In a message sent to all UWindsor staff and faculty today, president Alan Wildeman announced the establishment of a Research Stimulus Fund to create opportunities for student engagement and attract tri-council and other support.
The 2013/14 budget will make provision for the fund under the purview of the Vice-President, Research. The budget process will determine its value each year. Details, including the allocation criteria, will come through the faculties.
In addition, the four-year tuition framework announced by the provincial government March 28 will present an immediate fiscal challenge, Dr. Wildeman wrote. Lower increases in tuition are good news for students, he said, but will necessitate new levels of cost restraints to bring the University’s budget into balance.
In closing, he described the launch of a process to engage staff in discussions about improving services.
“We can all make a difference in the achievement of our strategic plan and in ensuring that all we do provides value to those we serve,” Wildeman wrote. “Priority will be given to reviewing processes that directly impact the student experience.”
The Office of the Vice-President, Planning and Administration, will commence the initiative, entitled “Let’s Talk about the Future,” in the coming weeks.