Last spring, I initiated the process of creating a five year Strategic Plan for the Faculty of Mathematics. Our founding and development to this point were based on a strategic vision for Mathematics at Waterloo that has resulted in a Faculty specializing in mathematics and computer science, but on a scale that is unique worldwide. Our faculty members are known widely for their eminence; our graduates have gone on to academic positions in the best universities, and to an amazing number of key leadership positions in industry.
Development of this plan has been guided by a small Strategic Planning Working Group that focused on gathering and analyzing feedback from the community through surveys, focus groups and interviews with key informants. In December, a one-day workshop was held to identify priority areas, goals and actions for the Faculty through to 2017. From March through June of this year, we benefited from additional community feedback obtained from all units within the Faculty through in-person meetings and web-based surveys.
What did this feedback tell us about the current state of the Faculty and the environment in which we are operating? It underscored the importance of excellent research and teaching, which enables our undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students to reach their full potential. It highlighted for us that advancements in research, teaching and program delivery rest on the shoulders of highly skilled, dedicated faculty and staff, and requires good workspaces, infrastructure and services, together with strong relations with high schools, alumni, employers and academic colleagues around the world. It emphasized the growing importance of meaningful and sustained communication and engagement, both internally and externally, with a significant international aspect. On behalf of the working group, I would like to thank the many people who provided the thoughtful feedback that was key to our planning process.
What do we plan for the next five years? Our vision is to further our development as a world leader in mathematics and computer science. To achieve this, our plan incorporates Strategic Goals in 7 Priority Areas. These are centred on the people - faculty, staff and students - who define the Faculty and determine how we will achieve success as an organization. Most importantly, we need to recruit and retain the very best people - scholars and teachers, support staff, undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. In support of this, we need appropriate facilities, programs and communications; our reach should be international and our collective actions should facilitate our sense of community.
Thank you to the members of the Strategic Planning Working Group – faculty members Christiane Lemieux, Jeff Orchard, Ross Willard, staff members Amy Aldous, Jack Rehder, Ingrid Town, and undergraduate student leader, Andre Gomes Magalhaes. Thanks also to our external consultant, Diana Royce, who provided great expertise and support throughout the process.
I will enjoy working with you to achieve our goals.
Ian
Goulden
Dean,
University
of
Waterloo
Faculty
of
Mathematics
July
2012