Group of people gathered at a table during one of the strategic planning workshops in February.

Strategic Planning 2023-30

Our Strategic Plan has passed through governance and took effect July 1, 2023.

After extensive planning, analysis and two rounds of community consultation, the strategic plan proposal has moved through governance and is now approved.

Chancellor Jon Cornish and other community members gathered on the football field, raising their hands in celebration.

The University of Calgary’s remarkable trajectory reflects audacious growth and entrepreneurial spirit. Our students, faculty, staff, and community have built a bold university in less than 60 years.

What is next? How do we look beyond tomorrow?

We face universal challenges. But we are confident we can achieve global impact while remaining true to our Calgary community and values.

Based on our unique approach to teaching and learning, research excellence, community partnership, and campus operations, this Strategic Plan and our foundational commitments together lay a mosaic for the future.

The plan articulates goals, purpose, values and strategic approaches for the university from 2023 through 2030.

Our strategies

These strategies will position the University of Calgary to leap ahead of tomorrow. They address both what we do and how we do it:

Increase access to impactful and future-focused education

Goal: To educate transformative leaders.

Read more

Harness the power of research and innovation to tackle society’s biggest challenges

Goal: Maximize research impact.

Read more

Locate community at the centre of all we do

Goal: Enhance community relevance.

Read more

Make our processes clearer, simpler, and better than any other university

Goal: Ensure it is simpler and faster to set ideas in motion here than at any other university.

Read more

The Strategic Plan has been developed after analysis of strategy inputs, which are available for community review, and include:

People gathered in a room, sitting at tables, engaging in discussion about the strategic plan.

The planning process

Strategic plans at the University of Calgary are built from a combination of consultation and a review current plans, best practices and environmental conditions. The process is overseen by the Strategic Planning Oversight Committee, made up of representatives from groups across the University. A Working Group made up of academic experts and university staff assemble materials and manage the day-to-day process. The strategic plan must ultimately go through the university’s governance processes and be approved by the General Faculties Council and Board of Governors.

Timeline

Timeline graphic
Woman interacting with an activation station, placing a coloured sticky note on a board.

Phase 1

The strategic planning process begins with planning and pre-consultation. Constituent groups across the University are canvassed for their views on the scope of the strategic plan and the process through which it will be constructed.

People gathered in the Viewpoint Circle room in Mathison Hall, engaging in a Strategic Planning Workshop.

Phase 2

From there, the first round of community consultation officially begins as the community is consulted on the goals, objectives, differentiators and priorities through surveys, workshops and written submissions. External feedback is also sought.

What we heard report cover

Phase 3

After our community consultation, a “what we’ve heard” report is released that summarizes input to date and a second round of community consultation begins that allows time for additional conversations and more focused consultations with the external community and experts across campus.

20,613 survey responses
3,241 workshop participants
59 online submissions
23,913 total consultation participation

Phase 4 - Governance approval

At this point a strategic plan proposal is released. Before any plan takes effect, it must have governance approval from the Board of Governors and General Faculties Council.

Governance approval timeline

Where we've been

Eyes High Strategy

In 2016-17, the University of Calgary’s original Eyes High strategic direction (published in 2011) was refreshed following five years of underpinning foundational transformation, planning development, priority identification, and resource allocation at the University of Calgary.

Learn more

Framework for Growth

We’re on a mission to provide an exceptional student experience and committed support to a world-class faculty.

Learn more

Community Report

A celebration of our achievements over the past five years.

Learn more