SFU
MEMORANDUM
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC AND PROVOST
University Drive, Burnaby, BC
Canada V5A 1S6
TEL: 778.782.3925
FAX: 778.782.5876
ATTENTION
Senate
DATE
May 22,2012
from
Jon Driver, Vice-President, Academic and
pages 1/1
Provost, and Chair, SCUP
RE:
Revisions to the Academic Planning Process (SCUP 12-16)
S.12-92
www.sfu.ca/vpacadeniic
At its May 16, 2012 meeting SCUP reviewed and approved the revisions to ?>enate Guidelines for
Academic Plans S.06-62.
Motion:
That Senate approve the revisions to Senate Guidelines for Academic Plans S.06-62.
end.
SIMON PHASER UNIVERSITY
ENGAGING THE WORLD
SCUP 12-16
SFU
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC AND PROVOST
University Drive, Burnaby, BC
Canada V5A 1S6
TEL: 778.782.3925
FAX: 778.782.5876
www.sfu.ca/vpacademic
MEMORANDUM
ATTENTION
SCUP
DATE
April 10, 2012
FROM
Jon Driver, Vice-President, Academic & Provost
PAGES
1
Revisions to the Academic Planning Process
RE:
The attached documents consist of the current guidelines for academic rj|anr|ing and proposed
revisions to these guidelines.
The revisions reflect my experience with the development and implementation
of the 2010-13
academic plan and the early part
of the process for the next plan. There are three major changes:
a.
The academic plan would be a five-year, rather than three-year plan. This should alleviate
some concerns about planning exercises occurring too often, and will provide a more
realistic time frame for completion of major initiatives.
b. The academic plan will still be developed in a consultative, iterative way, but the first phase
will be developed by the Vice-President, Academic to reflect institutional priorities in the
context of the prevailing post-secondary landscape provincially and nationally.
c. The guidelines reference the University's vision and mission
1 am asking SCUP to recommend these guidelines to Senate for approval.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
ENGAGING THE WORLD
2_
Senate Guidelines for Academic Plans
Proposed revisions to
s.06-62
Each academic unit1 shall prepare a
five-year
academic plan in the same year.
Academic plans should support the Vision/Mission of the University and are intended to
guide the operation and development of the academic unit. These plans may be used by
the Dean and Vice President, Academic in making decisions on the allocation of
resources.
Parallel procedures will be used for plans of academic service/support2 units.
1. Time Line:
1.1 The Vice-President Academic will prepare a draft academic plan at the start
of the year in which planning occurs. Following consultation, the Vice-
President will distribute a final plan that reflects high level academic
priorities and indicators of success. It is expected that academic units and
Faculties will develop plans that support the overall academic priorities,
while focusing on the particular goals of the units and Faculties. The plan will
be distributed by the end of the
first week of May
of the year in which
planning is undertaken.
1.2 Academic unit five-year plans are to be completed by the end of the
first
week of August
ofthe same year.
1.3 Each Faculty Dean will prepare a five-year academic plan on the same
schedule. (For departmentalized Faculties these plans will be developed in
consultation with the academic units within that Faculty). These plans are to
be completed by the
first week of October
ofthe same year.
1.4 The Vice-President, Academic will incorporate Faculty and service/support
unit plans into the final high level academic plan by
mid-November
ofthe
same year. This document will be submitted to SCUPfor its review and
forwarded to Senate for information.
2. Content:
2.1
The
academic unit
will determine the organization ofthe plan but plans
should include/consider the following information.(Deans may request their
Units to include additional content);
Academic Departments, Schools, and Programs.
Graduate Studies, Student
Services and Lifelong Learning
^
2.1.1 Performance Review
The most recent unit external review report and resulting
action plan should be considered in preparing the plan.
An assessment of achievements against the previous plan.
2.1.2 Programme Overview:
•
A brief overview of the undergraduate and graduate programs
offered by the unit, including major current and future
program development and revision activities.
• Describe the participation of the unit in other University
programs, including interdisciplinary activities as well as Life
long Learning and Work-integrated Learning.
2.1.3 Plans
• Engaging Students:
Plans around teaching and learning as well
as recruitment and support issues for undergraduate and
graduate students. Issues regarding International Students may
also need to be addressed.
•
Engaging Research:
Asummary of the research activities of the
unit's members and how these relate to the SFU Research
Strategic Plan.
Resources:
Assess the current (and projected) resources available to the unit
in
relation to the priorities and objectives proposed. This should
include:
• faculty complement - including renewal
• support staff
• instructional resources
• equipment
• operating budgets
• space
Engaging Communities:
Plans to maintain and expand the
unit's community connections, the creation of opportunities
for community-based learning, and the role of community
partners in research.
Sources of any additional financial resources other than what is
expected to be allocated by the Dean over the period need to be
identified and agreed with the Dean.
2.2 Communication:
An outline of the communication process to ensure all unit
members are informed of the objectives and content of the plan.
JT
y
2.3
Faculties:
All faculties, including non-departmentalized faculties, should
submit a plan according to the
template agreed
between the Deans and the
Vice President Academic.
3 Annual Update.
Each academic year academic units, Faculty Deans, and the Vice President, Academic
will prepare a brief update to their academic plan. This will be completed before
November 30
of each year to inform discussions at the Deans'Council and feed into
the formal Budgeting process.
4
The
Data
Vice-
Provision.
President, Academic, through the office of
x
Institutional Research and
Planning will provide statistical information for use in academic plans and plan
updates.
May 2012
*r
^
Simon Froser Univorsitv
Senate Guidelines for Academic Plans S.06-62
1. Each academic unit* shall prepare a three-year academic plan in the
same year. Academic plans are intended to guide the operation and
development of the academic unitand will be considered by the Dean and
Vice President, Academic in making decisions on allocation of resources.
Academic unit plans are to be completed by June 30 of the year in which
three-year planning is undertaken.
* Departments, Schools, Programs. Parallel procedures will be used for
plans of academic service units.
2. Each Faculty Dean will prepare a three-year academic plan on the
same schedule. (For departmentalized Faculties these plans will utilize the
three-year academic plans of academic units within that Faculty as a basis
for planning). These plans are to be completed by the first Friday in
October of the same year.
3. The Vice-President, Academic will prepare a three-year academic plan
on the same schedule as the Faculty plans. This plan,which is to be
completed by November 30 of the same year, will utilize the three-year
academic plans of the Faculties and of academic service units. Itwill be
submitted to SCUP for its review and forwarded to Senate for information.
4. Academic plans should give consideration to the elements in the
Statement of Purpose for the University approved by Senate and the
Board of Governors in 1998.
5. Content of Academic Plans
5.1 Academic Unit: Plans should include the following information.
The unit will determine the organization of the plan. The most
recent unit external review should be considered in preparing the
plan.
(a) An assessment of achievements against the previous plan.
(b) A statement of objectives for the current planning period.
(c) Programmes: A brief overview of the undergraduate and
graduate programs offered by the unit, including program
development and revision activities.
The participation of the unit in other University programs,
including interdisciplinary activities as well as with Continuing
Studies and Co-operative Education.
(d) Students: Recruitment and support issues for
undergraduate and graduate students. Issues regarding
International Students may also need to be addressed.
(e) Research: A summary of the research activities of the
unit's members and how these relate to the SFU Research
Strategic Plan.
(f) Resources: The adequacy of resources availableto the unit
in relation to their situation and objectives. This will include
faculty complement, support staff, other instructional
resources, operating budgets, equipment, and space. The plan
should include a component for the renewal of the unit's faculty
resources.
(g) Communication: An outline of the communication process
to ensure all unit members are informed of the objectives and
content of the plan.
5.2 Faculties: All faculties, including non departmentalized
faculties, should submit a plan according to
the template
agreed between the Deans and the Vice President Academic.
6. Each academic year academic units, Faculty Deans, and
the Vice
President, Academic will prepare a brief update to their academic plan.
This
will be completed before November 30 of each year to feed into the
formal Budgeting process. The plan update of the Vice President,
Academic will be submitted to SCUP for its review.
7. The Office of the Vice- President, Academic, will provide statistical
infonnation for use in academic plans and plan updates. This will include
an annual budget outlook.
May 2006
n
