To date, the number of students accepted into the following USask programs has been increased with funding from the Government of Saskatchewan’s HHR Action Plan:

• Nursing
• Physical Therapy
• Clinical Psychology
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate (residency) Medical Education

The Government is also investing in the creation of the following training programs at USask:

• Speech Language Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physician Assistant Studies

All of these HHR expansions, with the exception of Clinical Psychology (a College of Arts and Science program), involve teaching activity in the Health Sciences Building. There are also other program expansions underway and being considered in conjunction with annual health science academic planning processes. For example, the College of Dentistry has expanded its program offerings and is renovating its teaching clinic.

Click the links below to learn more about new and expanding health science programs at the University of Saskatchewan.

• Strong support for post-secondary education includes nursing seat expansion
• Physical therapy and clinical psychology seats added at USask
• USask College of Medicine set to expand medical school seats
• $8.1 million for first of their kind SLP and OT training programs in Saskatchewan
• Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program

What does “Making the most of our Health Sciences Building” mean?

In conjunction with provincial healthcare needs identified through the Government of Saskatchewan’s Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan, USask is increasing enrollment to expand the number of trained practitioners in various health science disciplines. Optimizing existing space is the first step in facilitating any increase in student numbers while ensuring seamless integration with existing programs.

Opportunities to enhance the way space is used in the Health Sciences Building have been identified through a space optimization study of the facility co-funded by the University of Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Advanced Education.

What changes will result from Making the most of our Health Sciences Building?

The space optimization study of the Health Sciences Building identified opportunities to enhance the way some teaching, research, and support spaces can be utilized. For example, there are spaces within the B-Wing of the Health Sciences Building that have not been renovated since original construction (circa 1970) which would have significantly improved functionality after renovation. As the introduction of new programs provides funding for these renovations through the provincial government’s Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan, the result will be improved renovated space for all affected occupants.

Who will be directly affected by space optimization work in the Health Sciences Building?

Updates will be communicated as they are made available by the USask project team managing the contracted tradespeople involved with this project. Those directly impacted by space optimization activity in the Health Sciences Building will be notified through their college, school, or unit as details are confirmed.

Wherever possible, efforts will be made to align USask’s allocation of workspace with practices across the Canadian higher education sector, especially given the recent emergence of flexible work arrangements.

What types of work will be conducted as part of this optimization project?

USask’s Institutional Space Management Framework was developed to support the university in making strategic space planning and allocation decisions. This framework includes principles and identifiable goals that support the most efficient use of resources and will be relied upon to inform the types of work required to optimize spaces and accommodate new and expanding health science programs in the Health Sciences Building.

Some spaces in the Health Sciences Building require remediation and refurbishment as they have not been upgraded since they were originally constructed in the 1970s and others require customized renovation to accommodate new or expanding academic programming and research. Deferred maintenance requirements such as hazardous material remediation will also be considered as renovations are planned and undertaken.

In addition to addressing accessibility, sustainability, and/or technology considerations, there are also select opportunities throughout the building to improve synergies by locating research spaces near other research spaces to enhance collaboration; placing student spaces in areas that are easily accessible to students; and making public-facing spaces easier to locate by members of the public. In some cases, relocations of people, equipment, and other resources will be required to maximize space efficiency or to temporarily vacate areas in need of upgrade.

What will the immediate impacts be for people working in the Health Sciences Building?

One of the primary criteria of the Making the most of our Health Sciences Building project includes limiting the breadth of renovation and refurbishment activities to minimize work disruptions as much as possible. Those directly affected will be contacted by the project team, their people leader, or through college/school communication channels as details become available.

In the meantime, to avoid potential future conflict with changes made to the way select spaces are used in the Health Sciences Building, USask faculty and staff are advised to check-in with their college/school leadership in cases where department-initiated renovations and/or space changes in the Health Sciences Building are being considered or proposed. This will help ensure that scarce resources are not utilized for short-term space changes which may need to be revisited once subsequent phases of this project are determined and communicated.

As someone working in the Health Sciences Building, what can I do to minimize impacts on my work?

As an employee, please keep your people leader updated on your work arrangements and workspace needs.

As a people leader, please communicate your employees’ work arrangements and workspace needs regularly to your college/school leadership.

As a college/school leader, please keep the people you identified as your unit’s representative for the space study updated as these arrangements and needs evolve.