Survey helps set path to excellence
As the University of Calgary gears up to roll out its next five-year strategy, a public consultation conducted last fall suggests there are lingering concerns over student experience and campus culture.
The U of C last week released the results of a three-month-long engagement of students, staff, faculty and others as it gears up for the next phase of the school’s Eyes High strategy, which will carry through into 2022. Dubbed Energizing Eyes High, the campuswide engagement saw more than 4,000 participants weigh in on the institution’s future, taking part in surveys and focus groups, with the results slated to become key parts of future planning.
The findings suggest those who weighed in are generally on board with the U of C’s primary goals to sharpen its focus on research and scholarship, and enrich the quality of learning and integration into the community. Some participants, however, expressed concerns about amenities and support for students, while also highlighting concerns about campus culture.
Stephan Guscott, president of the U of C’s student’s union, who sits on the strategy’s oversight committee, said the concerns identified in the consultation are pretty consistent with those he’s heard from students, but noted the school has already come a long way from when it first launched the Eyes High strategy in 2011.
“There have been some positive changes from 2011 and I think through this consultation, the feedback will address some of the gaps,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing that students are voicing their concerns about these things and I think the university will take their feedback very seriously.”
An analysis of comments collected regarding student experience during the consultation suggests student support is seen as lacking; access to Wi-Fi and study spaces need work; and resources are often difficult to access.
In terms of the school’s culture, some expressed concerns about “pockets of perceived disrespect” and a “lack of respect for diverse voices,” as well as a communication gap in strategic planning. Participants noted significant advances in recognizing and treating mental health, but indicated workload, flexibility and access to wellness resources remain concerns.
Even as the consultation revealed some lingering gaps, U of C president Elizabeth Cannon said the findings show the school is on the right track to achieving its lofty goals. Over the next month, the findings will be shared in small sessions with groups on campus while a refined strategic direction is finalized to be presented April 28.