VIU has developed a new strategic plan. People, Place, Potential will be implemented between 2021 and 2026 to guide the University’s activities.
The University made the announcement on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. In a press release, VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Saucier stated, “The Strategic Plan will help us chart the course to become the University we want to be … Building on our strengths, VIU envisions a unique educational experience that is more accessible, more inclusive and more deeply rooted in community.”
There are three core values in the Strategic Plan—People, Place, and Potential—and six commitments. They are to:
- Welcome a bigger and more diverse student population;
- Become a healthier and more inclusive environment for work and study;
- Develop into the region’s hub for expertise and research;
- Form stronger relationships with Indigenous communities;
- Become a trailblazer in education for later generations; and
- Expand career-building and life-enriching experiences.
The plan grew out of a March 2020 consultation with over 2,000 people connected to VIU. Students, alumni, employees, and community members shared their views on what makes the university unique and what they wanted for its future. VIU collected feedback through emails, surveys, Zoom sessions, face-to-face meetings, and an online engagement platform.
Saucier said, “The plan wouldn’t have been possible without that participation. The ideas and stories from our communities allowed us to focus on what matters most to VIU. The result is a strategic decision that will guide us into the future.”
The draft plan, and additional information, is available on the VIU website and in this video.
