After months of consultation, the Board of Governors at Conrad Grebel University College approved a strategic plan to take the College to the year 2020. Board Chair, Fred Redekop of Floradale, ON, noted that “the previous plan which focused on academic facility enhancements, academic growth and faculty renewal was completed this year and our board needed to look ahead.”
In the last 5 years, Grebel successfully completed a major building project, started a new Masters in PACS, and replaced 8 faculty members who retired.
The new strategic plan focuses on the future but draws on Grebel’s inherent strengths. External consultants from Blue Leap met with more than 30 people and conducted intense surveys of a variety of stakeholders including alumni, church leaders, faculty, and students. “Our exploration quickly indicated that Grebel is a trusted meeting place bringing together people with similar values but from different backgrounds. Grebel is recognized widely as a place that values and builds community and this must be nurtured and developed,” said Cam Shapansky partner at Blue Leap.
“Our research partners were struck by the depth of loyalty and engagement from our constituents and reminded us about how rare this is,” said James Barber, board secretary, from Markham, ON.
After seeing the data and feedback, the strategic plan team chose the theme “Extending the Grebel Table” as a way to illustrate the plan. “We consolidated the research and focused our impact in four areas,” noted Susan Schultz Huxman, the College’s president. “These areas include our people, our programs, our facilities, and our constituencies.”
Community building is at the core of each aspect and success indicators were named for each area. For example, Enriching People and Positions includes collaborative research, developing a shared identity, and a faculty retention plan.
The plan for Program Development includes the creation of a certificate program in Theological Studies in partnership with Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and the exploration of a Rotary International Peace partnership.
Facility Enhancement for the campus involves the feasibility study for a music performance space and improvement to the dining facilities.
Growing the Constituencies involves a focus on student recruitment, but also involves new partnerships and active integration of existing programs and constituencies.
Board member Geraldine Balzer from Saskatoon, came to Grebel from Saskatchewan as a student in the 70s and has had two daughters attend the College. “This new strategic plan continues and builds on the foundations of community, faith, and scholarly excellence, while considering our changing world and demographics,” says Balzer. “The continued commitment to community, to faith, and the access to the University of Waterloo are all evident in this plan.”
Lowell Ewert, the Faculty rep to the Board observed, “What is also equally important as the plan itself is the process. The process that was undertaken to bring the Board, Faculty, Staff, and other constituents together to develop and support a common vision makes it more likely that the plan will be enthusiastically implemented.”
Student Council President Kenny Hildebrand noted that “the metaphoric table has extended so future students are better equipped to develop as a community, as leaders, and as academics. This strategic plan aims to significantly enhance the experience of future Grebelites. The next half-century is off to a great start for students.”
Working groups are being formed to take leadership on the specific initiatives and will drive the plan over the next 5 years. “I’m really pleased by the work the Board did on this strategic plan and the direction and guidance it provides to enrich and extend our mission `to serve church and society,’” said Huxman. “We need to extend the Grebel Table to a wider variety of people and share our resources. Adding a few `leaves to the table’ will make our community more welcoming and extend the impact we can make.”
Details of the plan can be found at www.uwaterloo.ca/grebel/2020
For more information contact:
Jennifer Konkle
Communication Coordinator
Conrad Grebel University College
519-885-0220 x24229
cell: 226-339-6830
jkonkle@uwaterloo.ca
uwaterloo.ca/grebel