This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING DATED the 1st day of July , 2005.

BETWEEN:

BRANDON UNIVERSITY
FIRST NATIONS UNIVERSITY OF CANADA
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG

WHEREAS:

1. The Presidents of Brandon University, First Nations University of Canada, The University of Manitoba, The University of Regina, The University of Saskatchewan, and The University of Winnipeg, for the purpose of furthering their mutual academic and educational interests hereby affirm their intent to promote such interests as will be of mutual benefit for their respective institutions through this Memorandum of Understanding.
   
   
2. The six universities listed above (the parties) recognize the importance of regular academic review, and
   
   
3. the parties note a growing interest, at the provincial and national level, in Quality Assurance measures applied to higher education, and
   
   
4. it is the view of the parties that academic program review and Quality Assurance measures are best conducted and administered within an academic and collegial framework, and in a manner consistent with the principles and practices of university self-governance, and
   
   
5. the parties regard the universities of the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan as bound by shared concerns and conditions of operation into a unique kinship, who are able to act collaboratively to the mutual benefit of all parties.

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. The parties agree to establish a Manitoba-Saskatchewan Universities Program Review Audit Council, (the Council) consisting of the Vice-Presidents Academic of the six universities, or their delegates, the purpose of which will be to monitor the frequency, quality, consequences and efficacy of academic program reviews at our institutions, to serve as a source of input and advice for the member institutions, and to disseminate the most current and informed thinking about, and best practices in, program review.
   
   
2. The Council will be established as a pilot project of the signatory universities, this agreement providing the basis for further development and refinement of the Council, its mandate and practices.
   
   
3. The Chair of the Council will rotate alphabetically among the signatory Universities, on an annual basis.
   
   
4. The current agreement will expire on 30 June 2011.
   
   
5. This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended at any time by agreement of all parties hereto. Such amendment will be evidenced by the written agreement of the parties.
   
   
6. This Memorandum of Understanding may be terminated at any time by any party provided that notice of termination is provided by the notifying party to the other parties within thirty (30) days of the date on which the termination is intended to become effective. Any termination shall not have any effect on an arrangement currently in place at the time the notice is provided.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed the Memorandum of Understanding as of the date first written above.