FNU Unveils Strategic Plan
- Judy Bird | December 03, 2013
The First Nations University of Canada set out its plan for continued growth for the next five years.
Lighting the Path: First Nations University of Canada Strategic Plan 2013-2018 was officially launched on Monday December 2 at the Universitys Regina Campus. The plan has four themes: Indigenous Languages, Cultures and Traditions; Innovative Student Learning Experience; Sustainable Growth; and Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement. Each theme has specific goals outlined that the university will work towards achieving over the next five years.
The plan is the result of consultation with community partners, elders, faculty, staff, stakeholder communities including the University of Regina, the Ministry of Advanced Education, FNU students and other partners. An implementation committee will be created, made up of faculty, staff, administrators, and others to implement the plan and work toward the goals.
"It's a work in progress but it certainly sets the road map out for what were going to do in the future," said Juliano Tupone, Acting President and Vice President of Finance with the First Nations University of Canada.
Sustainable growth includes securing funding sources.
"All signals we are receiving is that funding will remain in place," said Tupone.
The university is working to secure new tenants to replace Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, which revenue represents about five percent of its budget. More importantly, the university is taking steps to regain administrative control of its finances.
"We've been working with the U of R to identify how we can do that in the short term and do away with the administrator, which are Meyers Norris Penny and the University of Regina. The plan is hopefully next year to have control of our finances back with continued oversight and management by the University of Regina. That's one goal that we're close to achieving."
Student enrolment and retention are crucial to the success of this plan. In the past year, there has been a 15% increase in student enrolment at the university, and the trend is expected to continue. The university also plans to increase its community-based programming to reach more students.
"We're developing new programs that are very exciting for students, and in addition were teaching in a number of First Nations communities. We're teaching in four right now, we have plans to go out into several others over the next year," said Dr. Lynn Wells, Vice President of Academics with the First Nations University.
"Students were stakeholders in the plan so we did have a voice in the strategic plan," said Jaqueline Anaquod, president of the FNU Student Association. "We wanted to ensure that we retain our indigenous educators, our professors, staff, faculty, and to ensure that our elders always have a voice. So much of who we are is here. In academia you hear a lot about science, western knowledge and Indigenous knowledge. When you come to university here, you get the best of both worlds."
The strategic plan is available on the FNU website.