When Chancellor Carole Taylor and I stood in front of a crowd at the Bill Reid Gallery one year ago today to launch a new Strategic Vision for SFU, I will admit to a moment of pride tinged with anxiety.

Pride because of the remarkable commitment and effort of the many people who contributed to the process of envisioning SFU as The Engaged University.

Anxiety because, well, it’s one thing to launch a vision…and quite another to make it fly.

But 12 months on, there is plenty of evidence that SFU is making significant progress toward its goal of being “the leading engaged university defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research, and far-reaching community engagement.”

We have, for example, just completed a new academic plan that aims to enhance the undergraduate student experience by broadening opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning and research activities.

Our commitment to engaging research has been affirmed by recent honours that place SFU among the top 10 research universities in Canada, and number one in research impact amongst comprehensive universities.

And, in the area of community engagement, we are already preparing for the second season of SFU Public Square – a signature initiative that aims to establish SFU as the institution the community looks to for enlightenment and dialogue on key public issues.

These are just a few examples among many that illustrate how the vision is doing what it was meant to do: helping to align and build upon existing strengths, and to provide impetus and support for new ideas and opportunities.

Since the launch last February, I've been struck by how often I'm approached by individuals connected to SFU – students, professors, staff members and graduates – who are keen to tell me how their projects, research, work and volunteer efforts are contributing to SFU’s vision as an “engaged university.”

Clearly our year-old vision has been embraced by many, and is already having a positive impact on what we do and how we are perceived.   

I can hardly wait to see where it takes us in the years ahead.