Message from the President

I am very pleased to present to you the first results of our strategic planning exercise, Vision 2010. The exercise, which was conducted in the spirit of complete transparency, started in January 2004 with an extensive internal consultation involving the entire University community: students, support staff, professors and administrative staff. Next, twelve roundtable forums provided a platform for participants to discuss the main issues that emerged from the consultation. The summary of the discussions then provided the backdrop for internal and external consultations.

In January 2005, the Senate adopted the University's vision, mission, values, directions and goals. In the following months, faculties and services drafted their own strategic plans and submitted accompanying action plans.

Now, I am excited and proud to present the accompanying report highlighting the main initiatives that have emerged or that will emerge in the coming months and years. The University foresees major investments in projects such as the Institute of Official Languages and Bilingualism, the Immersion Program, the Academic Leadership Centre, space development, and transforming the library into a hub for 21st-century research, among others.

Of course, like any action plan, ours needs further development and detailing. For instance, over the next few years, graduate studies will be an important focus in our bid to attract more students, create new programs and hire new professors. This is why Vision 2010 is a work in progress.

In 2010, we will have every reason to celebrate if the vision we created for our institution has helped us build and grow together, and if all members of our community can assert they had everything needed to reach their potential. The University of Ottawa is our heritage and it is our responsibility to pass on an even stronger institution to future generations.

Gilles G. Patry
President and Vice-Chancellor