‘I’ve enjoyed being a part of the Senate’

University of Saskatchewan (USask) alumni can give back to their alma mater by serving on the Senate, the governing body known as the “public voice” of USask that provides graduates, key stakeholders, and the larger community with a voice in university affairs. Comprised of 118 members, the Senate is part of USask’s tricameral governance structure, along with the Board of Governors and University Council.

USask graduate Dr. Barb Gustafson (BEd’83, BA’87, MBA’01, CACE’06, PhD’15) was elected as the senator for District 11 (Prince Albert and East) in 1999-2001, and then again in 2019. Her current term expires on June 30, 2025.

Gustafson first graduated from USask in 1983 with a Bachelor of Education degree from the College of Education, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the College of Arts and Science in 1987. She then embarked on a career in journalism, working her way from reporter to weekly editor to managing editor to publisher at the Prince Albert Daily Herald over a period of 15 years. During that time, she returned to her studies at USask and earned a Master of Business Administration degree at the Edwards School of Business in 2001.

After leaving the newspaper, Gustafson began teaching at SIAST—now Saskatchewan Polytechnic—in Prince Albert, Sask. In 2015, she earned her PhD in educational administration at USask. Throughout her 20 years with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, she taught for nine years and then served in various administrative roles. In June 2023, she retired as special advisor to the provost.

The Green&White asked Gustafson about her time as a USask senator and what the senate means to her.

I was encouraged by people from the Prince Albert area, especially the members of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) club, of which I am a longtime member. I had benefited from USask programming in Prince Albert as I completed my first two degrees and wanted to be a part of ensuring others would also have that opportunity, as well as personally staying in touch with what was going on at the university.

I’ve enjoyed being a part of the Senate, particularly (in relation to) new ventures and initiatives. On occasion, I have been able to answer questions from people in the district regarding USask decisions or guide them to the right contact for information. The pandemic measures of remote meetings were somewhat difficult but have made recent in-person meetings very enjoyable by contrast. Most recently, I had the chance to attend Convocation as a member of the chancellor’s platform party and to see my niece graduate with her degree in education, which was a great experience. 

My best experiences were as a graduate student. I chose USask with in-person instruction, despite the many miles of travelling from Prince Albert to Saskatoon for weekly classes, rather than remote learning. I had an intellectually challenging and positive experience and, most importantly, friendships from that time continue on today.

I am in the first generation of my family to graduate with a degree, and I have seen many students during my time working in post-secondary education in a similar situation. I was fortunate to receive some scholarships and grants along the way, and I know what a difference they can make in both financial and psychological terms. Because of this experience, I’m involved with several local scholarship committees, and I donate to help fund student supports. It’s a way to pay it forward. 

While the university does a fine job of getting information out to alumni and the public in general, it is a very complex organization. Senators can offer a personal perspective in hearing from the district or organization they represent and bring that to the Senate and, likewise, carry information back. I think there is much more the Senate could do to engage with their constituents; however, in a volunteer capacity, there is only so much time available. Personally, I have especially enjoyed being a part of events in Prince Albert when the chancellor and/or president have visited and seeing the strong support from alumni members who come out to hear about the university.

Serving on the Senate is a way to give back to your alma mater beyond the financial. It is also an enjoyable way to stay in touch and learn more about the university. Involvement in the Senate can be fairly simple, attending two meetings a year, or more involved, with committee work. The USask staff who support the Senate are very helpful and great to work with, and Chancellor Grit McCreath (BEd’91) is very welcoming.

As someone who is now retired from the post-secondary sector, being on the Senate keeps me involved and interested in this important work. I think it’s important to have people of various demographic groups involved, to ensure a well-rounded perspective, and would encourage people to put their names forward.