge high school students has been awarded the coveted Green Brick grand prize at the iGEM High School Jamboree – an international competition for young synthetic biologists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, MA.

The team was judged on its efforts to create a longer lasting form of Oxytocin – a hormone most-commonly known for its use in aiding childbirth. Oxytocin, unfortunately, has a very short half-life meaning the hormone degrades quickly and soon becomes unstable, making it expensive and difficult to store.

The Lethbridge High School team together with their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge undergraduate student and graduate student advisors and their faculty advisor, Dr. HJ Wieden, successfully developed a genetic circuit (BioBricks) to reprogram a harmless laboratory strain of the common bacterium Escherichia coli to express a stabilized variant of Oxytocin. Details about their project and the team itself can be found on their project website (wiki) http://2013hs.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_Canada

In addition to being named the top team at the competition, the Lethbridge team also was awarded prizes for the "Best Bio Brick" and "Best Wiki". A total of 30 international teams competed at the event last weekend.

The iGEM Foundation fosters scientific research and education through organizing and operating the iGEM Competition, the premier student synthetic biology competition. It also facilitates scientific research and education by establishing and operating the Registry of Standard Biological Parts, a community collection of open source biological components.

The organization promotes the advancement of science and education by developing an international open community of students and practitioners in schools, laboratories, research institutes and industry.

"One of the real values of the U of L's commitment to the iGEM program is that it is building bridges between high school and university experiences," say Dr. HJ Wieden, a U of L synthetic biology researcher who served as an advisor to the team. "These exceptional students will be the innovators and entrepreneurs who will add tremendous value to Alberta's economy and quality of life in the future."

Students from the Lethbridge team represented various Lethbridge high schools including Chinook High School, Winston Churchill High School, Catholic Central High School and Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. The team has successfully applied for funding from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (geekStarter) to support their project.

"This result is absolutely exceptional, though I am not surprised. Previous iGEM competitions have placed ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge undergraduate and our Lethbridge high school teams among the best in the world on multiple occasions," says U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Mike Mahon. "The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has a strong track record of attracting world-leading faculty like Dr. Wieden and we are committed to partnering with the community through programs like the iGEM High School Jamboree. It also illustrates that our local high schools are producing some incredible young scientists."

The Lethbridge high school team plans on continuing its Oxytocin project next year.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to play role in flood recovery efforts

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:30:41 +0000

On Wednesday, June 26, 2013, the Alberta government formally requested the U of L house a number of evacuees while cleanup efforts to their communities continue.

It is expected that evacuees will start arriving at our campus later this afternoon. As you can imagine, this is a stressful time for individuals and families who have lost many of their possessions and remain unable to assess the damage to their homes.

In an effort to help transition evacuees to their temporary homes, the U of L is seeking volunteers from its campus community to welcome and familiarize evacuees with the campus. Employees who are able to volunteer during work hours will continue to be paid. Volunteers should consult with their supervisor before committing. If you are able to help, please contact Natasha Buis Deering at 403-329-2762 or at Natasha.buisdeering@uleth.ca.

Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Canadian, Mexican universities converge for Aboriginal round table

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:18:40 +0000

Nine Canadian universities and eight indigenous universities in Mexico will together focus on improving Aboriginal educational experiences and research collaborations during a one-day round table meeting at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge on June 22, 2013.

Building on the momentum of a similar meeting held in Mexico City in March 2012, university presidents, Aboriginal advisors and elders will move forward initiatives pertaining to student mobility, research collaboration and community engagement as it relates to Aboriginal higher education.

"Continued dialogue between Canadian and Mexican universities about best practices and increased collaboration will serve the needs of students in both of our countries," says Dr. Brian Stevenson, president of Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. "Removing barriers for Aboriginal students is a shared goal of all participants and this round table will help institutions in both countries make important progress in this critical area."

For the past 10 years, the federal and state governments in Mexico have partnered to create a number of regional universities, called Intercultural Universities, to improve post-secondary access to indigenous peoples. For decades now Canadian universities have also worked to increase access for Aboriginal students and to improve outreach to Aboriginal communities.

At the conclusion of the inaugural meeting between the Intercultural Universities and 10 Canadian Institutions in Mexico last year, Canadian and Mexican university presidents committed to both bilateral and consortium level partnerships to promote student and faculty mobility, joint research initiatives and cultural exchanges. Agreement was reached at that time to host a second meeting in Canada.

"The U of L is excited to host and participate in this important meeting," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mike Mahon. "The U of L has long recognized the important role it must play in creating access for Aboriginal post-secondary students and this round table will certainly help us shape future directions and initiatives."

Federal, provincial, municipal and Aboriginal representatives have been invited to participate in some of the sessions.

In addition to the one-day round table, and to celebrate National Aboriginal Day in Canada on June 21, participants from both countries will participate in a series of cultural activities to broaden the understanding of Alberta's Aboriginal communities. This will include visiting the Kainai and Piikani First Nations communities and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Flood recovery update

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:02:42 +0000

Flood Message – Monday, June 10, 2013

As you are aware, on the evening of June 5, 2013, a significant flood occurred at the Lethbridge campus leading to the closing of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts (UCA) and the Library. Recovery work led by Facilities, with the support of restoration companies, is continuing and great efforts were made over the weekend to enable the reopening of both facilities this morning.

Power, water, life safety systems and IT services have been restored to both UCA and the Library. The UCA has been reopened to the public, as have levels 10 and 11 of the Library. Level 9 will be closed for the foreseeable future.

Affected staff and faculty members who work in the UCA and Library will continue to receive detailed updates by email as work continues. All currently scheduled classes for the UCA and Library have been relocated.

Once again, I want to thank our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community for its efforts in mitigating damage during the night of the flood and for the tremendous work that has occurred during this recovery stage. The dedication and competency of our staff and faculty is truly impressive and I am proud that our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is able to pull together in the face of adversity.

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

CASA opens its doors

trevor.kenney — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:08:05 +0000

The City of Lethbridge, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are excited to announce the Grand Opening of CASA, a truly functional 42,000 square foot arts centre with a striking building design.

CASA is the realization of a 20-year dream, shared by many in the Lethbridge arts community, to expand or replace the Bowman Arts Centre and provide a home for the arts in one central location.

"I am very pleased to participate in today's celebration, which will usher in new opportunities for Lethbridge and southern Alberta's artistic community," says Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

"Worthwhile projects such as this create jobs and encourage economic growth, while also providing Canadians with valuable cultural spaces."

Funding for the $20.69 million project includes $6 million from the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (with $3 million provided by both the Federal Government and Alberta Transportation under BCF-CC), $14.4 million from the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (administered by Alberta Municipal Affairs) and $200,000 from the City of Lethbridge.

"We're pleased to support local priorities and build communities through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative," says Greg Weadick, Associate Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs and MLA for Lethbridge-West.

"Facilities like CASA bring together families and neighbours while they enrich lives, entertain and create more vibrant economies."

CASA will allow for students of all ages to learn and explore many different mediums of art, drama, music, dance, yoga and more. It will become home to many local groups and events.

After the 11 a.m. Grand Opening, and for the remainder of the week, special events will be taking place in the evenings, with a Party On the Plaza from noon until 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. This community festival is free and will include many local musicians and entertainers, from the Lethbridge Community Taiko Association to the U of L Conservatory of Music.

Other events during the week include dance, theatre, film, the inaugural CASA art exhibit opening and the music of Oscar Lopez.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music has numerous events planned that showcase both the new facility and their diverse programs.

U of L Conservatory information, including program registration and upcoming events listings, can be found at this website.

"Our local arts community has been waiting for this day for a long time. For decades to come, this new arts facility will be a significant cultural and economic asset for downtown Lethbridge and for the entire community," says Mayor Rajko Dodic.

Along with the Allied Arts Council, who will be overseeing the facility, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is also a major partner with its Music Conservatory moving to this facility.

"We are extremely proud of U of L Music Conservatory Director Peggy Mezei and her team, and their achievements as they move in to CASA's bright and beautiful space," says Dr. Mike Mahon, the U of L's President and Vice-Chancellor. "Our commitment to the community takes on many forms, and being such an integral part of the CASA group is something we are very pleased to be a part of. This new facility will be of great benefit to our present and future Conservatory students, and also to the many members of the arts and culture community who use the facility to express their own creativity."

The Rotary Clubs of Lethbridge have also provided support to the project which has led to the naming of the Rotary Plaza, the location of the festivities on Saturday, May 18.

CASA will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 pm. on Sundays. Classes and workshops, including the opportunity to try "sampler" classes for a nominal fee, will begin the week of May 20.

Information on Grand Opening Week events as well as information on classes, workshops, facility rentals and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Music Conservatory can be found at the CASA website.

Mahon speaks to proposed budget reductions

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:50:59 +0000

April 23, 2013

In addressing the budget reductions imposed on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge through the 7.3 per cent reduction in the Campus Alberta Operating Grant, a framework of values was developed to guide the Budget Advisory Committee in developing the 2013/14 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge consolidated operating budget. The 2013/14 reductions require us to find $11.8 million. Assuming no increases in the Campus Alberta Grant for the following two years as has been suggested by Enterprise and Advanced Education, this number grows to $20 million by 2015/16.

The approach committed to by our community was to, "maintain the forward vision of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge" and to not compromise our future through shortsighted reaction. "Our strategic priorities remain priorities independent of the financial challenges our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ encounters. To take us to our desired future the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will pursue its established strategic directions and identified priorities." The values, which were reaffirmed by both the General Faculties Council and the Board of Governors, are that:

Our people define our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and are our greatest strength

People are the essential resource of our institution and as such the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will strive to preserve employment. All ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ employee groups will be treated with fairness and with respect in all that lies ahead in our work to maintain our student centred focus and to ensure the continuing financial sustainability of our institution.

High quality is central to all that we do

Our commitment to maintaining high quality undergraduate and graduate academic programmes is key to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mission to build a better society. High quality instruction and teaching are essential to this commitment. Research and creative activity are also key to our mission and their vitality and vibrancy serve as a differentiating feature of our institution and a central part of our culture as a comprehensive academic and research institution. High quality facilities and services support our mission and best serve our students, staff, and academic staff.

Access to our university is a foundational value

As a Comprehensive Academic and Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, dedicated to liberal education, that was born out of the needs and aspirations of our local communities, we are committed to providing student access to our high quality academic programs throughout the province without creating unnecessary financial barriers. Community engagement with our university and community use of our facilities play a role in defining us as a public institution.

I am committed to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ quickly achieving as much of the targeted reductions as possible without compromising the long-term prospects of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and without making decisions that lack adequate data or debate to support those decisions. While there is much more work yet to complete, the recommendations put forward to date look to achieve a balanced budget by the 2015/16 fiscal year if not sooner. The following outline the initial recommendations of the Budget Advisory Committee to bring forward a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge 2013/14 consolidated operating budget.

Academic Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan

The Academic Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan was introduced to help address budget issues at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ at a time when we were anticipating a 2% increase in base grant funding. The plan was voluntary and faculty members were provided a three-year window to transition to retirement. A total of 34 faculty members have decided to participate. For the most part, these faculty members will not be replaced. In the situation where the continuance of a program is predicated on the replacement of a faculty member or where the quality of a program will be severely compromised, the Dean of the Faculty and Provost of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will develop a plan for replacing the member.

This program will enable the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to save approximately $4.2 million by 2015/16.

Ancillary Services

Additional revenue will be provided from Ancillary Services operations to the operating budget of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Currently, Ancillary Services contributes $150,000 per year, in addition to covering all of the expenses associated with their operations. This will rise to $500,000. To support this, Ancillary Services will reduce the contributions it makes to their respective capital reserves and maintenance funds and will explore additional, new revenue opportunities.

Lifecycle Equipment Annual Allocation

Annual funding for the replacement of equipment will be reduced by $1 million on a continuing basis.

Research Enhancement Fund

The Research Enhancement Fund of $300,000 per year will be discontinued. This fund is used differently by each Faculty to enable research initiatives.

Student Administrative Fee

An increased Student Administrative Fee will be assessed. This fee will be used to preserve services offered to students that would otherwise have to be reduced and maintain student-centered projects already in progress as identified in our Comprehensive Institutional Plan (CIP). With the increase in this fee, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Student Administrative Fee will remain the lowest in the Comprehensive Academic Research Institution (CARI) sector. As well, the combined tuition and fees for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will still remain the lowest in the province of Alberta among the CARI sector.

International Student Differential Fee

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge currently has the lowest differential fee assessed on International Students in the CARI sector. This fee will be increased. With this increase, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will still have the lowest International Student Differential Fee among the CARI sector.

Executive Compensation

Salaries for the President and the four Vice-Presidents of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will be frozen at the 2012/13 levels.

Employment Costs

Salary and economic benefits negotiations are on going with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA). The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) is in the final year of their contract. A commitment has been made that all employment groups will be treated respectfully and fairly through the reduction process. Employment costs and entitlements are subject to negotiation with the relevant bargaining unit and as such, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Administration will not publicly discuss anything related to the negotiations or suggest anything publicly that would compromise those negotiations.

Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal

Projects funded from the Infrastructure Maintenance Program (IMP) grant provided to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ by Enterprise and Advanced Education will continue as planned. All additional infrastructure maintenance and renewal projects that are funded from operating funds have been suspended or cancelled.

Additional Reduction Strategies

The Budget Advisory Committee has struck a number of committees to explore opportunities for reductions, structural change or revenue that will require more time than the current budget process allows for. The committees will present their recommendations to President's Executive by July 31, 2013. The committees will be reviewing communications and marketing, information technology, recruitment, finance, faculty work assignments and Faculty program costs, collaboration with other institutions, and opportunities for new revenue generation.

I am grateful to the members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community who have submitted ideas or suggestions through the online budget feedback forum. Many of those suggestions have been incorporated into the proposed reductions. Others will be addressed by the work of the noted committees.

We are also exploring other opportunities for greater efficiency that could result in reductions that would impact the budget of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. These include reducing the number of computer labs on campus, a review of the library acquisition budget, an employee voluntary reduced workload program and increasing fund-raising and sponsorship activities to help offset operating budget support for initiatives that would be attractive to external funders such as scholarships and bursaries.

These recommendations represent the initial work of the Budget Advisory Committee. It is worth noting that there were many ideas vigorously debated that were rejected as it was decided they were not compatible with our values or long-term plans, or they would too severely compromise the student experience or programs of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. While these recommendations get us a significant way toward achieving our budget reduction targets, there is still a projected deficit for the 2013/14 year. This deficit will be addressed through the continued work of the Budget Advisory Committee and the committees noted earlier.

The budget reduction recommendations will be reviewed by the Budget Priorities Advisory Committee and ultimately incorporated into the 2013/14 consolidated operating budget of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. General Faculties Council (GFC) will review the budget at the May meeting and the budget will then go to the Board of Governors for approval at its May meeting. The budget will be submitted to Enterprise and Advanced Education as part of the CIP that is due by May 31, 2013.

Once again, I want to thank the members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community for their engagement in this process and their continuing commitment to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Update from President Mahon following meeting with Minister

trevor.kenney — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:06:00 +0000

April 12, 2013

Yesterday afternoon I, along with the other 25 presidents of Alberta's post-secondary institutions, met with the Deputy Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education, and other officials from the Ministry, to discuss the future of Campus Alberta and the letters of expectation issued to us shortly after the provincial budget. While we have not yet arrived at a position of absolute clarity, I am pleased that the presidents and the Minister have agreed to embark on a collaborative approach to work through these issues.

It was agreed that the timeline for approval on the letters of expectation would be extended to September to enable a more full discussion among faculty, staff and students at each of the institutions in the province. Additionally, the letters would form more of a "memorandum of understanding" reflecting the unique role each institution plays in the post-secondary sector, in the Alberta system overall and reflect the differentiation among each individual institution.

The Minister agreed that differentiation is important and that students must have options throughout the province – including in similar academic areas and that access to opportunity in large and small centres must be maintained. The Minister also affirmed the importance of basic research and applied research and that the government is interested in building research excellence across institutions. He also affirmed that the sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts are important to Alberta, as are professional programs. He emphasized that while our sector's impact on jobs is important so too is our impact on society, culture and quality of life.

I am pleased that the Minister has agreed that the letter of expectation process needs to be extended to allow for institutional discussions, sector discussion and system discussions. I think that the meeting helped to find common ground. I am optimistic that we will find a productive way forward, but there is no question that the budget challenges remain.

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Update from President Mahon on the Budget Adjustment Process

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:26:27 +0000

April 11, 2013

At the Community Update held on March 27, 2013, I committed to developing a values-based process to guide the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ through the operating budget adjustments that we as a community must participate in. In his presentation, our Provost, Dr. Andrew Hakin, outlined the process through which those values will be determined and endorsed, and the timeline under which we would conduct this process.

The values that will guide us are those that we, as a community, have collectively developed over multiple years, through many inclusive, collegial processes. They are a distillation of the values that are the foundation of our Strategic Plan, our Academic Plan and our Research Plan. Most importantly, the values are reflective of our community, and have been endorsed by both governance bodies of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the General Faculties Council and the Board of Governors.

While much work has been done to develop the 2013/14 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ budget, there is much yet to do. Using these values as a compass we will over the course of the next month develop and debate options and ultimately bring forward the 2013/14 consolidated budget for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Using the pre-existing budget development entities and processes I expect to make a recommendation to the Board of Governors to approve the 2013/14 consolidated budget in mid-May to allow the Comprehensive Institutional Plan (CIP) to be submitted to Enterprise and Advanced Education for the May 31 deadline. The budget is a key component of the CIP.

At the end of this message I have included the values statement that has been presented, vigorously debated and refined by Deans' Council, Executive Directors' Council, President's Executive, the Budget Advisory Committee, the Budget Priorities Advisory Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, General Faculties Council, and the Board of Governors. I encourage you to read the document.

The Budget Advisory Committee will begin its deliberations on the budget adjustments, which include reductions as well as revenue opportunities, on Saturday morning. Their recommendations will be reviewed and refined by the Budget Priorities Advisory Committee. The Strategic Planning Committee will review the proposed adjustments and provide guidance on whether the proposed adjustments are respective of our values and to help the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ ensure that the adjustments being proposed are not being made solely for expediency and do not compromise the long term development of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as it relates to our priorities and aspirations as an academic community. President's Executive will be fundamental through this process and will review all of the proposed adjustments before the budget is presented to GFC and to the Board of Governors.

While this process will be challenging and must be conducted in a very compressed time period, I do encourage you to continue to provide your feedback and ideas via this website.

To date, I have received over 50 submissions from U of L community members on the Letter of Expectation as well as suggested budget adjustments. A fair summary of those ideas has been posted to this web page

for your review. I am grateful for the thoughtful and considered ideas that have come forward to date. All ideas that are proposed will be provided to the Budget Advisory Committee.

On April 23 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Students' Union Ballroom Level 3, we will host another Community Update to discuss the budget progress made to date. I am hopeful that there will be additional clarity with regard to the Letter of Expectation by that time. As well, I hope to be able to share with you the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's response to the Letter to Enterprise and Advanced Education.

This continues to be a stressful and challenging time for our sector and our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. I am buoyed however by the positive support and collective will of our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community to work together to address our current challenges. Our Board of Governors, our General Faculties Council, the Senate, the alumni of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and our community have been rallying in their advocacy and support of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. I am proud of and grateful to members of our academic community who have engaged in public debate and civil dialogue on these issues. I am proud of our students who have actively engaged with government in a positive way and have regularly exercised their rights to express themselves and their opinions. I am assured through this very tangible support that our future remains ours to determine and is bright.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Reaffirming our Values:
A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Response to the 2013-14 Provincial Budget

We commit to maintaining the forward vision of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Our Strategic priorities remain priorities independently of the financial challenges our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ encounters. To take us to our desired future the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will pursue its established strategic directions and identified priorities.

The Alberta Provincial Budget 2013-14 has imposed severe reductions and thus introduced significant financial challenges for the post-secondary sector in our province and for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. A reduction to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Campus Alberta Grant of 7.3% will require the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to eliminate $11.9 million from its continuing operating budget.

An increase of 2% to the Campus Alberta Grant for 2013-14 had previously been communicated by the Government of Alberta to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, as part of a three year funding commitment. This was presented with the intention of enhancing future financial planning and sustainability. Although it became increasingly clear during the 2012-13 fiscal year that the 2% increase was becoming less likely, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and others in the post-secondary sector, were not informed or warned by the Ministry of the deep financial reduction that has been applied to our continuing operating funds.

In managing the impact of this severe funding reduction, members of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ senior administration have committed to clear, timely, and transparent communication to all members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Our first order of business is to enter into a process that will address our required reductions. To do this our institutional values will be reaffirmed and will be used to guide and influence all budget related decisions and processes that lie ahead. The processes by which these values will be endorsed and reaffirmed by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and by which the 2013-14 budget will be established are provided within Appendix 1 of this document. They follow closely the paths already utilized for budget approval within our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Fortunately, in the last few years much work has been completed with respect to the values of our institution. They are contained within the documents that provide the framework for the operation and the establishment of priorities for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. These documents include our current Strategic Plan, Academic and Research Plans, and our Comprehensive Institutional Plan. All of these documents were approved utilizing the full scope of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ bicameral governance framework. Although they were created and approved at times in which significantly different financial conditions were anticipated, these documents enshrine both our values and our priorities as an institution. These values and priorities are independent of our immediate financial future as the long-term future of our three-campus ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ extends well beyond immediate budgetary issues.

To intentionally follow our priorities will require all constituents of our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to work together. Working together provides strength. As we address our financial challenges we will strive to ensure that all groups within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ are engaged in the protection of the academic integrity and the future of our institution. There are no aspects of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's operation that will be excluded from consideration in constructing the path by which we will best ensure the continuing financial sustainability of our institution. Indeed, in moving towards this desired outcome it will be necessary to explore all possible operational collaborations to achieve efficiencies. New forms of revenue generation will be considered an important component of any plan to mitigate our financial challenges.

The values presented below are purposely non-prioritized as they provide a holistic framework to guide and influence the budget processes and decisions that lie ahead. Underlying these values is a commitment to open, transparent and timely communication to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. And fundamentally, as president Sam Smith asserted in his August 1, 1967 address to the students of summer session, our core commitment is still "to the individual student as a person and as of ultimate worth.

Our people define our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and are our greatest strength

People are the essential resource of our institution and as such the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will strive to preserve employment. All ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ employee groups will be treated with fairness and with respect in all that lies ahead in our work to maintain our student centred focus and to ensure the continuing financial sustainability of our institution.

High quality is central to all that we do

Our commitment to maintaining high quality undergraduate and graduate academic programmes is key to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mission to build a better society. High quality instruction and teaching are essential to this commitment. Research and creative activity are also key to our mission and their vitality and vibrancy serve as a differentiating feature of our institution and a central part of our culture as a comprehensive academic and research institution. High quality facilities and services support our mission and best serve our students, staff, and academic staff.

Access to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is a foundational value

As a Comprehensive Academic and Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, dedicated to liberal education, that was born out of the needs and aspirations of our local communities we are committed to providing student access to our high quality academic programs throughout the province without creating unnecessary financial barriers. Community engagement with our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and community use of our facilities play a role in defining us as a public institution.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge draft letter of expectation

trevor.kenney — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:44:06 +0000

Late on Friday, Mar. 22, I received the draft of the anticipated Letter of Expectation from the Ministry of Enterprise and Advanced Education (EAE). We had previously been informed that this draft letter was not for public distribution. But, having reviewed its content and discussed the matter further with EAE, I have made the decision to share it with our community.

The letter outlines expectations of the province's publicly-funded post-secondary institutions, including the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The draft letter includes many considerations for our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in regard to programs, learners, collaboration, governance and research. Some of these considerations – like learner pathways - were introduced at a meeting of the Campus Alberta Strategic Directions Committee on Jan. 15, 2013. I was in attendance at that meeting, along with the other presidents of Alberta post-secondary institutions. There were not a lot of details provided then and as you will note in the letter, there still are few details available that would enable us to respond with clarity and certainty.

The letter is in a draft form and I am hopeful that the Minister and EAE officials will engage in the dialogue, as they have publicly indicated they would, with Alberta post-secondary institutions. There are points in the letter that align with the role the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge already plays in the province and reflects many processes and commitments the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ currently performs.

There are however many additional points that are very concerning and require a great deal more detail, understanding and discussion. On Apr. 11, the presidents of Alberta's post-secondary institutions have been invited to a meeting with government officials to discuss the draft letters and the future directions for Campus Alberta.

To view the draft letter and to provide comments to help inform the response of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to it, I would encourage you to do so at http://www.uleth.ca/budget-finance/draft-letter. Please provide your feedback prior to Tuesday, Apr. 2 so that ideas that emerge may be incorporated into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's response. Our response will be further informed by the governance bodies of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the General Faculties Council and the Board of Governors.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

UNews - President and Vice-Chancellor

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors passes balanced 2014/2015 budget

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