Principles for Development of Off-Campus Sites

  • normally, the University services its existing programs on the main Waterloo campus
  • new campuses (such as Cambridge and Kitchener) will be considered when they will prove beneficial to UW’s academic mission and when there is a compelling business case (covering initial capital costs and ongoing costs) which has general support across the campus community; when programs can be located off-site without unduly compromising the quality of a larger campus experience; and when academic excellence can be achieved
  • detailed business cases will be developed for each proposal and Board of Governors’ approval requested before formal commitments are made; the benefits to the University and to the local community under consideration (including their expectations) will be identified to the extent possible
  • “new campuses” will be pursued internationally which fulfill specific academic objectives; where the physical elements are normally owned and operated by local entities located in that country; and the University delivers the academic program(s)
  • the University will pursue, to the extent possible, the availability of expansion lands at each new campus location in Canada
  • the University will pursue greenfield sites where ever practical; where the possibility exists that the land or building have been exposed to adverse environmental impacts or it is a known brownfield site, the University will only accept title to the property once a successful record of site condition, acknowledged by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), is issued confirming that the property meets MOE’s criteria for residential development
  • technology will be used to connect the campus populations to the extent possible
  • new campus development will identify how synergies can be leveraged from the main campus for both academic programming and student services
  • regular reviews, including cost-benefit analysis of multiple campus configurations, will ensure ongoing viability

Approved by the Board of Governors, February 6, 2007
Revised June 3, 2008