Dear Colleagues:

As a committee, we are writing to update you on the development of the Academic Plan. We are pleased to report that Phase One, which focussed on broad consultation, is drawing to a close and we have begun drafting elements of the plan, with the theme “Planning to Flourish.”

Here are the milestones we wish to report:

• The co-chairs have nearly completed the initial round of consultation visits to departments, faculty councils and numerous administrative units.
• Our interactive Google site where you can review the work of the Steering Committee goes live December 1. There is a discussion board as well as space to comment and make suggestions on our work. Go to https://sites.google.com/mtroyal.ca/academicplan.
• The notes from the community consultations can be viewed on the Plan website. A summation of major themes that have emerged from those meetings and that are being incorporateding into the Plan.
• In mid-December, sub- group initial recommendations based on the themes and issues determined through on the basis of background research and the consultation process will be available for your comment.

On Friday December 2, a preliminary draft of the Plan’s Overview and Context section will be distributed for your review and comment. This is a work-in-progress document meant to kick start discussions in the community. The entire document will include sections on topics that include ….. We look forward to your comments and suggestions. You can comment on the website or directly to the Committee at facultyarts@mtroyal.cavia email.

Looking ahead, we envision the entire text of Draft 1 will be released mid-January. We have scheduled two town hall meetings to hear your thoughts on Draft 1. These are scheduled for January 18, 2017, from 12 PM-1:30 PM in the Lincoln Park Room and on January 19, from 12-1: 30 in Y224. We will also be having a Main Street table to solicit comments during late January.

Following the consultations, Draft 2 will be available in February for another town hall scheduled for Feb 22 in Lincoln Park Room. We will be making a final round of visits to Faculty Councils for what we hope, at that stage, will be for fine-tuning. Our goal is to bring the plan to GFC for approval in April 2017.

Our sincere appreciation to all of you for participating in developing this plan. We are determined to produce a document in which colleagues can see themselves and enable Academic Affairs, as our working title states, to “flourish.”

Yours sincerely,

Davis Clemis Karim Dharasmi

Allison Dube Lee Easton (Co-Chair)

Mohammed el-Hazzouri David Hyttenrauch

Jeff Keshen (Co-Chair) Allison McKenzie

Cheryl Melatdoost Robbie Nelson

Maggie Quance Sara Rude

Marc Schroeder Carol Shepstone

Cordelia Snowdon Phil Warsaba