Principal Woolf's priorities for his first year at Queen's

In his first year as Principal, Daniel Woolf will lead, in conjunction with the Vice-Principals and Deans, campus-wide consultations and conversations leading to the development of a university academic plan for teaching and research that will inform and be fully integrated with related operating and capital budget planning. He will also lead work on a plan for financial sustainability and develop a framework for the longer project of reviewing university governance.

During this period, Dr. Woolf will continue to work towards building relationships within the broader Queen's community, the city of Kingston and all three levels of government, as well as engaging in broad public debate on matters affecting the higher education sector. He will also be participating in teaching and research in his home department.

The Principal's priorities include:

• Assembling and energizing the leadership team, which will include a review of the Vice-Principal portfolios and their responsibilities, moving toward closer integration of these positions, and the recruitment of three new Vice-Principals (Finance and Administration, Advancement and Research).


• Developing an academic plan to identify strengths and areas of excellence, as well as institution-wide priorities in teaching and research. The Principal will formulate his academic vision for Queen's by the end of 2009, to be followed by a consensus-building, campus-wide dialogue over the next several months, and leading to an academic plan draft to be taken through governance in the fall of 2010.


• Developing a preliminary strategic plan for Advancement, encompassing a first-draft campaign strategy from the new Vice-Principal, personal contact with key donors and campaign leaders, increased annual giving and rate of alumni support, and new significant major gifts.


• Creating incentive funds for innovative learning, interdisciplinary research and community engagement and promotion of diversity.


• Making substantial progress on financial issues, including the long-term resolution of operating budget and capital construction challenges.


• Integrating the Principal into the Queen's and Kingston communities through personal appearances, drop-ins across campus, attendance as time permits at departmental events, town halls, the use of new media and the establishment of an Advisory Forum of students, staff and faculty.


• Improving civic relations through discussions with Kingston and area officials and community groups to increase campus-city engagement and positive relations.


• Developing a process for governance reform to move the University's three governing bodies from being largely "information" sessions to being "deliberative" bodies that deal with strategic and high-level issues.


• Making substantial progress on developing a sustainable financial plan driven by the academic plan, including the long-term resolution of operating budget and capital construction challenges.