As we look forward to a holiday season of rest, we wanted to share a brief update with you about an exciting process in the new year. Emily Carr University will be embarking on the co-creation of a new Strategic Plan, and we’d like you to be a part of it.

What is strategic planning?

Strategic planning is the process of defining ECU’s strategy for the next few years: what we want to achieve, and how we will get there. We know each member of our community supports teaching, learning, and research at Emily Carr through distinctive, valuable activities. The strategic plan is a road map that encompasses all of these interconnected ways we work together as a university community.

A strategic plan tells the story of who we are, and who we want to be. It’s a reflection of our nearly 100 years of history; our commitment to reconciliation and to equity, diversity, and inclusion; and our position as the top-ranked university for art and design in Canada. It’s rooted in specific targets and goals, which will enable us to evaluate our progress and accomplishments over time.

Why are we doing it now?

Emily Carr’s last Strategic Plan was a four-year plan covering priorities, goals, and activities from 2017 to 2021. As that period of time comes to a close, we are looking ahead to the next phase of our institutional growth and development.

How can I be involved?

There will be many ways to get involved with the strategic planning process. We expect it will take between 12 and 18 months to develop and finalize ECU’s new plan. Along the way, there will be opportunities for everyone to participate and contribute ideas through events, surveys, focus groups, and more.

What’s the impact?

Strategic planning gives us a common language as an institution when considering our shared priorities and goals, and helps us work together to advance the quality of our education, research, and contributions to the broader community.

Goals within the strategic plan are specific, so that we can report back to our stakeholders (including you) about what we’ve achieved. We’ll be sharing the outcomes and results of ECU’s 2017-2021 Strategic Plan with you early in the new year.

What’s next?

In January, we’ll put out an open call to the ECU community and invite you to submit expressions of interest to join the Strategic Planning Advisory Group.

This is the group that will guide the planning process and facilitate engagement opportunities for our community members. If you want to help shape the future of ECU, have ideas for how we can grow, and would be excited to collaborate with a diverse group of your peers— this is a unique opportunity to be involved in that work.

Beyond the Advisory Group, there will be many other ways to get involved in the development of ECU’s Strategic Plan, so stay tuned! We look forward to learning from you all and to the exciting work ahead! See you in the new year!