Background
Just over one year ago (April 27th 2005) Nipissing University released its Strategic Plan entitled Addressing our Future 2005-2010. It contained a new vision and mission statement, and a set of five values that will guide the University in its future planning. This strategic plan identified six goals and twenty-two objectives which will provide a blueprint for charting our future development and growth.
Part of Nipissing’s Strategic Plan requires the creation of an Academic Master Plan. All existing academic units as well as advocates of possible new program areas were invited to participate and contribute. The three stage process is desribed below:
Stage 1 – Program Level
ØDivisions, departments or individuals are invited to complete planning templates on improving or expanding existing programs, or on developing and implementing new (undergraduate or graduate) programs.
ØThese templates include: program description; learning objectives; fit with Strategic Plan; existing and proposed new resources; 4-year implementation plan; cost estimates; and statements on program quality and viability.
This website contains the completed templates for divisions, departments and individuals in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. If you wish to view those templates please click on "Access the protected area" and type the password below in the box that appears on your screen.
Stage 2 – Faculty Level
TThese Stage 1 program templates will be submitted to a “faculty-level” planning committee. Similar committees will be established in Education and for Graduate Studies. It will be the task of each planning committee to produce a prioritized 4-year planning “matrix” for its respective area (with a rationale), including both current and proposed new programs.
Stage 3 – University Level
ØThe Stage 2 plans from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Faculty of Education and will be submitted to the President and the two VPs for consolidation into a University-wide 4-year Academic Master Plan. Participants are reminded that Stage 3 will proceed, not in isolation, but in consultation with the Deans and Chairs.
ØOnce this is completed the AMP will then be brought to the Academic Planning Committee, for conveyance to, and hopefully adoption by, the Senate and the Board.
Our ultimate goal is a comprehensive academic plan which establishes Nipissing’s “program priorities” for the next several years. Specifically, we hope to identify existing program areas which merit strengthening or expansion and new program areas worthy of strategic investment and development, based in both cases on their “fit” with the Strategic Plan, and on their potential to raise the University’s academic and/or research profile and to enhance our economic viability through enrolment growth and stability. Current programs which are not so identified must not be seen as “losers” in this exercise. Rather, they will continue to have important and valued roles as “supporting players”.
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