As Chancellor, I observe that the Senate of the University of Calgary is doing many things right. Several of our current projects (e.g. Lecture of a Lifetime, Senate Service Award) are successful and well aligned with our mission. However, the time is right for Senate to develop a new strategic plan; to re-align and improve as our university adapts to new realities and a changing landscape of community relations.
For instance, in the coming years, Senate will have opportunities to engage with the new Community Engagement strategy, the University’s 50th Anniversary activities and Canada’s 150th Anniversary celebrations.
This strategic planning activity is being led by me and the Senate Executive Committee. Our Executive has already examined and revised our mission, vision and values.
In addition to the Executive Committee, I have sought the assistance of three Senators who possess particular strategic planning skills and experience – Mavis Clark, Gord Aker and Anwar Haq. The ‘three facilitators’ have graciously volunteered their time and expertise to perform a strategic analysis, i.e. to gather inputs from stakeholders and reflect on ideas to exploit opportunities and strengths and to minimize threats and weaknesses.
Mavis, Gord and Anwar are currently consulting with Senators and other key stakeholders for opinions on our future strategic directions. I met with them this morning in my office as part of this consultation. They asked me four questions as a means of soliciting my opinions:
- How do you envision the Senate of 2015 and beyond supporting the university’s mandate?
- In a world without restraint, what function would the Senate fulfill?
- Knowing that everything is subject to continuous improvement, what are some of the changes that could be made with respect to the Senate that would have the biggest impact?
- What do you see as the Return on Investment from Senate in terms of the time, talent and treasure invested in it?
I spent an hour with them answering these thoughtful questions. In our conversation, it struck me that the University of Calgary is a complex, living organism. It is an important element within the Calgary community (some call it an ecosystem) of interacting organizations and individuals. It is our role as Senators to be the connection between the university and all of the various and complex sectors (arts and culture; education; business; politics; sports; social purpose organizations) that make Calgary a truly wonderful city.
The new strategic plan for Senate will be in place by September. It will include sections on mission, quantified vision, values, a few strategic objectives for the next four years, and a few projects (i.e. tactics) that will help us accomplish our strategic objectives. It will be inspiring, relevant and succinct. Exciting stuff! Thank you to Mavis Clark, Gord Aker and Anwar Haq for their help.
