TransformUS, the university’s new cost cutting plan, goes into effect today.

Budget cuts are on the way for the University of Saskatchewan, according to a letter from the university president sent to all students, faculty and staff today.

A new cost-cutting plan called TransformUS will address the “significant financial challenge” faced by the university between now and 2016.

The plan, which President Ilene Busch-Vishniac put into action with the release of the letter, is designed to save $20 to 25 million.

“Let me be clear from the outset: our primary motivation in introducing this new process is cost-cutting,” Busch-Vishniac wrote. “This means that some valuable academic and support programs and administrative services will be lost through this initiative in order to ensure the university as a whole has the resources it needs to thrive and grow.”

TransformUS will consist of two separate task forces: one to assess the financial viability of academic programs, including classes and course programs, and another to examine administrative services and academic support programs, including academic advisors and other department support staff.

Each task force will be comprised of existing faculty members, university administrators and staff.

Students will not have a say in the member selection or decisions made by either task force, though the president noted that “both task forces will be charged with devising appropriate and effective mechanisms for student input and participation in the prioritization process.”

TransformUS will classify existing and forthcoming academic programs and administrative services into five categories based on their budgetary priority. These categories may include “‘maintain with enhanced resources,’ ‘maintain with existing resources,’ ‘maintain with reduced resources,’ ‘transform with either increased or reduced resources’ or ‘eliminate, merge or close.’”

The task forces will submit their final prioritization reports on Nov. 30, 2013. The university will then determine which programs will be eliminated and which will see increased or adjusted funding.

The president warned that because of the plan’s magnitude, some existing programs and initiatives will be scaled back to avoid excessive spending — though she didn’t specify as to which programs could be affected.

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