Top Three Priorities
Three key areas will be the focus of my attention and effort in 2012-2013:
- government relations at the federal and provincial levels;
- enhancing UBC’s internal and external communications; and
- working to further enhance the international reputation and connectivity of UBC.
This will require a continued commitment to transparent budgeting, and to consistent messaging regarding the contribution UBC makes to our communities.
- Ensure that all faculties develop fiscally-prudent academic plans in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Continue to implement strategic teaching and learning initiatives in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Continue implementation of the Student Interactions Transformation Program including learning management system upgrade, online advising management system, Early Alert, Student Evaluation of Teaching, Broad Based Admissions, and supporting new Enrollment Management specialists
- Implement an International Pathways program for prospective students
- Create the Vancouver School of Economics, and seek philanthropic funding for a School of Governance
- Take a leadership role in promoting reform of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)
- Implement the recommendations of the Athletics Review; re-imagine and reorganize UBC Athletics
- Review and implement measures to improve graduate student completion rates
- Continue implementation of the renewed Research Strategic Plan in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Work with the BC government to align priorities in the Ministries of Advanced Education, Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, and Health in support of a provincial research framework; begin with Health Research
- Work with AUCC and the U15 universities to promote stable federal government support for research and to refine a national post-secondary advocacy strategy; work to enhance the capacity of these organizations
- Remain in the top 3 Canadian universities in dollar value of tri-Council research awards
- Finalize the Community Engagement Strategic Plan and begin to implement in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Prepare and implement a comprehensive B.C. “election readiness” plan
- Create and begin to implement a cohesive communications strategy for both our internal and external audiences
- Work with the communications leadership to refine the roll-out of UBC’s public face – “a place of mind”
- Work with the City of Vancouver and with Translink regarding options for rapid transit to UBC
- Continue implementation of the Aboriginal Strategic Plan in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan and with Faculty academic plans
- Work closely with the new external advisory council on Aboriginal affairs and ensure action in response to its advice
- Formalize relationships with the First Nations Health Authority
- Implement a renewed Alumni Affairs/Alumni Association UBC Alumni Affairs Strategic Plan in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Complete the targeted fundraising campaign for the Alumni Centre
- Finalize the Intercultural Understanding Strategic Plan and begin to implement in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Implement the International Strategy in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan by focusing engagement efforts in China, India and parts of Europe
- Drive coordination of international efforts across V.P. portfolios; hire a new A.V.P. International
- Create the next version of Focus on People: Workplace Practices at UBC, and ensure implementation, in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Focus on faculty and staff health and wellness initiatives, especially in relation to mental health
- Ensure careful and thoughtful integration of the two new members of the Executive Team
- Continue implementing the Sustainability Strategic Plan in concert with Place and Promise: The UBC Plan; evaluate the structure of the University Sustainability Initiative
- Drive further implementation, through expanded partnerships, of ‘the university as a living laboratory’ initiative
- Continue to ensure that the budget process is transparent, that academic priorities drive budget decisions, and that the budget is fully linked to Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- Continue the start an evolution fundraising and alumni engagement campaign; be the main public face of the campaign; maintain a personal prospect portfolio of roughly 30; engage actively in principal gift cultivation and solicitation