MANDATE WORKING GROUP: DRAFT REPORT

1. MANDATE WORKING GROUP:DRAFT REPORT PRESENTED TO SENATE APRIL 27, 2012

2. A Changing Environment for Universities • Rising demand for university education for social and economic ends • Government’s view of universities as having a role in community and economic development • Lively debates about modes of delivery • Increased public and government accountability • An opportunity for universities to demonstrate leadership – social, cultural, economic and scientific

3. The Ontario Context • History of provincial agreements with universities – e.g. Double cohort • Introduction of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) • Ontario Budget 2011 and the Open Ontario Plan • 2011 announcement of new five-year plan “Putting Students First” • The differentiation debate • Announcement of new Mandate and Accountability Agreements • The post-election picture

4. The Mandate Working Group Report • Based on three interconnected paths of work: • Review of Carleton-specific and comparative performance data • Analysis of the policy context – provincial priorities and constraints • Wide consultation within the university

5. The Working Premise • This is a moment when we have more than a responsibility to respond. • An opportunity now exists for each Ontario university to be proactive in articulating how it sees its role in making a distinctive contribution to post-secondary education in the context of the Province’s current priorities.

6. Carleton’s Role • We have a mission in common with other universities • Our breadth of academic and intellectual activity is fundamental to confront issues which change and whose character changes over time • We have used our broad disciplinary base to respond flexibly and creatively to respond to changing circumstances – often being at the forefront of interdisciplinarity • Carleton has led in times of change and challenge

7. Our Future Should Be Built on Our Strengths: Principles to Guide Our Future • Carleton will: • Build on its capital advantage • Build on its student-focused strategy • Build on its achievements in pure and applied research • Build on its record of innovation in curriculum development • Build on its tradition of innovative and successful enrolment management • Emphasize its role as an institution engaged with the community • Continue its role as a leader in monitoring academic and administrative performance and quality improvement

8. Short Term Priorities That Emphasize Teaching Excellence, Experiential Learning and Student Engagement • We will emphasize and reward teaching excellence • We will strengthen our focus on learning outcomes, degree level expectations and transferrable skills • We will emphasize experiential learning and student engagement

9. Short Term Priorities That Build a New Relationship With Colleges and Increase Access • Consideration of new modes of program and course delivery • Consideration of new approaches to structuring curriculum • Expansion of support initiatives for students • Continue our leadership in providing supports to students with special needs

10. Short Term Priorities That Emphasize Efficiency and Effectiveness • We will benchmark and collaborate with other institutions towards improving system efficiency

11. Short Term Priorities that Address Broader Provincial Priorities • Our research and program development will emphasize interdisciplinarity graduating HQP equipped to make contributions to solving complex problems • We will focus on research • We will play a focused, active role in regional economic development with a view to linking our local, national and international missions

12. Short Term Priorities that Ensure Accountability • We will maintain our leadership role in academic quality assurance, administrative innovation and financial leadership among Ontario universities

13. Carleton Is Positioned to Provide Leadership • The strongest of ties between research, teaching and community service • Our location in the capital enabling a local, regional, national and global reach • Our disciplinary expertise and interdisciplinary orientation • Our traditions of engagement and diversity • Our commitment to outstanding student experiences and outcomes