AV俱乐部

Last Thursday morning (June 23), members of the Dal community gathered to hear from President Deep Saini and other members of the senior leadership team about Dal鈥檚 progress towards the goals of its strategic plan, Third Century Promise.

And the significance of gathering together on campus for the event was not lost on anyone. 聽

鈥淚t is first time in three years 鈥斅燼nd the first time since my arrival at AV俱乐部 in 2020 鈥� that we鈥檝e been able to hold this event in-person,鈥� said President Saini, to applause from the many attendees gathered in Ondaatje Hall.

President Deep Saini

鈥淲e have been able to complete two full academic years under COVID鈥檚 shadow and, may I say, weight 鈥� which is a true testament to the dedication, commitment and creativity of our faculty, our staff and our students. And what we have learned through this experience about ourselves and about one another will be vital in shaping our path forward.鈥�

Plans and priorities

The event, which was livestreamed online for those not on campus, featured Dr. Saini and other members of the president鈥檚 executive team offering an overview of how AV俱乐部 is moving forward on the priorities of Third Century Promise, its strategic plan launched last June.

Watch:

鈥淚t鈥檚 about accelerating AV俱乐部鈥檚 ascent to a much higher level of achievement, inclusion, service, and excellence on the global stage,鈥� said President Saini, describing a planning framework that is, 鈥渋ntegrated sustainable, collaborative, aligned and anticipates changes we might need as we move forward.鈥�

The plan is built around five pillars:聽Exceptional Student Experience, Inclusive Excellence, High-Impact Research, A Civic University with Global Impact, and A Foundation for Inclusion and Distinction. At the event, members of Dal鈥檚 senior leadership team provided snapshots of what鈥檚 been accomplished under each pillar this past year, what鈥檚 underway and what鈥檚 to come.

Read the full report: Third Century Promise - Annual Progress Update, Year One Reporting (2021-22)

For example, Provost Frank Harvey discussed how Dal is growing scholarship and bursary support for students and actively promoting and engaging in the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being for Post-Secondary Students. He also highlighted Dal鈥檚 efforts to close employment equity gaps, with 72% of faculty searches and 58% of staff searches last year resulting in hiring an equity-deserving candidate.

Clockwise from upper right: Provost Frank Harvey, Assistant Vice-President Research Services Marlies Rise, Vice-President Finance and Administration Gitta Kulczycki and Vice-President Government and Global Relations Matt Hebb.

Vice-President Government and Global Relations Matt Hebb shared insight into Dal鈥檚 approach to strengthening its global partnerships and developing an impact charter to document Dal鈥檚 commitments as a civic university. Among other topics, Vice-President Finance and Administration Gitta Kulczycki discussed the considerable investment underway in Dal鈥檚 physical campuses, including $111 million in major projects and nearly $24 million in classroom and campus space renewal.

And Assistant Vice-President Research Services Marlies Rise 鈥斅爏peaking on behalf of Vice-President Research & Innovation Alice Aiken, who was unavailable to attend the event 鈥斅爏hared news that, for the first time, AV俱乐部鈥檚 total research funding surpassed $200 million last year.

鈥淭o put that in context, a 10.4 per cent research funding increase since last year brought us to $214 million, and research funding increased by 37% in the last five years,鈥� said Dr. Rise, numbers which include both AV俱乐部 and partners in Nova Scotia Health and the IWK Health Centre. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a true testament to the energy, creativity and talent of our wonderful researchers here at AV俱乐部.鈥�

A promising future

The morning鈥檚 presentations also featured short videos highlighting a prominent initiative under each of the five pillars. The videos profiled the new 鈥淭ruro Start鈥� program expanding academic programming on Dal鈥檚 Truro campus; the university鈥檚 new Accessibility Plan; the Transforming Climate Action research proposal; the Here We Code collaboration with Nova Scotia鈥檚 technology sector; and Dal鈥檚 Digital Strategy.

Afterwards, attendees in-person and online had the opportunity to ask questions of the leadership team. Topics discussed included efforts to improve the student experience after two tumultuous pandemic years; improving supports for faculty and staff with disabilities; and insights on some of the problems or challenges AV俱乐部 faces.

鈥楾he only way to achieve great things is by doing them together,鈥� said Dr. Saini, encouraging members of the Dal community to focus on opportunities and, while working through challenges, do their best to avoid being weighed down by them.

鈥�Third Century Promise is a shared plan, and it is an ambitious plan, but look at what we have been through together these past two years. Look at what our graduates 鈥斅爂raduates who walked across the Convocation stage earlier this month 鈥� have gone through, and how all of you worked so, so hard to get them there.

鈥淵ou did all of this together and, in exactly the same way, I am certain we will also meet our Third Century Promise together.鈥�