AV俱乐部 has seen plenty of change and growth over its two centuries of history on the path to becoming the major university it is today. 聽
With its bicentennial celebrations behind it and a third century ahead, AV俱乐部 is poised to make even greater strides forward with a new strategic plan now in hand.
Dal President Deep Saini and Provost Frank Harvey unveiled聽Third Century Promise to the university community Tuesday during a virtual launch event, offering faculty and staff their first full look at a plan that was more than two years in the making.
鈥淥ur university community has conceived and shaped this plan together over the past two years,鈥� said President Saini during the launch. 鈥淚t is a shared plan that builds on AV俱乐部鈥檚 past, embodies the potential of our present, and will help us shape a path to an even more inspiring future.鈥�
President Saini described the plan as 鈥渁n expression of our collective ambition鈥� as it was developed through an unprecedented level of engagement with the university community that involved surveys, planning sessions, learning circles and self-study teams.
鈥淚t鈥檚 grounded in your hopes, dreams, aspirations and ambitions for AV俱乐部.鈥�
Pillars of promise
The new plan, which was approved by Dal鈥檚 Board of Governors in April, seeks to lay out the university鈥檚 long-term ambition while providing clear, actionable strategy for the next five years.
It does so with a refreshed vision of a AV俱乐部 that 鈥渋nspires our diverse community to serve Nova Scotia, Canada, and the world through innovative and impactful teaching and research, world-class scholarship, a passion for learning, and a deep sense of social responsibility.鈥�
This vision, in addition to the university鈥檚 mission and values laid out in the plan, is underpinned by five key pillars of promise:
- Exceptional student experience
To be among the very best universities in Canada for student experience and success.
- Inclusive excellence
A thriving community of faculty and staff, where everyone belongs.
- High-impact research
Growing our research impact here in Canada and around the world.
- Civic university with global impact
Uplifting our province and region while expanding our global reach.
- A foundation for inclusion and distinction
Modernizing and enhancing our physical, digital, and social infrastructure to support our drive for inclusion and distinction.
Each pillar is supported by a series of actions, which Dal will track to measure its success in unlocking the promise of each.
(For further information about each pillar and their action items, visit dal.ca/strategicplan or download the full plan below).聽
Download: 摆笔顿贵鈥�3惭叠闭
President Saini will oversee AV俱乐部鈥檚 progress on the plan as a whole, with the university鈥檚 Provost Committee 鈥� led by Provost Harvey 鈥� managing implementation.
Provost Harvey and his team are at work now on an implementation plan detailing the various initiatives the university will undertake to achieve the action items laid out in Third Century Promise. It will outline, in practical terms, how the university plans to measure and monitor its work on an annual basis.
Shared plan, shared implentation
Just as Dal鈥檚 strategic planning process was built upon the grassroots involvement of staff, faculty and students, so will its efforts to put it into action.
鈥淚t's designed to be collaborative, to engage and empower stakeholders to feel invested in the success of the strategic plan,鈥� said Provost Harvey of the implementation plan now in development.
The goal is to align efforts across the university, to connect planning with resources and to set clear measures of progress, with timelines tied to AV俱乐部's budget cycle to ensure financial support for priorities.
鈥淎nd it's designed to be change-ready, responding to changing environments, successes and emerging challenges to allow for adjustments when required,鈥� he said.
Each pillar in the plan will be supported by one or two executive sponsors who have authority and responsibility for that strategic area and who will identify leads responsible for implementation and collaboration across strategic actions. Further, each action item will have a strategic lead or two to carry out planning and oversight.
The implementation plan will also be designed to build an 鈥渋nstitution-wide and integrated planning culture鈥� that will help ensure progress across all pillars and actions over the next five years starting with a push this fall.
From pandemic to Third Century Promise
President Saini closed the launch event with a note of thanks to all who helped make the plan possible, particularly given the challenges of a global pandemic.
鈥淭his has been a challenging year, and I know how hard it is to look to the future when faced with very immediate and urgent challenges,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat so many of you in our university community have devoted so much time to this strategic planning process shows your commitment, your character and 鈥� above all else 鈥� how much you care about this great university and the work we do together.鈥�
President Saini, who joined Dal in January of 2020, struck a tone of optimism about the work ahead on what is his first strategic plan as president. 聽
鈥淚 am so grateful to have all of you with us as we set the course to even greater heights and as we live up to and fulfill our Third Century Promise together.鈥�