The Math Strategic Framework is grounded in the perspectives and priorities of our internal and external community members. In spring and fall 2023, two consultation phases engaged employees, students, alumni and external partners in consideration of the Faculty’s future. Participants in a series of workshops then reviewed consultation data to distill the Faculty’s strategic priorities.
Phase I consultations engaged 126 students, employees, alumni and external partners in 30 guided small-group discussions. These discussions were framed around reflections on the Waterloo at 100 vision. The Math Strategic Planning Committee (MSPC) reviewed the Phase I findings report during a June workshop.
Phase II consultations presented consolidated Phase I findings in an online confidential engagement tool shared with all employees and students. We asked respondents to prioritize initial consultation findings and to identify any ideas that had been missed. Over 300 responses were submitted, including over 180 open-ended comments.
In October 2023, about two dozen students and employees (the Math Planning Forum, or MPF) joined MSPC at an all-day workshop to review and process the aggregated consultation findings. MSPC met again in November to review these workshop findings and to shape objectives and strategic actions. MSPC and MPF then reviewed and refined the initial draft framework.
The final draft was shared with Math employees and student leaders in February 2024 for feedback to refine the final framework, published in March 2024.