Priority 5: outreach

Increasing outreach and visibility

Outreach encompasses functional areas that play an integral role in supporting the Faculty’s strategic priorities. The core areas contributing to Faculty outreach are: Advancement, which includes Alumni Relations, Communications, and both undergraduate and graduate recruitment. To increase our outreach and visibility we will pursue the following objectives and associated action plans:

Advancement

Objective 1: Create a fund development plan anchored in and supporting identified strategic goals

Actions:

  • Develop a case for support that speaks to the vision of the faculty and will engage and motivate alumni and friends to invest in the Faculty
  • Identify and prioritize the fundable initiatives outlined in Strategic Plan and, working with faculty champions, develop fundraising plans

Objective 2: Engage alumni in the life of the Faculty, developing mutually beneficial activities that support the priorities of the Faculty and provide a stimulating and enjoyable experience for alumni

Actions:

  • Further develop the “Ask Arts Alumni” program, making it a more meaningful and interactive experience for alumni and students
  • Develop, in conjunction with our departments and programs, alumni programming that connects alumni with our scholarship, teaching and students
  • Develop a new Arts Reunion based on the principle of “life-long learning”
  • Identify, connect with, and celebrate the success of our alumni

Communications

Objective 1: Deliver communications aligned with strategic priorities of the Faculty and the University

Actions:

  • Implement a framework that will guide and prompt all aspects of Arts Communications, including strategic content and messaging, platforms and channels, and targeted audience groups
  • Continuously develop greater awareness and understanding of people, programs and fields of expertise to ensure communications opportunities are leveraged
  • Seek and tell stories that exemplify our values and advance both our mission and vision
  • Ensure Arts maintains prominence in the mainstream media
  • Enhance social media strategy and explore options for use of new media and technologies
  • Provide ongoing support to partners in Advancement, including Alumni Relations, and to graduate and undergraduate recruitment

  • Emphasize communication of Indigenous scholarship, teaching, learning, and outreach in the University of Waterloo community; build awareness of Faculty of Arts opportunities to address the Calls to Action expressed in the report of the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (Action added May 2017)