Strategic Plan
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Powering<br />
NewPathways<br />
2021-2023<br />
FacultyofExtension<br />
<strong>Strategic</strong><strong>Plan</strong><br />
ualberta.ca/extension
In1912,whentheUniversityofAlbertawasstill<br />
ayounginstitution,itsPresidentHenryMarshall<br />
TorychargedhisprotégéA.E.Ottewellwith<br />
thetaskof“bringingtheUniversitytothepeople,”<br />
puttinghimatthehelmofwhatwasthen<br />
knownastheDepartmentofExtension.<br />
Withtimethedepartmentexpanded,<br />
eventuallyleadingtothecreationofthe<br />
FacultyofExtension.Today,whatwasonce<br />
travellinglibraries,“magiclantern”shows,<br />
andfreepubliclecturesinruralAlbertais<br />
amulti-facetedagentofcontinuingand<br />
professionaleducationandEnglishlanguage<br />
learninglocally,nationally,andinternationally.<br />
AttheFacultyofExtension,thesedeep<br />
rootskeepusgroundedandgiveusastrong<br />
anduniquefoundationtoworkfrom.Weknow<br />
thatwemustgrowandadaptinmuchthesame<br />
waythatourlearnersdoeachandeveryday,but<br />
change—likeeverythingwedo—isstillguidedby<br />
thosebasicprinciplesofcommunityengagement.<br />
Weremainfirmlyfocusedonwhat’snext,<br />
becauseweknowthatthefuturesofbothlearning<br />
andworkarefluid. Wealsoremaindedicated<br />
toempoweringourlearnerstoenhancetheir<br />
lives,academics,andcareersinwaysthatare<br />
challenging,fulfilling,andcontributetoabetter<br />
andmoresustainableworld.<br />
Theyear2020wasoneofsignificanttransition<br />
forboththeFacultyofExtensionandthe<br />
UniversityofAlbertaasawhole.Fortheyears<br />
ahead,weknowwehavefurtherchallengesto<br />
overcome,amidbudgetchanges,University<br />
restructuring,andtheimpactsofCOVID-19.<br />
Atthesametime,wehaveastrong,eager,<br />
andverytalentedteamthatisthrivingthrough<br />
thesechallengesandworkingtowardfuture<br />
growthenabledbystrongacademicprogramming<br />
andinnovativesolutions.<br />
Thisstrategicplanreflectsasix-monthprocess<br />
ofconsultationfromacrosstheFaculty,and<br />
outlinesourareasoffocusforthenextthreeyears.<br />
Welookforwardtocontinuingtoextend<br />
theUniversityofAlbertaexperiencebeyond<br />
theclassroom,aswecreateandfacilitate<br />
transformativeacademicandlifelonglearning<br />
experiencesbothinsideourownwallsand<br />
withinourcommunities.<br />
Overview<br />
MISSION<br />
Toadvancepersonal,professional,<br />
andacademicgrowththrough<br />
enrichinglearningexperiences.<br />
Ourlearnersshapethefuture.
CORE VALUES<br />
1<br />
Wevalueco-createdknowledgeandseekto<br />
collaboratewithourlearners,partners,industry<br />
experts,andfelloweducators.Weaimtoharness<br />
thepowerofthissharedexpertiseforthebenefit<br />
ofourcommunities.<br />
2<br />
Webelievewearestrongestwhendiversethoughts,<br />
perspectives,andbackgroundsarebroughttogether.<br />
Fosteringinclusiveenvironmentsisattheheart<br />
ofallofouractivities.<br />
3<br />
Weactboldly,valuegrowth,andtrust<br />
inthepowerofchange.Weseecontinuous<br />
improvementaskeytoasustainablefuture.<br />
5<br />
4<br />
Wevaluechallengesandbelievetheyspark<br />
innovation.Weknowthetoughestproblems<br />
oftenignitethemostcreativesolutions.<br />
Webelieveourlearnersarecoretoeverything<br />
wedo.Wejourneywiththemastheylearn,grow,<br />
anddogreatthingsfortheworld.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES<br />
Overthenextthreeyears,wewillbringthesecorevaluestolifeby:<br />
1<br />
2<br />
Respondingtothediverseaspirationsofourlearners<br />
throughthecontinuousandseamlessalignmentofourprogramming<br />
withindividual,international,andindustryneeds.<br />
Fosteringanequitable,diverse,andinclusivecultureoftrust<br />
andintegritywithourlearners,teammembers,andpartners.<br />
3<br />
Co-creatingknowledgeandbringingtheUniversitytothepeople<br />
throughrobustcommunity,University,andindustrypartnerships.<br />
4<br />
Enhancingourextraordinaryfocusonlearnerexperience.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES<br />
GOAL 1<br />
Respondtothediverseaspirationsofourlearners<br />
throughthecontinuousandseamlessalignmentofourprogramming<br />
withindividual,international,andindustryneeds.<br />
STRATEGIES<br />
Cultivateprogramminginthreesignaturegrowthareas:technology,environment,andEnglish<br />
languagelearning.Ourgoalisthatatleast20percentofourprogrammingcataloguewillbenew<br />
orrefreshedeachyear.<br />
Createflexibleandstackablelearningoptionstomeetthechangingneedsofourlearners<br />
withinouralreadystrongprograms.Thisincludesinitiativeslikeenhancedonlineprogramming,<br />
microcredentials,andcoursesthatmayladderintodegreeprograms.<br />
Continuerobustconsultationwithourprogramadvisorycommittees,sectorstakeholders,<br />
andsubjectmatterexpertstoensurerelevancyandacademicexcellence.<br />
Prioritizedevelopmentinvestmentbyreviewingouroverallprogramcatalogueandremoving<br />
itemsthatmaynolongerbesustainable.<br />
Emphasizecross-disciplinaryprogrammingoptionsthatencouragelearnerstoexplore<br />
multipleinterests.<br />
Whereverpossible,infusework-integratedlearningandproject-basedworkintoprograms<br />
tomeetthedomesticandinternationalobjectivessetforthforpost-secondaries<br />
bytheGovernmentofAlberta.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES<br />
GOAL 2<br />
Fosteranequitable,diverse,andinclusivecultureoftrustandintegrity<br />
withourlearners,teammembers,andpartners.<br />
STRATEGIES<br />
Buildacohesiveinternalculturethroughincreasedcommunicationandtransparency:<br />
wearestrongertogether.<br />
ExpandouruniqueStudentEngagementCentre,welcomingmorelearners<br />
throughourdoorswhilecontinuingtoconnectandengagethroughinclusivelearning<br />
activitiesthatencouragepersonalgrowthandcommunityinvolvement.<br />
Supportalumniacrosscampus:onceUofA,alwaysUofA.We’reheretojourneywith<br />
ouralumnithroughoutthevariousstagesoftheircareers.<br />
Continueouradvocacyworkforaunitedentityforcontinuingandprofessionaleducation<br />
oncampus.<br />
ContributetothebettermentofContinuingandProfessionalEducation<br />
andEnglishlanguagelearningacrossCanadathroughparticipation<br />
inpeerorganizationslikeCAUCE,UPCEA,andCBIE.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES<br />
GOAL 3<br />
Co-createknowledgeandbringtheUniversitytothepeople<br />
throughrobustcommunity,University,andindustrypartnerships.<br />
STRATEGIES<br />
Buildaframeworkforpartnershipstoensurejust-in-timerelevantprogrammingforourlearners<br />
whileleveragingexpertisefromexternalproviders.<br />
Focusoncross-facultycollaborationswithintheUofAcommunity:bybeingexpertsinContinuing<br />
EducationandEnglishLanguagelearning,wewelcometheopportunitytohelpotherFaculties<br />
remainconnectedwiththeirlearnerslongpasttraditionalpost-secondaryeducation.<br />
CollaboratewithUniversityofAlbertaInternational(UAI)tostayresponsivetoglobalopportunities<br />
and,together,providethelearningexperiencethatourinternationalstudentsandpartnersseekanddeserve.<br />
Embraceinternationalcollaborationstoencouragediversityinourclassroomsandfacilitate<br />
aglobalunderstandingforourlearners.<br />
Workwithcommunities,incommunities,andforcommunitiesthroughstrategicruralpartnerships<br />
toreducegeographicbarriersandensureequalaccesstoeducation.<br />
Buildacollaborativeecosystemofresourcesthroughstrengthenedrelationshipswithprofessional<br />
associations,companies,communitypartners,andgovernmentpartnersinAlbertaandacrossCanada.<br />
BuilduponournewlyannouncedpartnershipwithYellowheadTribalCollegetocontinue<br />
toempowerlearnersthroughourco-createdIndigenousprogramming.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES<br />
GOAL 4<br />
Enhanceourextraordinaryfocusonlearnerexperience.<br />
STRATEGIES<br />
Throughareviewofourgovernanceproceduresandpolicies,streamlineourprocesses<br />
andproceduresinordertoofferourlearnersaseamlessend-to-endexperience.<br />
ImplementandintegrateaCustomerRelationshipManagement(CRM)toolwith<br />
ourexistingsystemsinordertoestablishplannedtouchpointswithourstudents<br />
thatensurearelevantandsmoothflowofcommunication.<br />
Provideonlineself-serviceoptionsthroughourLearningEngagementandStudentServices<br />
officestoensurelearnershaveaccesstotherightinformationattherighttime.<br />
Consultwithlearnersandgatherauthenticfeedbacktoensureweare delivering<br />
onourcorevalues.<br />
Ensurestrongfinancialstewardshipandoperationalefficiency:weunderstandthat<br />
ourlearnersaremakinganinvestmentwhentheychoosetostudywithus,<br />
andwestrivetocreateexceptionalvalueforthem.
TheUniversityofAlbertarespectfully<br />
acknowledgesthatwearelocatedon<br />
Treaty6territory,atraditional<br />
gatheringplacefordiverseIndigenous<br />
peoplesincludingtheCree,Blackfoot,<br />
Metis,NakotaSioux,Iroquois,Dene,<br />
Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe,<br />
Inuit,andmanyotherswhosehistories,<br />
languages,andculturescontinueto<br />
influenceourvibrantcommunity.<br />
extnreg@ualberta.ca<br />
780-492-3116<br />
ualberta.ca/extension<br />
Edmonton,Alberta
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