New vice-president research announced
Dr. Karen Chad was recently appointed University of Saskatchewan’s vice-president research for a five-year term.

Chad has been the acting vice-president research since December 2008 and has been actively promoting research since that appointment, organizing several programs and policies with research promotion in mind.

A faculty member in the College of Kinesiology, Chad holds several grants for research looking into obesity and related issues. She holds a PhD from the University of Queensland in Australia.

Over the years Chad has amassed several awards and honours such as the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in 2006 and a 2004 International Award for “Innovation in Research.”

Forecast calls for more money
The 2010-11 operations forecast, approved this month by the board of governors, indicates the University of Saskatchewan will seek a 5.2 per cent increase to its annual operating grant. This would represent an additional $13.2 million for the year from the provincial government. The U of S will also seek a $10 million increase to its annual capital allowance.

The university predicts its operations will cost $380.6 million next year. Revenue from tuition is expected to cover about 22 per cent of those operating costs. The university plans to increase tuition by 4.5 per cent across all colleges in 2010-2011, which would bring in another $3.6 million.

California sees drastic tuition hike
University students in California will see a 32 per cent tuition increase in the coming years.

The University of California is facing a funding shortage of $505 million in the upcoming year, due in large part to California’s particularly painful financial crisis. In an effort to raise much-needed funds and to stave off even more service cuts, average undergraduate tuition will rise to approximately $8,000 in January 2010. It will increase again in September 2010, to just over $10,000.

However, UC officials assured students whose families earn less than $70,000 and those who are eligible for financial aid that their tuition will be covered.

Several hundred protesters have been taken into custody to date all across California, where students have taken to occupying administration and other campus buildings.