< Faculty/DEPARTMENT NAME>

Area Plan

2022 – 202<#>

Hay ch qu’ sii’em siye’yu mukw mustimuxw (Thank you respected ones of this place) The Vancouver Island University community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’Amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live, and share knowledge.

A MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERS OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PLANS

VIU’s strategic plan: People, Place, Potential sets out six commitments for the next five years [2021 – 2026]. Six foundation plans, the Academic Plan; the Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity Plan; the Student Affairs Plan; the Operations Plan; the Community Engagement Plan; and the People Plan, outline the priority areas for divisions and detail how the identified divisional goals support the commitments of the strategic plan and the foundational plan, along with how they will be implemented.

The Academic Plan

Embracing the inclusive and consultative approach used to create the institutional strategic plan, we created the current academic plan, Weaving Our Journey Together, as an aspirational guide to our academic future.

The Academic Plan articulates the goals and objectives that VIU will fulfill over the next five years through our commitment to providing access to excellence in post-secondary education for all students and potential students. At VIU, our ambition includes helping our learners embrace their potential (Strategic Plan, 2021), which is accomplished through the pursuit of knowledge and theory concurrent with the development of skills and competencies relevant to academic disciplines, professional education, and technical instruction.

VIU and the Academic Plan take a holistic approach to education that embraces teaching, learning and scholarship with and for students and the family and community that surround them. We view education as a lifelong process, where academic pursuits are seen as moments founded on purposeful exposure to multiple knowledges and skills, as well as emotional and spiritual connections that are forged through deep, ongoing relationships. We aspire to create relationships with our students that have them return to VIU as their learning needs change over time.

Contact Provostoffice@viu.ca for more information.

The Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity Plan

Transforming Learning through Knowledge Creation establishes the priority goals, objectives and strategies for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) at Vancouver Island University (VIU) over the 2022-27 timeframe. The purpose of this plan is to provide the foundation and direction for VIU to enable and support employees and students to engage in SRCA.

The plan describes the institutional context where SRCA occurs including definitions, guiding principles and aspirations. The plan also describes the existing strengths of the SRCA contributions from VIU in seven thematic areas. The plan then identifies the goals, objectives, strategies and metrics that will be undertaken over the next 5 years to support inclusive excellence using a life-cycle framework that will invest in the intellectual, human, social, physical, technological and financial capital required to ensure that learning opportunities through SRCA are accessible across the institution.

Contact SRCA@viu.ca for more information.

The Student Affairs Plan

The Student Affairs Foundation Plan Advisory Committee (SAFPAC) is in the early stages of development however 5 goal areas have begun to emerge that will guide further plan development. SAFPAC is comprised of several stakeholders across VIU, including (but not limited to) regional representation, student representation (VIUSU) and two Deans.

5 goal areas that have begun to emerge:

Student Well-Being	(people)

Access	(people/potential)

WIL and Career Exploration	(people/potential)

Truth and Reconciliation	(people/place/potential)

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI)	(people/potential)

As we are in our beginning stages, these goals and the language around them still needs to be finalized. There will be various opportunities for further engagement and consultation on the Plan beginning in late April 2022. The plan is to be completed by end of May with approval by SMT by end of June 2022.

Contact studentaffairsadmin@viu.ca for more information

The Operations Plan

The VIU Operations Plan establishes the priorities, objectives and initiatives that will be the focus in advancing strategic priorities across the University. The operations of the University are varied and broad and encompass a range of supports and services that are delivered by financial services, facilities/campus development, ancillary services, information technology/systems, enterprise risk management and strategic initiatives. The purpose of the plan is to provide the approach and direction when it comes to institutional efficiency improvements, system and process optimization, and enhancing the student and employee experience.

Contact Janette.Polson@viu.ca for further information.

The Community Engagement Plan

The Community Engagement Plan is VIU’s first plan to deepen our commitment to and engagement with community partners. The plan establishes the approach as well as the priority goals, objectives and strategies for community engagement at Vancouver Island University (VIU) over the 2022-27 timeframe. The purpose of this plan is to provide the foundation and direction for VIU to build on our commitment to build reciprocal relationships and collaborate with community partners in our region and beyond.

The plan describes the regional context for VIU and includes definitions, guiding principles and aspirations for community engagement. The plan also describes the consultation process used to identify the goals, objectives, strategies and metrics that will be undertaken over the next 5 years.

Contact SRCA@viu.ca for more information.

The People Plan

The VIU People Plan articulates the strategic human resources plan intended to assist VIU achieve its overall goals while ensuring that the needs of employees are of paramount consideration. The Plan communicates to the VIU community the key people-focused strategies that will foster the success and well-being of all VIU employees as they contribute to student achievement and foster a supportive and engaged community.

During the People Plan consultations, five key areas emerged where we can strengthen and support our existing workplace. These areas are called our “Five Invitations for Action.” To work towards improving VIU’s workplace, the People Plan identifies the institutional commitment to focus time and resources on these actions which are:

Cultivate a Healthy Workplace Culture

Foster Diversity, Fairness and Truth and Reconciliation

Support Transformational Leadership and Professional Development

Encourage Employee Well-being

Advance Operational Effectiveness and Innovation

Contact HR@viu.ca for more information

Table of Contents

1.	Departmental Overview	1

2.	Operating Landscape	1

2.1	Key Strengths	1

2.2	Strategic Imperative	1

2.3	Constraints and Risks	1

3.	Goals AND Objectives	2

4.	Measuring Success and Reporting Back	6

5.	Development Process	6

6.	Acknowledgements	6

Departmental Overview

Provide a high-level description of the department/Faculty and the area(s) of expertise included to ensure that readers have a clear understanding of the type of work performed. Do not include organizational charts, rather keep the narrative focused on the nature of the department/Faculty and how it fits within the broader institutional context.

Operating Landscape

Keeping VIU’s Vision, Ambition, and Values in mind, provide a summary of the operating landscape of the department/Faculty.

2.1	Key Strengths

Provide a brief description of distinguishing attributes related to this department/Faculty that are considered key success factors.

2.2	Strategic Imperative

If applicable, describe the top level goal for this department over the term of the foundation planning cycle and beyond. Top level goals are broad and serve to set direction for underlying goals. Reminder: the strategic imperative must be congruent with VIU’s strategic direction as outlined in the strategic plan.

2.3	Challenges and Opportunities

Provide a brief, high-level description of challenges and opportunities for the department/Faculty and outline how these could impact the effectiveness of its operations while trying to achieve the goals set out in this plan.

Goals AND Objectives

This section is used to identify high-level goals and the supporting objectives and strategies of the department/Faculty that align with the commitments made in the strategic and foundation plans. The commitments outlined in the strategic plan were written to be broad enough to enable everyone to see themselves in them and as such it is possible for all areas to define action items related to any of the commitments. However, it is not necessary for the department to have goals related to all six commitments, or to address the goals of all foundation plans. Rather, the identified goals and objectives should reflect the prioritized areas of focus for the department. Accordingly, please reduce, delete or expand sections as required.

Access VIU’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, People Place Potential here

People

1)	Welcome a larger and more diverse population of learners.

2)	Become a more inclusive and healthier place for work and study.

Place

3)	Grow to be the region’s hub for research and expertise.

4)	Build stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Potential

5)	Become a leader in learning for new generations.

6)	Expand life-enriching and career-building experiences.

Access VIU’s Academic Plan, Weaving Our Journey Together here.

Academic Plan Goals:

Goal 1: Enhance Access and Persistence

Goal 2: Embed Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being

Goal 3: Advance the Practice of Inquiry

Goal 4: Deliver Regionally Relevant and Responsive Programs

Goal 5: Deliver High-Quality Programs

Goal 6: Build Lifelong Learning Opportunities

Quick links:

VIU’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, People Place Potential

VIU’s Academic Plan, Weaving Our Journey Together

VIU’s People Plan

The following foundation plans are anticipated to be available online soon:

VIU’s Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity Plan Website

VIU’s Student Affairs Plan

VIU’s Operations Plan

VIU’s Community Engagement Plan Website

Area Plan Goals

Goal 1: <High-level goal statement>
Strategic Plan Commitment/s:
Relation to Academic Plan Goal/s:
Other Foundational Plan Links:
Objective Short description (e.g. “to ____” statement)	Priority	Strategies Describe what will be done to achieve objective	Timeline or Duration

Quick links:

VIU’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, People Place Potential

VIU’s Academic Plan, Weaving Our Journey Together

VIU’s People Plan

The following foundation plans are anticipated to be available online soon:

VIU’s Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity Plan Website

VIU’s Student Affairs Plan

VIU’s Operations Plan

VIU’s Community Engagement Plan Website

Area Plan Goals

Goal 2: <High-level goal statement>
Strategic Plan Commitment/s:
Relation to Academic Plan Goal/s:
Other Foundational Plan Links:
Objective Short description (e.g. “to ____” statement)	Priority	Strategies Describe what will be done to achieve objective	Timeline or Duration

Quick links:

VIU’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, People Place Potential

VIU’s Academic Plan, Weaving Our Journey Together

VIU’s People Plan

The following foundation plans are anticipated to be available online soon:

VIU’s Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity Plan Website

VIU’s Student Affairs Plan

VIU’s Operations Plan

VIU’s Community Engagement Plan Website

Area Plan Goals

Goal 3: <High-level goal statement>
Strategic Plan Commitment/s:
Relation to Academic Plan Goal/s:
Other Foundational Plan Links:
Objective Short description (e.g. “to ____” statement)	Priority	Strategies Describe what will be done to achieve objective	Timeline or Duration

Measuring Success and Reporting Back

Provide an overview of how progress will be monitored and describe the way(s) in which reporting back on the initiatives and goals outlined in the preceding section will occur.

Development Process

Provide an overview of how this area plan was built. Include a description of the engagement both within the area (i.e. across the relevant functional areas or sub-units of the department as applicable) and across the institution and/or with external stakeholders.

Acknowledgements

Include in this section the names of key participants and/or contributors to this plan. You may also include listings of Steering Committee or Advisory Group members (if applicable).