Principal Sets Year Two Priorities

September 2010

In his first year at Queen's, Principal Daniel Woolf launched an intensive academic planning process with his January 2010 "Where Next?" vision document. Teaching and research are Queen's core activities; the academic plan, when completed, will guide all institutional decision-making. A significant aspect of this process has entailed ongoing consultation with all sectors of the university community which will continue this year.

Dr. Woolf also embarked on a series of continuing campus visits to faculties, departments, student groups, and other units. He met with alumni across the country, in the United States and the UK to further enhance alumni relations; in the past year, advancement activities generated $53.9 million.

In addition to his engagement with provincial and national university organizations and government advocacy, Dr. Woolf participated in international missions to India and Israel with Premier Dalton McGuinty; during the latter mission he made two separate visits to universities in the West Bank. He has also established new working relationships with institutional partners and colleagues in countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, India, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden and Germany.

Principal Woolf's 2010-2011 priorities include:

• Enhancing faculty, staff, student, and alumni engagement:  In the coming year, Dr. Woolf will continue to reach out across the community to enhance engagement and in particular, work to build consensus for the ongoing process and eventual content of the academic plan. Extending the timeline for the plan's development and approval ensures significant opportunities for cross-campus input, consultation and discussion. Outreach and clear, consistent communications that seek to involve the Queen's community in working through the challenges we face regarding university finances, the budget and the pension plan will also be a focus.
• Integrating the Senior Leadership Team: The Principal is now working with a new team of Vice-Principals led by an inaugural Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). Dr. Woolf will promote continued integration across senior administration in both longer-term planning and priority-setting, as well as in day-to-day operations and service delivery. A search for a full-term Provost has been initiated and it is expected the position will be filled by summer 2011.
• Improving Government Relations: In his first year as Principal, Dr. Woolf sought to re-establish Queen's presence in government circles (with an emphasis in the first instance on our major funder, the provincial government) and enhance Queen's-City relations here in Kingston. In 2010-2011, the Principal plans to engage multiple areas of the university in more strategic government relations, with an increased focus on the federal government and granting councils, and to develop full-scale strategies and execute operational plans; these will identify and promote alignment between Queen's strengths and government interests to increase government operating and capital support for the University's priorities.
• Implementing Governance Reform:Principal Woolf led the establishment of the Queen's University Planning Committee better to link academic and financial decision making, improve institution-wide integrated planning, provide a bridge between Senate and the Board of Trustees, and conduct reviews of initiatives that are developed in different parts of the university. Chaired by the Provost, this Committee is expected to be up and running in fall 2010. The Board is also planning to shrink itself to reflect a general trend among modern charitable, not-for-profit and corporate boards and increase its effectiveness. This requires amendments to Queen's Charter, which need parliamentary approval. This process is expected to begin in fall 2010.
• Building on a strong Advancement foundation:   After a year spent connecting with alumni and Queen's supporters on campus and at meetings and events in nine Canadian cities, the United States and Britain, the Principal will now focus on campaign planning in partnership with campaign volunteers and will be guided by a strategic plan for Advancement that is being developed under the leadership of Vice-Principal (Advancement) Tom Harris.
• Positioning Queen's for the years ahead: Planning within the Principal's Office will focus on strategies to best position the institution for the future. Queen's is unique in Canada in that it is a mid-sized university that excels in undergraduate and graduate education and research. We are also known for our exceptional student experience, strong community, tradition and spirit. These are values we will build on as we look ahead to our 175th anniversary in 2016.