Concordia Journal Home > Archives > September 27, 2007 issue >

Strategic planning moves to wide discussion phase 

Town hall meetings to be held in the fall

By Barbara Black

The Concordia community will engage in further consultations this fall on the steps needed to realize the goals of Concordia’s academic vision.

The University launched a strategic planning process last year (See Journal, May 24, 2007). An initial, global scan of other institutions and trends in the university arena, together with a professor survey, clarified key areas that required further discussion and comment. Many of these areas are consistent with directions outlined in the document, Moving Ahead, including strategically managing enrolment, strengthening academic programs, revitalizing the professoriate, improving the research profile, internationalizing, and providing a first-class education.

Work continued over the spring and summer with discussions by eight workgroups. Each workgroup included representatives of each faculty, staff members, and people from outside the university who brought fresh eyes and significant professional expertise.

They discussed such issues as attracting and retaining new faculty; achieving financial stability; using new technology; broadening recruitment and retaining students; cementing partnerships and international links; strengthening community ties; responding to the need for lifelong learning; and making Concordia a fulfilling place to work.

Many of these same subjects were discussed at a recent retreat held by senior administrators, and although President Claude Lajeunesse will leave his post Oct. 31, the strategic planning process will continue to be developed and implemented.

Currently, the work of these groups is being collated and organized, and the product of these deliberations and recommendations will soon be put forward to the Concordia community at large. Additional workgroups will be formed if the need arises during the course of broad-scale consultations.
Patrick Kelley, Executive Director of Administration & Human Resources for the JMSB, is in charge of the process. He will soon bring a report to the faculty councils. Several town hall meetings for Concordians at large are planned for the fall.