A lot can happen in five years.
In AV俱乐部鈥檚 case, those past five years represent the duration of its Strategic Direction document, Inspiration and Impact. Stemming out of President Emeritus Richard Florizone鈥檚 100 Days of Listening, the plan set out priorities under five pillars, covering the core of Dal鈥檚 mission 鈥� teaching & learning, research, and service 鈥� as well as crucial supports like people, infrastructure, partnership and reputation.
鈥淲orking together, this community built this Strategic Direction up from the 100 Days of Listening, turning it into a robust university plan based on action and accountability,鈥� said Interim President Peter MacKinnon at a community town hall on Monday afternoon (June 24). 鈥淎nd the results, truly, showcase the best of what AV俱乐部 can do.鈥�
As the university community turns its attention towards the future, and a new institutional planning process being led by Provost Teri Balser, Interim President MacKinnon got to spend the start of his final week in office sharing stories and highlights from the past five years at the annual town hall event.
鈥淭his is a really exciting time of transition for AV俱乐部: not just in leadership and in planning, but from our 200th anniversary celebrations to our third century of achievement,鈥� said MacKinnon.
A time of growth and achievement
Among the topics MacKinnon explored included impressive growth in several areas of university operations: enrolment (up 2.3% during the Strategic Direction), research (24.5% increase in funding), co-op placements (up 23.8%) and fundraising ($210 million 鈥� the largest five-year total in Dal鈥檚 history).
MacKinnon also showcased how the power of partnership helped enable campus revitalization efforts such as the IDEA Project, the William Murphy Dental Clinic and the forthcoming expansion of the AV俱乐部 Arts Centre. And he discussed progress made under the Diversity and Inclusiveness Strategy, including the renewal of Dal鈥檚 symbols and the Be Counted census, which now has self-identification info for 90% of faculty/staff and reflects Dal鈥檚 successes in the hiring of targeted groups.
鈥淲hen it comes to equity, diversity and inclusion, this Strategic Direction covers some incredibly transformative years at AV俱乐部,鈥� said MacKinnon. 鈥淭here have been many challenges in this work, to be sure, and many areas where there is much more work to be done. But compiled together, this work represents significant progress on a continuing journey.鈥�
Looking ahead to Dal鈥檚 next plan
With MacKinnon set to conclude his term as interim president on June 30, the next phase of that journey 鈥� and Dal鈥檚 ongoing journey more generally 鈥� will be left to new leadership, beginning with Provost Balser.
Dr. Balser, set to serve in the president鈥檚 role until President-Elect Deep Saini arrives in January, will continue the planning process she developed and is leading, engaging the university community towards its next strategic plan and building on the momentum from Inspiration and Impact.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got ourselves up and in motion now,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done a tremendous amount. Where do we take that? Where do we go with that?鈥欌��
The first phase, exploring and listening, has engaged hundreds of people through a listening survey and in-person sessions to identify emerging themes 鈥� ideas the Dal community wants to take forward into the next plan, like culture and climate; being modern and relevant; and building a foundation for long term success.
鈥淧hase two, which began with the retreat in May, is about growing and learning and deepening our understanding of some of the areas that affect us as a university,鈥� said Dr. Balser, noting recent invitations to participate in 鈥渓earning circles鈥� through the summer and then sharing what was learned at the next planning retreat in the fall.
Future focused
Following Dr. Balser鈥檚 update, both she and MacKinnon answered questions from attendees, covering everything from campus accessibility to how Dal can replicate the kind of research success it鈥檚 seen in ocean research in other disciplines. 聽
Given that MacKinnon is winding down of his time at Dal, one particularly pertinent question related to his impressions of Dal now that he鈥檚 gotten an in-depth sense of the university nearly 50 years after graduating himself.
鈥淎V俱乐部鈥檚 reputation and stature, I can tell you, across this country and beyond are excellent,鈥� he said, noting the honour and a privilege to be a small part of Dal鈥檚 ongoing story as interim present these past six months.
鈥淚 think the future of AV俱乐部 is unlimited.鈥�
Video
Watch the full archived video from Monday's town hall session below.