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University of Calgary
About
Eyes High: Setting our sights on the future
The ambitious vision to become a top five research university in Canada, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community of Calgary, was the result of a campus-wide strategic planning process that reached out to the entire university community and alumni and leaders in the city of Calgary.
Called Project Next, the unique and collaborative effort was launched in January 2011 by University of Calgary President Elizabeth Cannon. The result is Eyes High—a collective strategic direction for the next five years, leading to the university’s 50th anniversary in 2016.
Original Planning Process
Faculty members in the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business tailored an original strategy planning process. They crafted a contemporary approach designed to energize and focus the University of Calgary community.
The strategic process incorporated expertise, consultation, debate and analysis. Participants examined competitive advantages and trade-offs, and were asked to be realistic about what is, and is not, possible.
The first stage of the process involved gathering input from thousands of community members through a wide range of activities including:
- Six weeks of in-person conversations and more than 1,500 visits to a roving booth set up in locations around campus;
- 25 small group workshops led by senior faculty members and university staff, attended by approximately 500 students, faculty, staff and community members;
- Three months of input gathered from the Project Next website, Twitter feed and Facebook page, including 4,000 website visitors and 1,300 votes on a “Question of the Week” series.
Input gathered between January and March was combined with information from leading academic, government, business and non-profit sources and distilled into themes that identified strategic opportunities and potential goals for the University of Calgary over the next five years. The results were summarized in a strategy statement and document that defines the University of Calgary’s future direction.
Strategy Statement
The University of Calgary will be a global intellectual hub located in Canada’s most enterprising city. In this spirited, high-quality learning environment, students will thrive in programs made rich by research and hands-on experiences. By our 50th anniversary in 2016, we will be one of Canada’s top five research universities, fully engaging the communities we both serve and lead.
The statement is supported by three foundational commitments that will guide faculties, programs and business units across the university as they work towards achieving the university’s strategic direction:
- Sharpen focus on research and scholarship;
- Enrich the quality and breadth of learning;
- Fully integrate the university with the community.
The strategy also articulates eight core values shared by the university community: curiosity; support; collaboration; communication; sustainability; globalization; balance; and excellence.
Project Next Strategy Steering Committee
Project Next was led by a Strategy Steering Committee comprised of a cross-section of the university community, including students, faculty, staff and administration. Members of the committee were:
- Keith Dobson, Chair, Strategy Steering Committee, and Professor, Psychology
- Barb McCutcheon, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Representative
- James Lange, Graduate Students’ Association Representative
- Lauren Webber and Dylan Jones, Students’ Union Representatives
- Anne Stalker, The University of Calgary Faculty Association (TUCFA) Representative
- Don Barker, Management and Professional Staff (MaPS) Representative
- Leslie Reid, Faculty Representative
- Josephine Hill, Faculty Representative
- Kevin McQuillan, Dean’s Council Representative
- Tom Feasby, Dean’s Council Representative
Ex officio members:
- Loren Falkenberg, Associate Dean (Research), Haskayne School of Business
- Jim Dewald, Associate Dean (Graduate Programs), Haskayne School of Business
- Elizabeth Osler, University Secretary and Associate General Counsel
- Jo-Ann Bance, Executive Director, Office of the President
- Bruce Evelyn, Vice Provost, Planning and Resource Allocation
Eyes High
Eyes High was chosen to launch the University of Calgary’s new strategic direction for two reasons. First, Eyes High builds upon the university’s proud history: the University of Calgary motto is “I Will Lift Up My Eyes.” Secondly, Eyes High reflects the determination of the university community and the citizens of Calgary to look far up and to dream very big. When your eyes are high, you reach for the stars.
It was interesting for those of us Faculty members located outside of Calgary to hear the repeated references to Calgary as the centre of the university. Some acknowledgement of the off-campus portions of the university would have been nice.
For many years I have taught U of C undergraduates through methods involving collaboration with community organizations in research and service. It is a great feeling to read this plan and see my aspirations validated and reflected. Let's take action on the plan first by finding out how to support what we already do well. Let's build people, not just buildings.
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