CAUT Council has approved a policy on performance indicators. The new policy follows at least two years of discussion, drafting and revisions. Dr. Bill Bruneau, president of CAUT, was the chief author of the policy.

The CAUT policy, approved at the November Council meeting, supports only those indicators that have been negotiated by senates (or equivalent bodies) and faculty associations, where such PIs (a) are inexpensive, (b) strengthen the autonomy of the institution, (c) can be demonstrated to increase accessibility to higher education, (d) encourage equitable participation by all individuals and groups in the life of the university or college, and (e) show how far the university's financial means are sufficient to achieve its mission.

After its definition of PIs, the preamble notes that statistical descriptions of universities have been popular for a long time in order to provide information to the public. Unfortunately, statistical analysis in the form of PI's are more and more now serving as a pretext to disguise governmental cuts and to increase political interference.

The policy emphasizes that the mission of a university or college is linked to the history, society and economy of a region or city. Because of this variety, no national or provincial statistical indicators can show whether a particular institution is operating effectively according to its mission statement. Rather, system-wide PIs may serve as a smoke-screen for attacks on academic freedom and autonomy.

Council also received a tactical document on what to do if PIs are imposed.