As we conclude a very busy and successful term, I want to thank everyone for your hard work. It has been a challenging year, with significant change within the College student body, and shifting government priorities. The recent enrolment growth, increasing diversity and complexity of our students’ needs is being supported by significant investments in student services as well as the recently announced creation of new full-time faculty positions. Reflecting on these changes, I have determined that a restructuring of the Executive Team is also required to better support the needs of our students and the NC community.
Steve Hudson will continue to lead learner services, research, and the academic divisions, as Senior Vice-president Academic and Learner Services. In addition, Steve will take on leadership responsibility for implementation of the provincial government’s recently announced changes to the Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) process and the move of our operating funds into a performance funding system. These new processes will have to be in place for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, with 25% of our funding tied to new metrics that will be negotiated over the coming 10 months. The performance envelope is scheduled to rise to 60% of our operating funding by 2024-2025.
The Associate Vice-president Academic and Learner Services position will be changed, given the upcoming retirement of Dave Taylor in August of this year. A restructured Associate Vice-president Academic will lead our five academic divisions, with a core responsibility of ensuring strong programs, supporting faculty development and high levels of employer engagement. In recognition of the importance of outreach to applicants and of supporting robust student life and success initiatives, I am pleased to establish a new Associate Vice-president Learner Services, who will lead Enrolment Services, Student Services, Marketing & Recruitment, and Athletics & Recreation. Recruitment for these two positions will begin immediately.
Marc Nantel will take on an expanded role as Vice-president Research, Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, reflecting the increasing importance of research in our experiential learning, our engagement with industry and our impact on regional economic development. Marc will also provide leadership on the establishment of a Canadian Cannabis Research and Education Institute, which will leverage the College’s early moves into this area. He will also take on a leadership role in enhancing the partnership between our schools and research.
Reflecting their senior leadership responsibilities, Pam Skinner’s role will be retitled to Senior Vice-president Corporate Services and Sean Kennedy’s to Senior Vice-president International.
To maintain the size of the Executive Team, the role of Vice-president External Relations has been eliminated. The Alumni Relations and Development department and responsibility for external relations will now report to my office, and the Corporate Communications team will report to the Senior VP, Academic & Learner Services.
I want to thank Greg Medulun for his leadership and dedication to this portfolio over the last two and a half years and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
I believe this reorganization aligns our executive team roles with the strengths and needs of our College and positions us well for the future. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you tomorrow at the Day of Reflection.
