Academic Plan

The Academic Plan serves as a guideline and prioritization of actions that will advance What’s Next: The SFU Strategy, while affirming our institutional commitment to the academic mission.

Led by our values, in particular the values of academic freedom and critical thinking, the Academic Plan ensures teaching and learning remain at the forefront of all we do.

Get involved

The current five-year plan ends this year and preparations for the new Academic Plan (2025-2030) are underway. Academic planning is a continuous process that ensures SFU programs, research, engagement and support activities are well-positioned to achieve our collective goals and address challenges and opportunities in the years ahead.

Each academic unit prepares an individual plan that supports focus areas in the Academic Plan, and helps in understanding what each faculty, department/school or unit wants to achieve.

Units will be building plans for a challenging enrolment and financial period and a collaborative planning process, informed by multi-year budget forecasting, is in place to ensure sustainable operations throughout the university.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the academic planning process and connect with their faculty/unit planning teams in Fall 2024.

timeline

Summer 2024

Early engagement with academic leaders and SFU leadership on the first draft of the institutional Academic Plan, which includes draft focus areas and potential goals.
The Academic Plan provides a working roadmap for faculty/units to follow as they build their individual five-year plans aligned with What’s Next: The SFU Strategy.

Fall 2024

Faculty/unit planning teams and working groups develop individual five-year plans aligned with the institutional Academic Plan as well as What’s Next: The SFU Strategy.

Dec 2024

Each dean/program lead or designated alternate submits the faculty/unit Academic Plan for 2025-2030.

Early 2025

Academic Plan and individual faculty/unit plans completed and shared with SCUP and Senate for approval and to the Board of Governors for information purposes.

Draft focus areas

To support the academic planning process and ensure alignment with institutional priorities, SFU academic leaders and senior administrators identified six focus areas for the Academic Plan that will drive the university toward the vision outlined in What’s Next: The SFU Strategy.

Program and curriculum renewal, assessment and improvement
Research that matters
Indigenization and decolonization
Developing a culture of inclusive excellence
Expanding internationalization
Improving institutional effectiveness

Each focus area has draft goals, which will be further developed in the fall based on consultation and development of plans by faculties and other units; these plans will collectively advance the university strategy.

The Academic Plan and individual faculty/unit plans will be shared with Senate and SCUP in January 2025 for final approval.

Draft plan

Review Draft 2 of the Academic Plan

Contact info

Please contact your Faculty/Unit for details on how to get involved..

What’s Next: The SFU Strategy and the Academic Plan

The SFU Strategy provides a clear connection across our vision, purpose, and values. Four priorities outline our framework for action: Uphold Truth and Reconciliation, Engage in Global Challenges, Make a Difference for B.C., and Transform the SFU Experience.

The Academic Plan provides a working roadmap for individual faculties/units to follow as they develop their own plans that will advance What’s Next: The SFU Strategy.