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By Nigel Maxwell

Leadership

New Principal of Prince Albert USask campus focused on opportunities

Sep 17, 2024 | 3:49 PM

The first-ever Principal of the University of Saskatchewan Prince Albert campus says he is focused on creating opportunities for students and growing the profile of the school.

Professor Jay Wilson has been on the job for just over a month and was appointed. In addition to providing academic leadership, he’s also responsible for looking after over 400 students. Speaking with paNOW, Wilson noted how in a previous life, he was responsible for the Prince Albert campus as part of his Portfolio.

“But when the opportunity came to make it my main focus, I jumped at it. I put my name forward and it’s just been wonderful. The people who work there are amazing,” he said.

This year marks Wilson’s 30th working at the University of Saskatchewan and has been a professor in the College of Education, as well as a department head and the vice-Provost. He’s also spent a lot of time in the Prince Albert and Lakeland area. Commenting on the uniqueness of the Prince Albert campus, Wilson said his goal is to create an environment that is warm, welcoming, and culturally aware.

“Also, we want to do our best to support the Indigenous students that make up a big population percentage of the population in Prince Albert in the north. We want them to feel like this is the place they will want to come to do post-secondary. It may be a little bit less of a shock than going to Saskatoon”

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Established in 2020 and following many years of presence in the city, the Prince Albert campus was an essential step to demonstrating the university’s commitment to supporting Indigenous and northern education and to better serving regional and remote locations. Going forward, Wilson’s goals include raising the school’s profile and increasing the opportunities for students to have access to post-secondary education. He, however, also acknowledged there has been a lot of good work already done.

“So I want to build on that and continue to grow the programs. So I’ve been hassling you know, Deans and directors of schools to say, hey, why don’t we have this program? Hey, why can’t we add another year instead of just having the first year? So those kinds of opportunities will be a part of the growth that happens at that campus,” he explained.

When asked what he can do to help students coming from northern and remote locations, Wilson noted a need for the university to help the students do their best, whether that’s food security, housing security, or providing them with scholarships so that they can manage their finances.

“We want them to feel like this is the place they will want to come to do post-secondary. It may be a little bit less of a shock than going to Saskatoon.”

Much has been said in the past months about the new hospital as well as the new development in the Yard district. Wilson explained both fit in well with the university, citing for example the nursing program and the need for staff at the new hospital.

“It’s gonna be a great place for people who are from Prince Albert, who want to stay in the local environment and work,” he said, adding students who are enrolled in the Edwards School of Business can find work and training at the new Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

“It gives our students a place to end when they finish their program, rather than finishing their program and moving away.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell