Dare to Deliver 2011-2015The Academic Plan for the University of Alberta

VisionDare to Discover

Academic PlanDare to DeliverDare to Deliver 2011-2015 

Cornerstone alignment:Talented PeopleLearning, Discovery and CitizenshipConnecting CommunitiesTransformational Organization and Support

NB: New UofA Logo and Identity

Development of the new Academic Plan

2009: preliminary phaseProvost and VP(R) teamsSenior Administration Retreat 2009

2009/10: consultation phase

GFC committees, Senate, APO SummitSU, GSA, COSA, AlumniDeans, Chairs, URPC, AASUA, NASA

Spring & Summer 2010: writing draft phaseProvost Team develop Resource documentsAcademic Team write first draftVetted at Senior Admin Retreat 2010Revised draft sent to Campus Community

Fall 2010: response to draft phaseFaculty Councils, SU, GSA, COSA, AlumniGFC committees, Deans, Chairs, BLDC

January –March, 2011: approval routeAs noted on GFC Outline of the Issue

• Aboriginal

• Framework for the Great Research Library

• Human Health Initiative

• International

• IT Campus of the Future: Mobile, connected community

• Northern Strategy

• Student Engagement

• Integrating Sustainability into the Academic Experience

• Submissions from the SU and GSA

Academic Plan Resource Documents

Marc Arnal Betsy Boone

George Pavlich Jillian Buriak

Frank Robinson James Eastham

Leah Trueblood Sarah Forgie

Florence Glanfield

Carol Cass Brenda Leskiw

Jason Cobb Danielle Peers

André Plourde Christopher Skappak

Colleen Skidmore Cynthia Strawson-Fawcett

Rory Tighe

George Thomlison

Academic Plan Writing Team & Resource Group

• Dare to Discover continues

• Dare to Deliver is the response of the two academic Vice-Presidents to Dare to Discover• Fiscal restraint limits our ability to invest new funds on the margin• Focus is on the quality of the learning environment within the University• Commission members of the academy to

- Write the draft Academic Plan- React, help edit, the Academic Plan

Context

Highlights of the New Academic Plan

Talented People

“The essence of the academy is its people...” Welcome Centre, Leadership & Professional Development

Learning, Discovery & Citizenship

“...learning, discovery and citizenship encompass our essential work.”Undergrad Research, Attributes and Competencies, Research Constellations, Big Questions

Connecting Communities

Connected in land/history to aboriginal peoples, in place to Alberta/Canada, in research to the world.

Transformational Organization & Support

CCIS, Edmonton Clinic-Health AcademyHelmholtz-Alberta initiative, ‘umbrella research initiatives’IT improvements, Sustainable campus, Library of Record

What are we doing?

What are near term expected results?

“The Year of IT”

• Learning Management: Moodle• E-mail: UofA Google• Wireless upgrade• Develop mobile apps• Improved Teaching Environment: upgrading

remaining 117 centrally-scheduled classrooms• Security/Encryption: all mobile devices with

sensitive/confidential UofA material• Rebuilding the Digital Environment

· All above being done with no new money.

Rebuilding the Digital Environment 

In support of Dare to Discover,

A system-wide approach to the attraction, retention and development of highly qualified personnel, the UofA kicks off a 3-year initiative in Fiscal 2011 to build, enhance and advance our digital learning environment.

Academic Policy and Process Review Task Force (APPR TF)

Example projects:

• International transfer credit• Other transfer credit issues:- Identifying barriers to transfer students coming

to the UofA- Streamlining internal transfer credit processes

• Results of the RO’s admissions process review

Assessment and Grading [aka Professor Luth’s project]

• Provost Fall 2009: “do we grade on the curve?”• CLE member: “should we grade on the curve?”• Environmental scan (spring 2010) says

“sometimes we do...”• Moving policy to UAPPOL – take opportunity to

discuss why we assess and define principles of fair assessment – form basis of renewed policy.

• Group now work on draft policy for circulation and consultation.

Student Life

• Co-curricular experiences for globalization• Sustainability• Additional Student Counsellors• Student Spaces• Physical Activity & Wellness Centre (PAWC)

Plans to expand undergraduate research activitiesto increase opportunities for students to get first hand experience of research

- Undergraduate Research Initiative- Model of Roger S Smith Undergraduate

Research Awards

Big Projects/Constellations:

- Energy

- Infectious Diseases

- Food

- Water

- Arts Scholar in Residence at NINT

Current and Emerging Research Initiatives