A special meeting of the general academic assembly has been called for Sept. 6 to revisit university council’s hotly-debated decision to approve sweeping changes to the College of Medicine.

University of Saskatchewan President Ilene Busch-Vishniac called the meeting after her office received 50 requests from individual academics at the university, which triggered a clause in the university’s legislation that has not been used since being enacted in 1995.

“This is the first time there has been a special meeting,” U of S secretary Lea Pennock said. “The [legislation has] never been invoked before.”

Under section 67 of the University of Saskatchewan Act, 1995, a meeting of the academic assembly must be called when 50 of its members appeal — in writing — a decision made by council. The assembly is made up of more than 1000 full-time faculty members from across campus, and at least 150 members must be present at the meeting to vote, Pennock said.

Busch-Vishniac wrote in the announcement that the purpose of the meeting is to vote on whether or not to require council to “reconsider its motion of May 17, 2012 as it pertains to the establishment of three new divisions in the College of Medicine.”

Council approved a plan in May to revamp the college’s academic governance model, despite fiery opposition from faculty members. The plan, based on a concept paper designed by top administrators, is meant to improve methods of clinical instruction in the undergraduate program and to clarify roles and responsibilities of instruction within the college.

The plan was put forward after a team of inspectors visited the college and found 10 areas of weakness. In a letter sent to the dean of the college, accreditors wrote that if the non-compliance areas were not corrected promptly, the college would risk being placed on probation and “seriously compromise the ability of the faculty to deliver a quality medical education program.”

But critics of the plan, including many of the college’s department heads, argue they were not properly consulted with and that the new strategy is unmanageable. They say going forward will leave doctors overworked and drive away students, faculty and potential recruits.

At the special meeting, the assembly “will be able to hear people speaking on all sides of the issue,” Pennock said. A two-thirds majority vote is needed to force council to reconsider its decision.

Tom Wilson, who is chair of the medical college’s faculty association and a vocal critic of the plan, said he realizes the story is of interest to both students and faculty at the U of S, but refrained from providing a comment.

“As [the plan for the college] continues to evolve, I feel it would be premature for me to comment at this time,” he wrote in an email.

The special meeting’s call to order will take place at noon on Sept. 6 in Convocation Hall. The meeting will be open to both GAA members and observers, with members seated on the ground floor and observers seated in the balcony on the second floor.

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Photos: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf