The office of President and Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive office of the University. The President has overall responsibility for the direction and supervision of the academic work of the university and its business affairs, and any other duties assigned by the Board of Governors (University Act, s.81). Between 1909 and 1949 the presidents had very broad powers; since that time various limitations have been placed on them (Hayden, p.10). The President is appointed by, and is responsible to, the Board of Governors. Presidents currently are appointed to 5-year terms, with the possibility of renewal. The Presidents to date have been: Walter Charles Murray (1908-1937), James S. Thomson (1937-1949), Walter P. Thompson (1949-1959), John W.T. Spinks (1959-1974), Robert W. Begg (1974-1980), Leo F. Kristjanson (1980-1989), Blaine A. Holmlund [acting] (1989-1990), J.W. George Ivany (1990-1999), and R. Peter MacKinnon (1999-).

Operating from 1969 to 1975 and reporting to the Principal, the Student Liaison Office was created by the University Administration as a mechanism to monitor student activities and act as a liaison between the administration and the students.

In 1967, as part of the administrative reorganization precipitated by the implementation of the one university two campus concept, the Board of Governors created the position of Dean of Students. The Dean was to be responsible for student counselling, the Student Health Centre, and the operating philosophy of student residences. Problems in the area of student-University relations were to be referred to the Dean's office for study and recommendation. R.A. Rennie, who was Director of Counselling and Student Affairs from 1958-1967, served as the only Dean of Students from 1967 until his death in 1973. With the creation of the University of Regina in 1974, the position of Dean of Students was made redundant.

In early 1909 it was announced that the University of Saskatchewan would be situated in Saskatoon on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River and the first group of buildings were opened in 1912. The current 755 hectare site includes 147 hectares of campus, 30 hectares of research park, and a large University Farm and Experimental Plot. The University also owns under lease a 52 hectare site on Emma Lake used for summer session classes in Biology and Art. The University of Saskatchewan owns and operates three research farms used primarily by the Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. Charged with maintaining the building, grounds and physical plant was the Superintendent of Buildings, later the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, and from 1983 the Director (now Executive Director) of Physical Plant. In 1996 Physical Plant was renamed Division of Facilities Management. The following have served as Superintendent of Buildings: A.R. Grieg (1909-1937); W.E. Lovell (1937-1947); W.J. Robson (1947-1957); J.A. Wedgewood (1957-1969); A.D. Reed (1969- ).

Though the first recorded withdrawal from the University Library occurred in October 1909, nearly five decades passed before the Library had its own building. The early collection was housed either on the second floor of the College Building, later known as the Administration Building, or was scattered among a number of small departmental libraries. Plans for a new library building ended with the Depression; and a dramatically reduced acquisitions budget was offset by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation in 1933. In 1943 the University hired its first professional Librarian. A fire in the attic of the College Building in 1947 resulted in extensive water damage to the Library below. A combination of provincial grants and University fund raising financed the construction of the Murray Memorial Library, with space for the Provincial Archives, between 1954 and 1956. Over the next two decades the University Library System mirrored the expansion of the University in general and now includes a new main library building and branches in Education, Health Sciences, Law, Engineering, Geography/Physics, Thorvaldson, and Veterinary Medicine. The University Librarians have been: M.A. Morton, (1914-1940); J.M. Lothian, (1941-1943); T.R. Barcus, (1943-1945); D.C. Appelt, (1945-1979); N.A. Brown, (1979-1986); P.D. Wiens, (1986-1992); F.S. Winter [acting], (1992-1994); F.S. Winter, (1994- ).

The Division of Audio Visual Services came into existence in 1966 following a Council resolution of April 1965. The objective was to develop a centralized audio visual service to support teaching, research and extension. With the growing use of audio visual technology in education the Division has expanded both in size and the diversity of services offered. The Division provided a film and videotape library, equipment services, photographic services, multi-media and sound recording, and a wide array of television services. Starting in the 1980s, the Division was been heavily involved in the use of satellite communication for distance education. The Division was subsequently renamed the Division of Media and Technology, and later Educational Media Access and Production, reflecting an expanding role with new technologies. Following a reorganization ca. 2015, Media Production became part of the Vice-Provost Teaching and Learning portfolio, with some other functions assumed by Information Communications and Technology. The following have served as director of the Division (revised 1994): P.R. Greenough (1967-1972); G.A. Farkas - acting - (1972-1974); G.A. Farkas (1974-1985); D. Fortosky (1985- ).

Since its establishment in 1908 the College of Arts and Science has performed a dual function: it has prepared students for entry into one of the professional colleges; and it has provided students with an opportunity to become familiar with some field of language and literature, natural science, social science, or fine arts. The first classes, conducted by five professors in the fall of 1909, were presented to some 70 students in borrowed quarters in the Drinkle Block at 2nd Avenue and 21st Street. (Classes were not offered in the sciences owing to the absence of suitable facilities or equipment). The University moved to Victoria Elementary School in 1910, to Nutana Collegiate Institute in 1911, and finally to the present campus in 1912. In May 1912 seven students admitted with advanced standing (from other universities) were awarded degrees at the first graduation ceremony, held at Nutana Collegiate. On 29 April 1913, the first graduating class of twenty students received BA degrees.

With the opening of its Murray Point Summer School of Art at Emma Lake in 1936, the University of Saskatchewan became the first Canadian University to establish an outdoor art school. The classes were designed to be equivalent to winter session courses with an emphasis on the needs of students from small towns, the majority of whom were teachers. In 1955 the Regina Campus Art Department decided to establish a two-week professional artists' workshop. Many acclaimed painters, sculptors, and art critics, especially from New York, made the trip north to Emma Lake. With the creation of the University of Regina in 1974, the University of Saskatchewan took sole administrative responsibility for the Murray Point School. In 1989 the Emma Lake Art School was renamed the Kenderdine Campus. A. "Gus" Kenderdine was director of the school from 1936 to 1947.

The Department of Mathematics was one of the original four departments of the University. From the beginning the department was charged with the responsibility of teaching classes in mathematics to students in all colleges of the University. This is still true, with the exception of a few specialized classes in areas such as statistics and applications of differential equations taught by other departments. The department teaches classes in pure and applied mathematics and statistics. The following have served as head of the department: G.H. Ling (1909-1938); R.D. James (1940-1943); W.H. Watson (1944-1946); H.H. Ferns (1946-1962); A.P. Guinand (1962-1964); C.E. Miller (1964-1970); G.H.M. Thomas (1970-1978); B.S. Lalli (1978-1979); R. Servranckx (1980-1982); M.A. Marshall (1982-1983); R. Manohar (1983-1988); R.V. Moody (1988-1990); T.R. Martin (1990- ).