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FacultyStrategic Plan

FACULTY OF PHYS ICAL EDUCAT ION AND RECREAT ION

Academic Years 2010-11 to 2015-16

TRADITION. EXCELLENCE. DIVERSITY.

VISIONTo inspire the human spirit through physical activity, sport and leisure

MISSIONThe Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation creates and shares the best understandings and applications of physical activity, sport and leisure to inspire the human spirit

PREAmbLEThe Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta is the “leading unit of its kind in

the country”1. With a long history and strong traditions of excellence and leadership in teaching, research and

community service in physical education, recreation and kinesiology, as well as interuniversity sport, campus

recreation and facility operations, the Faculty seeks to chart its strategic directions for the next five years by means of

an over-arching Faculty Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan encompasses and directs all aspects of Faculty activities and

identifies a set of strategic priorities that will drive the annual action planning activities by all Faculty units.

The strategic plan addresses the mission and Vision of the Faculty and operationalizes these into a series of higher

order priorities that will direct decision making in the Faculty during the time period in question. Annual action-

planning exercises will be conducted by each operational unit (academics, athletics, campus recreation, operations,

development/advancement, Centres and Institutes) as a key element of budget development. The alignment of

strategic action planning with the annual budget cycle is essential in the enactment of the overarching strategic plan.

Operational units will present annual action plans to Faculty Council as a key step in overall Faculty management.

The Faculty Strategic Plan is aimed at aligning and coordinating the many and diverse activities of the Faculty towards

a clear and integrated Faculty plan that is consistent with the mission and mandate of the broader institution.

1 The report of the external review team, Faculty Unit Review, December 2010

FACULTY STRATEgIC PLAN DEVELOPMENT

The process of developing the Faculty Strategic Plan began at a two-day Faculty retreat held at

Campus Saint-Jean in may, 2011. The retreat, which was attended by over 120 members of faculty

and staff, resulted in six (6) strategic priorities arrived at by means of iterative discussion led by

external facilitator, mr. brian Johnston. Following the summer period, the six strategic priorities were

refined by the Faculty management Group (FmG), which crafted three overall faculty goals – a

short-term goal, a long-term goal and an aspirational goal. In addition FmG developed a time-limited

principal goal statement for each of the strategic priorities. The final draft document was prepared

by the Dean, reviewed by the Faculty management Group and was presented for discussion and

feedback to the Faculty via a town hall meeting in January 2012. Coinciding with the development

of this strategic plan, a small group was engaged to revisit, revise the mission and Vision of the

Faculty, as was recommended by retreat participants. The revised mission and Vision statements were

presented to Faculty Council for discussion and ultimate ratification.

The Faculty Strategic Plan was ratified by Faculty Council in January 2012.

2 FMG consisted of the Dean, Vice-Dean, Associate Deans, Research, Undergraduate, Graduate and Community and International Relations, Directors of Athletics, Campus Recreation and Operations, Director of Advancement, and Alumni Affairs and the Assistant Dean (11).

FACULTY GOALSShoRT TERmTo be re-affirmed as the leading Faculty of its type in the country in the next Faculty unit review.

Long TERmTo be one of the leading Faculties of physical education, recreation and kinesiology in the world.

ASPiRATionAL goAL To be the leading Faculty of physical education, recreation and kinesiology in the world.

TalenTed PeoPle CommuniCation

ResouRce ManageMent allocation

ExEmplary StudEnt ExpEriEncE

Differentiation through innovationCollaboration and integration

STRATEgIC PRIORITIES

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation will base its planning, activities and budget allocations

around the six strategic priorities established within the Faculty Strategic Plan. These priorities, in equal

order of importance, include:

• TalentedPeople

• Communication

• ResourceManagementAllocation

• ExemplaryStudentExperience

• CollaborationandIntegration

• DifferentiationthroughInnovation

An aspirational goal statement has been appended to each strategic priority. A description of each strategic

priority that reflects the information from Faculty at the planning retreat is presented to contextualise the

priorities and allow for consistent interpretation during subsequent action planning sequences.

PRIMARyObjECTIvES:

• TheFacultywillpromoteafocuson

holistic, healthy, and inclusive processes

within the workplace

• TheFacultywillsupportandinitiate

strategies to provide professional

development opportunities for faculty

and staff

• TheFacultywillformallyrecognise

individual and team accomplishment in

faculty, staff and students

• TheFacultywillinvestinstrategies

to attract and retain faculty, staff and

students that will make meaningful

contributions to the ongoing activities

of the Faculty

• TheFacultywillpursue,promoteand

support excellence in a balanced,

sustainable manner

TALENTED PEOPLE

TALENTED PEOPLE

By 2015 we will be the Faculty of choice where talented people want to work, play, study and research.

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation will work to attract and retain talented faculty,

staff, undergraduate and graduate students and student-athletes. Above all, the Faculty will seek to

develop an environment and culture where faculty members can flourish in their work, play, study

and research. While operating within the context of the larger institution, the Faculty will establish

itself as a ‘Faculty of Choice’ within the University of Alberta and among similar units across Canada

and internationally through a commitment to excellence, collegiality and collaborative engagement.

The Faculty will build on its national and international reputation, and continue to emphasise its

relevance to the broader institution through its research, teaching and community service.

PRIMARyObjECTIvES

• TheFacultywilldeterminethe

communications needs of its external

and internal target publics and develop

communications strategies and tactics to

address those

• TheFacultywillproduceanannualFaculty

report that reflects agreed upon Faculty

metrics to increase internal and external

awareness of Faculty goals and achievements

• TheFacultywilldevelopaproprietary

intranet site for Faculty, staff and students as

a primary means of internal communication,

including a systematic archive of faculty

information as a matter of historical record

• TheFacultywillproactivelycommunicateits

goals and achievements to internal (faculty,

staff, students) and external (university,

academic and general community)

stakeholders in accordance with internal and

external strategic communications plans and

in response to articulated business needs

• TheFaculty’scommunicationstrategywill

inform, involve and engage faculty alumni in

the ongoing development of the faculty and

its goals and objectives

COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION

By 2015 there will be a broad awareness and understanding of the goals, activities and achievements of the Faculty.

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation is a diverse Faculty with a range of educational,

research and community engagement activities. The Faculty will seek to maximise both internal

and external communication to enhance and coordinate these activities. A culture of open

communication will be integrated into all aspects of Faculty work, seamlessly articulated across

the various ‘arms’ of the Faculty (academics, operations, campus recreation, athletics and centres/

institutes) with the goal of creating an informed, engaged workforce in a high-trust environment. It is

acknowledged that a coherent and coordinated communication plan will be key to the success of the

integrated Faculty.

PRIMARyObjECTIvES

• TheFacultywillenactastrategicbudgetary

process which will align budgetary expenses

to strategic initiatives

• TheFacultywillalignoperationalincome

with the strategic goals of the Faculty

• TheFacultywilldiversifyfundingsources

to support the mission and Vision of the

Faculty by means of increased philanthropic

donations, increased sponsorship of

operations, campus recreation and

interuniversity sport and athletics and

through efficient delivery of community-

based services

• TheFacultywillclearlyarticulateafacility

development plan with associated

fundraising goals and strategies

• TheFacultywilltransparentlyreport

budgetary allocations to Faculty and staff

in association with annual action

planning cycles

RESOURCE MANAgEMENT ALLOCATION

RESOURCE MANAgEMENT ALLOCATION

By 2015 we will have sustainable funding aligned with the goals of the Faculty to support the programs and overall goals of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation.

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation derives its funding from a diverse set of income

streams. Unlike many Faculties at the University, a substantial percentage of the overall the Faculty

budget comes from non-base funded income opportunities. The Faculty acknowledges a current

climate of stagnant or reduced central funding that leads to an increased need to effectively manage

budgets and seek alternate sources of resources and funding. The Faculty will aggressively pursue the

resources required to enable our efforts and employ ‘lean thinking’ to ensure that the pursuit of Faculty

goals is achieved through wise allocation of new and existing resources. It is imperative that Faculty

resources and income support the overall goals and objectives of the Faculty and the University.

PRIMARyObjECTIvES

• TheFacultywillreviewandrenewtheentirety

of its undergraduate and graduate offerings to

reduce degree redundancies and enhance the

specific learning experiences and outcomes

• TheFacultywillincreasethequalityand

quantity of international student opportunities

through international programming (e.g. Play

Around the World) and international student

exchange opportunities

• TheFacultywillincreasetheexperiential

learning at both the graduate and

undergraduate levels, through integration

with Faculty Operations, Campus Recreation,

Athletics and Faculty Centres and Institutes

(Alberta model)

• TheFacultywillestablishguidelinesregarding

the structure of undergraduate certificates

and strategically select, develop and deliver

undergraduate certificates in designated

areas that will differentiate ourselves and

our graduates from domestic and

international competitors

• TheFacultywillenhancethequality

and reputation of its graduate programs

with an emphasis on the development of

quality graduate student-supervisor relation-

ships and the professional development of

instructors and graduate students

ExEMPLARY STUDENT ExPERIENCE

ExEMPLARY STUDENT ExPERIENCE

By 2015 we will provide an exemplary educational experience in strategically targeted areas congruent with Faculty strengths.

Above all, the role of the Faculty is to provide excellent and exemplary educational experiences for

all members of Faculty. With a solid reputation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and

with strong demand on all program offerings, the focus of the Faculty will be on continuous quality

improvement of the educational experience.

PRIMARyObjECTIvES

• TheFacultywillfocusontheclear

articulation and development of the “Alberta

model”, which emphasises the use of an

integrated faculty model to achieve the

overall scholarly objectives of the Faculty and

the broader institution

• TheFacultywilladvancea‘systems

approach’ to research, teaching and delivery,

which is manifest by multidisciplinary

collaborative work

• TheFacultywillincreaseitsnationaland

international profile and reputation through

meaningful formal strategic partnerships

with leading institutions across Canada and

around the world

• TheFacultywillpartnerwithnationaland

international stakeholders to deliver relevant

undergraduate and graduate educational

opportunities in both teaching and

knowledge translation

• TheFacultywilldeveloptheinherent

strength of resources and programs on

its South Campus to provide meaningful

teaching, research and community

engagement opportunities

COLLAbORATION AND INTEgRATION

COLLAbORATION AND INTEgRATION

By 2015 we will have a culture of collaboration and integration.

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation is one of only a few remaining ‘integrated’ faculties

in Canada, where the activities of the Faculty encompass academics, athletics, campus recreation

and operations. The Faculty will focus on strengthening collegiality and collaboration throughout the

Faculty while supporting a diversity of scholarship and research. An integrated Faculty offers much

in the way of promise for experiential learning through research and teaching opportunities. It is

acknowledged that the ‘living labs’ of Campus Recreation, Athletics, Operations and Faculty Centres

and Institutes provide the basis for the application, development and transfer of knowledge that is

unique to a faculty of this type.

PRIMARyObjECTIvES

• TheFacultywill be bold in terms of

innovation in teaching, research and

community service, seeking to establish new

standards and approaches in the field that will

be emulated by others

• TheFacultywillmaximisetheinherent

strengths of an integrated Faculty model,

where all activities of the Faculty will underpin

and contribute to the scholarly goals of the

Faculty

• TheFacultywillexploreinnovative

educational delivery models with an emphasis

on instructional excellence and effectiveness

• TheFacultywillsupportadiversityof

knowledge that leads to improved professional

practices, understandings of the world,

community service, teaching, and research

• TheFacultywillsupportinitiativesinthe

workplace and learning environment that entail

risk and the possibility of failure in teaching,

research and service

• TheFacultywilltranslatetheknowledge

acquired through innovative approaches to the

broader academic and professional community

with the worthy and often overlooked goal of

making the world a better place

DIFFERENTIATION THROUgH INNOVATION

DIFFERENTIATION THROUgH INNOVATION

By 2015 we will have invested in innovative and field-leading programs that will distinguish the Faculty from our competitors.

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation has long been a leader in Canada and

internationally in the areas of physical education, recreation and kinesiology. The ongoing challenge

for the Faculty is to continue the leadership through innovative programs and approaches that will

define, or re-define the fields of study encompassed by the Faculty. Innovative thinking and practices

will not only be points of differentiation from our competitors, but will form a culture that contributes

to a stimulating, engaging and collaborative workplace – one where people will come from around

the world to be part of, and contribute to.

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