Year-End Letter to the Kwantlen Community
Dear Colleagues:
Although I have been at Kwantlen for only six months, it might seem like I have been with you much longer. So much has been accomplished over the last half year. But these are exciting times, as we continue to pursue an agenda of change that will transform Kwantlen from being a university college to a university.
The holiday season is, of course, an opportunity to look back at what we have achieved, and to express appreciation for our good fortune. Certainly this is the case for Kwantlen. So many have worked very hard to get Kwantlen to where it is today, and we should all be grateful for their commitment and vision. The holiday season is, as well, a time for family and friends, as it provides an opportunity for us to catch our breaths. I hope all of you will enjoy a happy and peaceful holiday, and that it will allow you a period of renewal before what I know will be a busy and an exciting 2009.
I wish to extend to everyone my personal thanks for how you have welcomed my wife Terry and me to your community. I have also very much appreciated the guidance and insight you have extended to me about Kwantlen. It is a privilege for me to be here as President and to participate in Kwantlen’s first important steps as a university. While I know people tend to look at a new President for direction, I also know that Kwantlen’s success depends on everyone taking ownership over change and participating fully in it.
Together we must map out a strategy for Kwantlen’s future. The only way this will occur is to commit ourselves to openness and transparency in our interactions and to fully engage in the collegial decision making process fundamental to a university. This transformation away from a traditional management model will be challenging but it will also open up new possibilities for the University. Clear lines of authority will disappear to be replaced by people coming together to collectively make decisions for the institution. This change is something to which I am absolutely committed.
There has been much conjecture about what kind of university Kwantlen will be. This, though, is not something that we can determine in advance. Universities are by their nature organic institutions which grow over time in response to what society wants and needs. At the same time, however, we need to have a good sense of direction at least for the near future. In this connection, I encourage you to examine the draft priorities we have set for the University for next year. (see link below) They were developed in collaboration with the Deans, and were presented to Senate last week as part of Gordon Lee’s presentation on the budget. It is worth noting that this was the first time that such a presentation was made to Senate or to its predecessor, the Education Council.
Budget Strategic Priorities 2009-2010
http://www.kwantlen.ca/__shared/assets/Budget_Strategic_Priorities_2009-201010516.pdf
These priorities are intended to provide a context for our budget deliberations, which too often in the past were poorly understood and did not give adequate opportunity for institutional input. They grow out of the Creating Our Future document, as well as a report on institutional priorities prepared by our Deans, and are intended to enhance Kwantlen’s new role as a university. While we are limited by our funding situation, we need to have a good idea of what we want to do should resources be available and opportunities present themselves. I encourage you to give these priorities some thought, and to let us know your views. Let us not look for reasons why we can’t do things, but for reasons to pursue opportunities when they present themselves to us.
There are a number of issues implicit in these priorities. First, Kwantlen’s role in the future will be defined, in the first instance, by the academic programs it offers. This is a responsibility that falls on departments and Faculty councils within the broad mandate of Kwantlen as an institution committed to outstanding undergraduate education. Second, Kwantlen’s reputation will rest on developing a culture that puts our students first, and that provides opportunity to all students willing to work hard. This cannot be an empty commitment, but must shape everything we do. Third, we must be concerned about our own faculty and staff, who must have the opportunity to grow, as they take on new responsibilities which are part of being a university. Finally, we must go the extra step of communicating what we do both internally and externally. There are some who say that Kwantlen is too much taken for granted. We need to tell people what a great institution we are, and to celebrate the many contributions we make to our communities.
There is a lot to think about and a lot to do. But this is not the time to feel insecure or to wonder about our abilities. It is time to move forward, and to enable faculty, staff, and students to participate fully in the life of our very new university. There can be no room for doubt or second-guessing at Kwantlen. We have been given an extraordinary opportunity to shape a very special kind of institution that has the potential to profoundly shape the future of British Columbia.
Now, however, is a time to enjoy the festivities of the season. There are many celebrations, including Christmas, that come at this time of the year. This is far from coincidental. Celebrating as we do the longest night of the year, it is that time when we turn back to the light and to all the possibilities it represents. I hope that this occurs for every one of you. I extend my very best wishes for the holidays. May you enjoy this very special time of the year with family and friends.
David W. Atkinson
President & Vice-Chancellor
