University of Manitoba to update its Strategic Planning Framework

Launched by the University of Manitoba five years ago, the Strategic Planning Framework (SPF) has been the guiding vision for many of the university’s success stories.

The document identified not only our mission, vision and values, but also laid out four institutional priorities – academic enhancement, outstanding student experience, Indigenous achievement, and being an outstanding employer – which has allowed the university to collectively focus its efforts and achieve its larger goals.

But as university president Dr. David Barnard points out, the time has come to build on those accomplishments.

“It is time to develop an updated plan to take us through the next five years; one that will accurately reflect how far we’ve come, and where we’re headed,” says Dr. Barnard. “This updated framework will not abandon what has worked in the recent past, but should build on our accomplishments and be innovative in guiding our future efforts.”

A broad consultation with the internal community is crucial to the process of renewing the framework. Dr. Joanne Keselman, Vice-President (Academic) and Provost, will lead this process, which has begun with the formation of the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC). This committee will be responsible for developing, through a consultative process, an updated plan for consideration by the University of Manitoba’s Senate and Board of Governors.

“This consultative process will establish a framework upon which we will continue to build on our university’s success,” said Dr. Barnard. “It will guide our collective direction and inform our individual actions. It will aim to position us front and centre among the very best universities in Canada, and in our world.”

The opportunities for the university community to contribute to the process will be announced in the coming weeks. Updates on the progress of the committee will be provided on our website as well as here at UM Today, as we establish a new Strategic Planning Framework for 2014-2019.

Strategic Planning Committee

• Chair – Joanne Keselman, Vice-President (Academic) and Provost
• Vice-Chair – Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International)

        From the Board of Governors (BOG)

• Patricia Bovey, BOG Chair
• Michael Robertson, BOG Vice-Chair
• Monika Wetzel, GSA President

        From Senate

• John Anderson, Professor and Head, Computer Science, Faculty of Science
• Jonathan Beddoes, Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Dean, Faculty of Engineering
• Joanne Embree, Professor, Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine
• Jeffery Taylor, Professor, History and Dean, Faculty of Arts
• Al Turnbull, UMSU President

        From Faculty at Large

• Annemieke Farenhorst, Professor of Soil Science, Faculty Agricultural and Food Sciences
• Gordon Fitzell, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music
• Sandy Hershcovis, Associate Professor and Head, Business Administration, I.H. Asper School of Business
• Feiyue Wang, Professor, Environment and Geography, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources
• David Watt, Associate Professor, English, Film and Theatre, Faculty of Arts
• Roberta Woodgate, Professor, Faculty of Nursing

        From Support Staff

• Brendan Hughes, Executive Director, Student Engagement
• Deborah Young, Executive Lead, Indigenous Achievement
• Sam Vagianos, Business Manager, Dentistry

        Ex Officio (non-voting)

• John Kearsey, Vice-President (External)
• Paul Kochan, Vice-President (Administration)

        Resource (non-voting)

• Erik Athavale, Associate Director (Client Relations), Marketing Communications Office
• Kerry McQuarrie Smith, Director, Office of the President
• Thelma Lussier, Executive Director, Office of Institutional Analysis

        Assistant to the Committee

• Kathleen Legris, Academic Analyst, Provost’s Office