Key Goal

Engaging stakeholders to create academic plans to guide Thompson Rivers University Faculties and Schools over the next five years.

Solution

  • Working with the Deans and stakeholders, I designed a comprehensive process to develop the plans, including stakeholder engagement and consultation.
  • I led planning and consultation process, freeing up Deans for other work.
  • I developed plans for the faculties that captured and summarized the input of stakeholders.

Situation

Every five years, faculties and schools at Thompson Rivers University develop academic plans to identify key priorities for the next five year period. In 2017, multiple faculties, including the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism and the School of Business and Economics required support to develop academic plans. Engaging all key stakeholders (Dean, Department Chairs and Faculty) was crucial to creating durable plans that enjoyed the broad support of both administration and faculty.

Services

Strategic planning, facilitation, stakeholder engagement and consultation

Benefits

  • Provided an opportunity for all faculty to be involved in determining the goals for their department for the next five years
  • Provided an opportunity for collaboration across departments on programs and initiatives of common interest
  • Enabled identification of major risks to programs and effective mitigations
  • Enabled all stakeholders to have a clear view of the faculty’s aspirations for the next five years

Testimonial

We needed a plan that reflected the interests and aspirations of the faculty, staff and administration to guide The School of Business and Education (SOBE) toward our desired future. We knew this was something we that would require external expert help to complete given the time and expertise required for this task. Kris took the time to understand our situation and develop a customized solution for us. She developed a plan and led a process that worked very well with our people and situation, and that allowed for updates to the process as our needs evolved. The end result was a plan that defines the desired future for SOBE and the specific steps required to achieve that future that reflects the input of and enjoys the broad support of all SOBE faculty, staff and administration. Kris’ expertise helped us achieve goals that we could not have achieved on our own, or with other consultants. Kris came highly recommended by other trusted and experienced Deans within my network.

Dr. Michael Henry
Dean, School of Business and Economics, Thompson Rivers University