Envisioning the Future of FHSS - Writing a new chapter of open and flexible online Humanities and Social Sciences Learning - Athabasca University

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Envisioning the Future of FHSS - Writing a new chapter of open and flexible online Humanities and Social Sciences Learning - Athabasca University
2015-2019
            Envisioning
            the Future
            of FHSS                                            Writing a new chapter
                                                               of open and flexible online
                                                              Humanities and Social
                                                              Sciences Learning

              1 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Envisioning the Future of FHSS - Writing a new chapter of open and flexible online Humanities and Social Sciences Learning - Athabasca University
Envisioning
the Future of FHSS
2015-2019
Contents             3    Appreciating the best of what              18 Appendices
                          was and is in the FHSS                     18 Appendix A: The Appreciative
                     3    Introduction                                  Inquiry process
                     3    FHSS overview                              20 Appendix B: Questions from the FHSS
                     4    - Course and program offerings                day of Appreciative Inquiry. “Envisioning
                     7    - Our students and staff                      the Future of FHSS” (February 13, 2014)
                     8    Vision                                     20 Appendix C: Questions from the FHSS
                     8    - Vision statement                            face-to-face and online input sessions
                     9    - Context                                     (March 19 – April 24, 2014)
                     9    Strategic goals                            21 Appendix D: Envisioning the future
                     10   goal 1. Standing tall: To lead open and       of FHSS process highlights
                          online humanities and social sciences
                          education
                     10   - Strategic objectives
                     10   - Priority actions
                     12   goal 2. Speaking up: To share our story
                          with a new voice
                     12   - Strategic objectives
                     13   - Priority actions
                     14   goal 3. Seeking out: To do research that
                          informs and transforms
                     14   - Strategic objectives
                     14   - Priority actions
                     15   goal 4. Sharing in: To build community
                          in and through the FHSS
                     15   - Strategic objectives
                     15   - Priority actions
                     16   Implementation and evaluation
                          frameworks
                     16   Strategy implementation framework
                     17   Strategy evaluation framework

                     2 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Envisioning the Future of FHSS - Writing a new chapter of open and flexible online Humanities and Social Sciences Learning - Athabasca University
Appreciating the best
of what was and is in the FHSS

Introduction      Starting in February 2014, Athabasca            Over the course of a year, the Faculty
                  University (AU)’s Faculty of Humanities         worked collaboratively to identify the
                  and Social Sciences (FHSS) engaged in           strengths and accomplishments of
                  a strategic planning process guided by          the FHSS, and to chart the course for
                  Appreciative Inquiry. An explanation            a bold and transformative future. This
                  of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and a full         document presents the strategies,
                  delineation of the FHSS’ processes can          goals and objectives we will undertake
                  be found in Appendices A through D.             over the next five years to create the
                                                                  foundation for a reenergized Faculty
                                                                  that will establish excellence in online
                                                                  Humanities and Social Sciences
                                                                  education in Canada.

FHSS overview     The FHSS was established in the fall of         The FHSS is comprised of three
                  2009 along with four other faculties.           academic centres: the Centre for
                  The FHSS is a diverse faculty, offering         Humanities, the Centre for Social
                  a broad range of arts curriculum,               Sciences, and the Centre for
                  including general studies, humanities,          Interdisciplinary Studies. AU’s Write Site,
                  interdisciplinary studies, professional         an online writing centre that develops
                  arts and social sciences courses and            and supports student writing across the
                  programs. The Faculty’s purpose is              University, is also housed in the Faculty.
                  informed by the university’s mandate            The FHSS also hosts AU’s Writer-in-
                  and mission to reduce barriers and              Residence program, a unique virtual
                  facilitate student success. The FHSS            residency, during which the writer in
                  provides accessible and flexible learning       residence mentors AU students and
                  opportunities through its commitment            other members of the AU community, as
                  to its curriculum, research and service.        well as the greater writing community
                  In the coming years, we are committed           beyond AU.
                  to refining and strengthening the
                  Faculty’s student- and learning-centred
                  focus.

                                                                  Group photo from the Appreciative Inquiry
                                                                  conversation on February 13th, 2014

                  3 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Envisioning the Future of FHSS - Writing a new chapter of open and flexible online Humanities and Social Sciences Learning - Athabasca University
Course and program offerings   The FHSS currently offers one graduate
                               and five undergraduate degree
                               programs. The FHSS curricula provide
                               both breadth and diversity in our course
                               and program offerings. Our Bachelor of
                               Arts degree contains thirteen majors.           Bachelor of Arts Majors
                                                                               Anthropology
                               A three-year Bachelor of Arts degree            Canadian Studies
                               shares twelve of these as concen­               English
                               trations, and there is a comprehensive          French
                               offering of minors in the BA.                   History
                                                                               Humanities
                               In addition to our BA majors, the FHSS          Information Systems
                               offers undergraduate courses in many            Labour Studies
                               other disciplines, including: Art History,      Political Economy
                               Classics, Cultural Studies, Economics,          Political Science
                               Education Studies, Environmental                Psychology
                               Studies, German, Geography, Global              Sociology
                               Studies, International Relations, Legal         Women’s and Gender Studies
                               Studies, Music, Philosophy, Political
                               Economy, Religious Studies and Spanish.

                               The FHSS also offers four majors within
                               the Bachelor of Professional Arts.              Bachelor of Professional Arts Majors
                                                                               Criminal Justice
                               In addition, the FHSS delivers a Bachelor       Communication Studies
                               of Health Administration (BHADM)                Governance, Law and Management
                               and a Bachelor of Human Resources               Human Services
                               and Labour Relations (BHRLR). The
                               BHADM ​is based on an understanding
                               of health as a complex social construct
                               and enables prospective health
                               care administrators to develop the
                               values, knowledge and skills that
                               are essential for managing health
                               care and public health services. The
                               BHRLR is a multidisciplinary program
                               that addresses all aspects of human
                               resource management, labour relations
                               and human resource development,
                               examining employment relations within
                               their social, legal, political and economic
                               contexts.

                               4 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Bachelor of Health Administration

            Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations

Master of Arts—Integrated Studies

                                          5 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Furthermore, our Bachelor of General        The Faculty also offers a number of
Studies (BGS) combines transfer credit      undergraduate university certificates
and coursework in applied studies,          and diplomas (nine certificates and two
arts, business, and sciences, leading to    diplomas) across our curriculum.
degree completion. The Faculty makes
extensive use of block credit transfer      Current graduate offerings include a
of other credentials and individual         Master’s and two professional post-
course transfers to expedite degree         baccalaureate programs. Our Master
completion, along with alternative          of Arts–Integrated Studies (MA-IS)
assessment methods such as challenge        degree is an interdisciplinary degree
for credit evaluations and Prior Learning   that spans the arts, humanities, and
Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).          social sciences, exposing students to a
PLAR provides opportunities to assess       range of disciplines and interdisciplinary
previously unrecognized learning            methods that prepares them to envisage
to obtain academic credit based on          and pursue innovative solutions to
learning outcomes for specific courses      a variety of problems. Students can
and programs.                               pursue various focus areas.                     Master of Arts – Integrated Studies focus areas
                                                                                            Adult education
                                            The Faculty’s professional post-                Canada, the North and the Globe
                                            baccalaureate diplomas are in                   Community studies
                                            Legislative Drafting (PBD-LD) and in            Cultural studies
                                            Heritage Resources Management                   Educational studies
                                            (PBD-HRM). Graduates of the PBD-                Equity studies
                                            HRM program are assured of a solid              Literary studies
                                            foundation in both general theory               Global change
                                            and established practice associated             Heritage and social history
                                            with the heritage field, and a flexible         Writing and new media
                                            graduate credential that creates many           Work, organization and leadership
                                            opportunities for further professional or
                                            academic pursuits. The PBD-LD program
                                            provides an in-depth analysis of the
                                            principles underlying legislative drafting
                                            in common law jurisdictions and a
                                            thorough introduction to sound drafting
                                            practice.

                                            6 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Our students and staff               Annual undergraduate registrations in           Excellence in providing student-focused
                                     courses offered by the Faculty exceed           online and open education is a major
                                     30,000 individual enrolments, and               goal of the FHSS, but our faculty, and
                                     annual graduate course registrations            some of our tutors and term instructors,
                                     exceed 1,100 individual enrolments. The         also produce and disseminate new
                                     FHSS delivers courses and programs to           knowledge through their disciplinary
                                     a combination of visiting, non-program          and interdisciplinary research. FHSS
30,000               annually        and program students, and the FHSS has          members also champion AU’s social
individual                           approximately as many visiting students         mission to equip students with critical
undergraduate                        from other universities as it has in its        skills for community engagement and
enrolments                           own programs. Each year, the FHSS               involved citizenship.
                     1,100           has over 3,000 active undergraduate
                     individual      program students and almost 700 active          The Faculty of Humanities and Social
                     graduate
                     enrolments      graduate program students. The FHSS             Sciences is committed to providing
                                     averages 460 graduates per year, and            outstanding learning experiences,
                                     since its inception has awarded 2292            to advancing our dynamic research
                                     degrees and over 230 certificates and           contributions, and to integrating
                                     diplomas.                                       teaching and research across our
                                                                                     curriculum. In addition to its focus
                                     The teaching and learning activities            on student service, the Faculty has
                                     of the FHSS are delivered by academic           identified the following core values:
                                     staff, comprised of 60 permanent AUFA           accountability, collegiality, equity
                 3,000               faculty members, almost 200 CUPE                and fairness, good governance, and
                 program             tutors, and approximately 25 part-time          transparency. What follows in this
                 students            and term instructors who hold other             document outlines how the FHSS will
  700                                kinds of appointments. Academic staff           embody these values and build on its
 graduate                            work with students individually and in          current strengths and opportunities into
 students             460            groups using an instructional model             the future.
                                     that is both highly prized and amenable
                     annual          to continual improvement, including
                 graduates           increased social presence between
                                     academic staff and students, and among
                                     students when and as possible and
                                     desired. The FHSS’ non-academic staff
                                                                                                       60
                                                                                                       faculty
                                     includes 13 administrative staff and
                                     14 members of the course production                    25                      200
                                                                                            term
                                     team, including 6 multimedia web                    instructors                 tutors
                                     specialists, 6 course materials editors,                          FHSS
 2,292                               and 2 visual communication designers.
 degrees                             To meet the FHSS’ commitment to                             14               13
 awarded               230+          being student-and learning-focused,
                      certificates                                                            production         admin.
                                     academic staff, course production team                      staff            staff
                      & diplomas
                                     members, and administrative staff work
         since                       together to empower one another in
         inception                   the collaborative co-creation of a high-
                                     quality education experience.

                                     7 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Vision

Vision statement

As a champion of Athabasca University’s
social mission, the Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences equips students with critical
skills for community engagement and involved
citizenship. The Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences excels in student focused open
and online learning and disciplinary and
interdisciplinary research.

                   8 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Strategic goals

Context                     Much has happened since the June                time for the FHSS to act strategically,
                            2013 FHSS Innovates discussion and              to address challenges and pursue
                            the beginning of the Envisioning the            opportunities, cognisant of (but not
                            Future of FHSS Appreciative Inquiry             paralyzed by) these and other important
                            conversation in February of 2014. There         contextual factors. The FHSS will
                            have been continued changes within              continue to be an active participant
                            and outside of Athabasca University,            in responsive, forward-looking ways
                            including changes in the delivery model         of creating outstanding learning
                            used by various AU faculties and in             opportunities for our students and
                            Alberta’s economic outlook. This plan           contributing to the internal and external
                            reflects the conviction that this is a          communities of which it is a part.

Strategic goals 2015–2019

                            Standing tall
                            To lead open and online humanities and social
                            sciences education
                            Speaking up
                            To share our story with a compelling new voice
                            Seeking out
                            To do research that informs and transforms
                            Sharing in
                            To build community in and through the FHSS

                            9 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
goal 1. Standing tall                Our students and mutual learning are a central focus of the FHSS. With the global
To Lead Open and Online Humanities   proliferation of online learning, the Faculty strives to be a voice for and an example
and Social Sciences Education        of excellence in student and learning-focused online pedagogy. We seek to assume
                                     this pedagogical leadership role in ways that are responsive to the needs of our
                                     students and the communities we serve. A critical first step in this direction is
                                     to revisit and strengthen the current FHSS instructional model for the benefit of
                                     students and instructors.

                                     Strategic objectives

St   short term                      •    Move the FHSS to the forefront of online learning in Humanities and Social
                                          Sciences in Alberta, Canada and beyond through continued exceptional and
Mt   medium term
                                          innovative course design and delivery
Lt   long term                            • Develop, implement and clearly communicate an FHSS-appropriate and
                                              learning-centred instructional model
                                          • Lead and facilitate discussion and practice by developing Faculty-sponsored
                                              workshops on student-centredness and FHSS student service
                                     •    Support collaborative learning and research that includes students, faculty,
                                          tutors and term instructors
                                          • Develop strategies and processes to build relationships and create
                                              opportunities for connection in an online distributed environment
                                     •    Focus on student success by building relationships and engaging with students
                                          and fostering their confidence as learners
                                          • Ensure meaningful and purposeful interactions between students and
                                              instructors that help foster greater academic success
                                     •    Support the personalization of learning, including through the offering of project
                                          and capstone courses, the enhancement of advising services to undergraduate
                                          and graduate FHSS students, and other appropriate services
                                     •    Champion the importance of the Humanities and Social Sciences to society,
                                          highlighting the value of the outcomes and skills gained from a liberal and
                                          professional arts education to workplaces and the community

                                     Priority actions

                                     STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

                                     St        1.1    Finalize the structure of an FHSS-appropriate instructional model
                                                      emphasizing increased presence for students and instructors as
                                                      appropriate

                                     St        1.2    Implement an FHSS appropriate instructional model

                                     Mt        1.3    Explore strategies to engage with FHSS students who demonstrate
                                                      varying levels of engagement

                                     Mt        1.4    Increase collaborations with Advising to support the ability of the
                                                      FHSS to implement and adjust efforts to enhance student engagement
                                                      and to remove barriers to engagement

                                     10 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

St        1.5    Address current/immediately feasible improvements, e.g.
                 establishing Moodle presence for remaining FHSS print courses and
                 establish opportunities to share course materials across the Faculty
                 and provide faculty access to all FHSS Moodle courses

St        1.6    Establish workshops to showcase best practices in Moodle module
                 usage

St        1.7    Build and distribute Moodle templates based on the best current
                 templates

Mt        1.8    Secure and develop ICT resources, professional development and
                 sharing opportunities to support experimentation and innovation in
                 course/program development

Mt        1.9    Develop and implement resources and processes for ongoing course
                 updates and/or reading courses

INNOVATIONS IN OPEN ONLINE LEARNING

St        1.10 Refine the FHSS course/program design process to support
               continuous improvement and innovation in online course design

St        1.11   Seek out, identify and pursue internal, provincial and federal funding
                 opportunities that support innovations in online learning

St        1.12 Explore strategic development of joint course provision with other
               AU faculties to streamline offerings and reduce duplication, and with
               other post-secondary institutions, starting in Alberta, to provide
               collaborative offerings that maximize course and program availability,
               e.g., asynchronous offerings of widely available foundational and/or
               specialized course and program content

St        1.13 Provide undergraduate group study online course delivery when and
               as appropriate

St        1.14 Provide open course content, e.g., Open Educational Resources
               (OERs) and OpenCourseWare as appropriate

NEW TARGET AUDIENCES

St        1.15 Explore the provision of non-credit courses/programs as an additional
               revenue stream

Mt        1.16 Develop and provide professional development courses to designated
               target audiences

11 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
MtLt      1.17 Develop new undergraduate and graduate credit programs in areas
                                                     where there is demonstrable demand, potential funding opportunities
                                                     and that build on current program strengths

                                      COURSE AND PROGRAM DELIVERY

                                      St        1.18 Establish an FHSS Curriculum Committee(s) to align undergraduate
                                                     and graduate course and program planning and to maintain currency
                                                     and relevance in FHSS course and program offerings

                                      ADMINISTRATIVE IMPROVEMENTS

                                      Mt        1.19 Explore and develop a tailored FHSS student course feedback/
                                                     evaluation system or mechanism to support continuous improvement

                                      Mt        1.20 Align course and program learning outcomes with the Alberta
                                                     Credentials Framework to demonstrate self-administered quality
                                                     assurance

                                      Mt        1.21 Develop a faculty-wide communication strategy to contact students
                                                     who have been newly admitted to FHSS programs to support them in
                                                     identifying the best fit for them among the Faculty’s many programs

                                      Lt        1.22 Establish internal advising capacity within the Faculty for FHSS
                                                     students to increase graduate and undergraduate students access to
                                                     appropriate and timely advising services

goal 2. Speaking Up                   The Athabasca University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to
To Share our Story with a New Voice   support AU’s mandate and mission. The FHSS will be a strong voice for openness,
                                      excellence, academic freedom and collegiality within AU and the broader Albertan
                                      and Canadian post-secondary landscape. As we strengthen our identity and voice
                                      as a Faculty, we fulfill our role as leaders in open Humanities and Social Sciences
                                      education.

                                      Strategic objectives

                                      •    Embrace, celebrate and focus on what makes the FHSS unique, especially:
                                           • Reaching and serving program, non-program and visiting students
                                           • Maintaining a broad, engaging, and relevant curriculum
                                           • Establishing the FHSS as the first choice for students seeking exceptional
                                                open and online credential completion opportunities, and
                                           • Strengthen the FHSS’ culture of collegiality and democratic decision making
                                                practices to enable deft and responsive decisions
                                      •    Focus effort on the development of the channels, spaces, processes, skills, and
                                           ultimately also the culture, of fruitful and respectful communication with each
                                           other, with FHSS students and with the University
                                      •    Further streamline internal decision-making and approval procedures
                                      •    Actively communicate the strengths, uniqueness and value of the FHSS to
                                           internal and external audiences

                                      12 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Priority actions

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPROVEMENTS AND COMMUNICATION

St        2.1    Prepare and plan for the implementation of AU’s goal to move budget
                 control to the Faculty level

St        2.2    Establish a regular (annual) face-to-face FHSS meeting to discuss
                 innovation, strategy, operations and research, and to build and
                 maintain strong intra-faculty relationships

StMt      2.3    Implement a transparent process for inter- and intra-disciplinary
                 and -program communication, to maintain and further foster
                 a collaborative, innovative culture within the FHSS, including
                 approaches like the keeping and open sharing of meeting notes and
                 decisions on the FHSS intranet/Moodle

MARKETING AND ADVOCACY

St        2.4    Task the Dean’s Advisory Group with coordinating and advancing
                 the FHSS marketing activities in coordination with the Advancement
                 Office, including the design of a more engaging FHSS website

St        2.5    Support and encourage the FHSS staff and students in ongoing,
                 concerted and positive external communication that amplifies the
                 identity and activities of the FHSS

Mt        2.6    Seek out, identify and pursue strategic engagement and collaboration
                 opportunities with the FHSS and other faculties and post-secondary
                 institutions

Mt        2.7    Advocate for administrative improvements for enhanced flexibility
                 for FHSS students, including but not limited to enhanced continuous
                 enrolment, early access to Moodle, more easily attainable course
                 extensions, and online withdrawals and extensions for graduate
                 students

Mt        2.8    Continue to support and advocate for the proposed course
                 renumbering project and for an exemplary transfer credit system
                 within AU as significant institutional and Faculty sustainability drivers

13 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
goal 3. Seeking Out           The FHSS values research as a core activity and vital component of learning and
To Do Research that Informs   pedagogy. As Athabasca University’s largest faculty, the FHSS sees the continued
and Transforms                focus on, and expansion and integration of research as a vital component of its
                              vision to become a recognized centre of excellence. Collaborative, community
                              focused, disciplinary, and multidisciplinary research that involves students and
                              academic staff and informs teaching and learning is at the core of this strategic
                              direction.

                              Strategic objectives

                              •    Continue to promote and support research as an integral part of teaching and
                                   learning
                                   • Communicate, highlight and share the FHSS’ research internally
                                        and externally
                                   • Continue to support active researchers who publish and teach as a
                                        foundational aspect of the FHSS’ mandate
                              •    Promote collaborative learning and research between students, tutors, term
                                   instructors, faculty, and communities
                                   • Develop opportunities and processes to include the FHSS students, tutors
                                        and term instructors as research partners
                                   • Enhance the FHSS’ strong community ties and other resources to do
                                        research that addresses community needs
                              •    Support research as central to interaction and sharing within the Faculty

                              Priority actions

                              INCREASING THE FHSS’ RESEARCH PROFILE

                              St        3.1    Increase the FHSS research and publication profile internally
                                               and externally

                              Mt        3.2    Increase the FHSS’ and AU’s presence as a research hub, and
                                               champion Humanities and Social Sciences research, e.g., by
                                               nominating honorary doctorate recipients and hosting mini-symposia
                                               with them around Convocation

                              Lt        3.3    Pursue externally funded research chairs, in alignment with the
                                               FHSS priorities

                              STUDENT RESEARCH

                              St        3.4    Establish student research groups and/or seminars for students who
                                               want to be more active in research

                              Mt        3.5    Support and expand publishing opportunities for FHSS students, with
                                               coaching support, at the graduate and undergraduate levels

                              Mt        3.6    Support opportunities for FHSS students to present their research

                              14 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
goal 4. Sharing In          The FHSS has a proud history of learning and research that is community focused.
To Build Community In and   We will continue to find new ways of building community within the FHSS:
Through the FHSS            between and among students, faculty, tutors, term instructors, professionals and
                            administrative staff; and beyond: between the FHSS and other AU faculties, other
                            faculties of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the FHSS alumni, communities
                            where the FHSS does research and teaching, and where our students reside and
                            have an impact. The FHSS embraces and champions building and strengthening
                            community relationships through creating online and face-to-face opportunities.

                            Strategic objectives

                            •    Create online and face-to-face opportunities for collaboration, sharing
                                 information and building and strengthening relationships with students and
                                 colleagues
                                 • Create, promote and support virtual and face-to-face opportunities for
                                      students to collaborate with one another and with the Faculty
                                 • Develop opportunities to get together informally and without agenda
                                 • Explore ways to enhance and create new opportunities for student-student
                                      interaction and collaboration
                            •    Strengthen and support collaboration between the FHSS’ students, faculty,
                                 tutors, term instructors, professional and support staff
                            •    Expand the provision of service learning courses to give students real world
                                 experience and opportunities to apply learning in practical settings, and foster
                                 stronger community relationships

                            Priority actions

                            BUILDING COMMUNITY

                            St        4.1    Establish an annual face-to-face FHSS event that incorporates a
                                             Faculty Council meeting, opportunities for professional development
                                             and sharing of research, and revisiting and realigning the strategic
                                             plan if/as required

                            St        4.2    Develop and implement an FHSS newsletter and other communication
                                             platforms, targeted to the Faculty and students to share information
                                             and highlight Faculty activities in interesting and engaging ways

                            Mt        4.3    Explore and develop a ‘Social Sciences and Humanities Outreach’
                                             program to connect and give a face to the FHSS in its local
                                             communities, e.g., through community events, starting in Alberta
                                             and then branching to the FHSS’ communities across Canada and
                                             internationally

                            Mt        4.4    Support and expand the provision of Service Learning courses for
                                             FHSS students

                            Mt        4.5    Enhance connections and strengthen community amongst the FHSS’
                                             students and staff through more personal online interactions

                            15 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Implementation and evaluation frameworks

Strategy implementation framework           The framework below represents the               DAG will report regularly on the
                                            decision-making and responsibility               implementation milestones reached to
                                            structures to help guide and support             FHSS Faculty Council, and will report
                                            implementation for the life of this plan,        annually at a Faculty-wide face-to-face
                                            2015-2019.                                       meeting. This meeting will provide the
                                                                                             opportunity for the FHSS to reflect on
                                            In order to minimize the proliferation of        progress to date, to affirm and plan
                                            committees while ensuring appropriate            for strategic action collectively, and
                                            responsibility and decision-making               to continue the Appreciative Inquiry
                                            structures to guide implementation, the          conversation started in February 2014.
                                            plan will remain the responsibility of the       Participation at the Faculty-wide
                                            Dean’s Advisory Group (DAG). The plan            face-to-face meetings will reflect the
                                            will be a standing item at all regular DAG       membership of the FHSS Faculty Council.
                                            meetings, and will also be the focus of
                                            an annual DAG strategic planning review          The implementation of prioritized
                                            meeting. During this meeting, DAG will           actions, including activities, projects and
                                            also propose specific strategic plan             processes, will mainly be administered
                                            targets for the year.                            through both current and purposely
                                                                                             formed committees. New committees
                                                                                             will only be formed where current
                                                                                             Faculty structures cannot adequately
                                                                                             perform or guide implementation.
                                     DAG annual
                                                                                             In addition to these more formal
                              strategic planning review
                                  and yearly targets                                         structures, DAG and other FHSS working
                                                                                             groups and committees responsible for
                                                                                             aspects of the plan will look to the FHSS
                                                                                             centres, program councils, and individual
                                                                                             staff members not only to actively
     Individuals, centres,                                          Faculty-wide             advance the goals and objectives of the
   committees align efforts                                    face-to-face meeting:         plan, but also to align their planning,
       to strategic plan                                       annual strategic plan
                                                                                             teaching, research, administration
         components                                              review and targets
                                                                                             and other day-to-day activities to the
                                                                                             plan. Success in implementation will
                                                                                             ultimately depend on collective action
                                                                                             by all members of the FHSS.

                    Current and
                 purposely formed
              committees responsible                   DAG agenda
                for implementation                    standing items
                  or coordination
                  of specific items

                                            16 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Strategy evaluation framework                        Equally important to the continuous              The model recognizes that merely
                                                         efforts to implement the strategic goals         measuring all implemented activities
                                                         and objectives of this plan is a strategy        and results to the planned strategic
                                                         evaluation framework. Ideally, such a            activities, objectives and goals at or
                                                         framework will ensure regular evaluation         near the end of the strategic plan’s
                                                         and the use of evaluation results to             life risks excellent execution of flawed
                                                         inform ongoing decision-making.                  or irrelevant strategy. In line with the
                                                         The model below outlines leading                 Patton-Mintzberg model, the FHSS
                                                         evaluator Michael Patton’s application           should review all significant actions
                                                         of Mintzberg’s model to strategy                 and decisions regularly and determine
                                                         evaluation.1                                     what aspects were deliberate, emergent
                                                                                                          and realized strategy, as well as which
                                                                                                          aspects of the intended strategy
                                                                                                          (as outlined in this plan) were not
                                                                                                          implemented.2
                                                         Unrealized
                                                          strategy                                        By reviewing which components of the
                                                                                                          plan were and were not realized, as
                             Intended
                                                                                                          well as significant (strategic) actions
                              strategy
                            (planning)
                                                                                                          taken and their results (emergent
                                                                                                          strategy), the Faculty can decide which
                                                                                                          combination of intended and emergent
                                                         Deliberate                                       strategy to focus on for the year ahead.
                                                          strategy
                                                                                                          Although the current plan should remain
                                                                                                          the guiding force for the Faculty’s
                                                                                     Realized             decisions in the coming years, it will not
                                                                                     strategy             be implemented blindly or exclusively
                                                                                                          as environmental factors change and as
                                                                                                          new opportunities emerge.
                                                         Emergent
                                                          strategy
                                                                                                          The proposed model provides
                                                                                                          the opportunity to continue the
                                                                                                          Appreciative Inquiry process annually
                                                                                                          by asking “What worked well?” as
                                                                                                          much as “What can be improved?” This
                                                                                                          strategy evaluation will occur annually
                                                                                                          during the DAG strategic planning
1
    Patton, M. Q., Patrizi, P. A. (2010). “Strategy as the focus for evaluation.” In P. A. Patrizi        review and target-setting meeting, as
    & M. Q. Patton (Eds.), Evaluating strategy. New Directions for Evaluation, 128, 5-28.                 well as the planned Faculty-wide face-
                                                                                                          to-face meeting. To support this work,
2
    Intended strategy includes the planned actions, objectives, goals and their expected                  it is recommended that committees,
    results. Unrealized strategy are those planned actions, objectives and goals that                     centres, program councils, working
    are not implemented or reached either because no action was taken or actions did                      groups and others responsible for plan
    not lead to the planned objectives or goals being met. Deliberate strategy includes                   implementation report to DAG annually
    all actions and results that were planned, implemented and reached successfully.                      according to the above mentioned
    Emergent strategy includes all unplanned actions or results that are significant to the               categories.
    Faculty. To evaluate realized strategy then, the Faculty should consider on an annual
    basis what aspects of the planned strategy were successfully or unsuccessfully
    implemented, and what strategic actions or results occurred that were not intended
    or included in the original strategic plan.

                                                         17 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Appendices

Appendix A: The Appreciative   The Athabasca University Faculty of              Using Jeanie Cockell and Joan
Inquiry process                Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS)            McArthur-Blair’s (2012) Appreciative
                               has come together in an Appreciative             Inquiry in Higher Education: A
                               Inquiry (AI) conversation to “Envision           transformative approach as a starting
                               the Future of FHSS.” AI focuses on               point, the DAG and SPSG structured the
                               what is working well (appreciative) by           Faculty’s AI conversation using elements
                               engaging people in asking questions              of the 4-D Cycle and 5-I SOAR approach.
                               and telling stories (inquiry), and was
                               chosen as the approach for this strategic        During a full day of face-to-face AI
                               planning process because it aligns               conversations facilitated by DAG and
                               well with the values and culture of the          SPSG members, the FHSS faculty, and
                               Faculty and because it encourages an             tutor, term, professional and support
                               inclusive, grounded way of looking               staff, and student representatives
                               forward.                                         discussed the following topics:

                               With the guidance and support of the             1.   Discovery: “What gives life to
                               Dean’s Advisory Group (DAG) and the                   FHSS?” – Appreciating the best
                               purposely-formed Strategic Planning                   of what is
                               Steering Group (SPSG), the Faculty               2.   Dream: “What might be?” –
                               participated in a full day of face-to-face            Envisioning what the world is
                               AI conversation and five focused input                calling for
                               sessions on emerging topics. Online              3.   Design: “How can it be?” –
                               feedback and student focus groups                     Co-constructing the ideal
                               were also used to facilitate broad
                               participation. Feedback on drafts of the         These conversations were continued
                               FHSS Strategic Plan 2015–2019, graduate          in four subsequent face-to-face and
                               and undergraduate student input and              online input sessions on the following
                               the recommendations of the working               emerging topics:
                               groups on course design and course
                               delivery have also been incorporated             1. Culture and identity
                               into the plan.                                   2. Research
                                                                                3. Pedagogy and program/course
                               The plan is based on input from an                  design and delivery
                               inclusive and collaborative process. It          4. Resources
                               encapsulates the Faculty’s strategic
                               directions, but is also intended as a            In addition, two working groups were
                               living document, to be implemented,              convened to discuss course/program
                               revisited and adjusted, as necessary,            design and development, and course/
                               throughout its life cycle. The SPSG and          program delivery respectively to
                               DAG are proud to put forth this artifact         provide the SPSG and the Faculty with
                               of the FHSS collaborative thinking               recommendations for strategic next
                               and look forward to continuing the               steps in these two central areas. Their
                               Appreciative Inquiry conversations               recommendations were shared with
                               that have generated and informed                 the Faculty in November 2014. The
                               this strategic document. Appreciative            planning process then focused on the
                               Inquiry has not only been a valuable             practical considerations of actions,
                               planning tool, but has also become the           activities, projects and processes
                               vehicle for a new kind of dialogue within        needed to implement and sustain
                               the Faculty.                                     this vision for the future of the FHSS.

                               18 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Affirmative
       topic
     choices

                      Discovery
                                             4-D Cycle                                   A penultimate draft of the plan was
                                                                                         shared with the Faculty for a final round
                     “appreciate
                                                                                         of input before its adoption, which will
                       what is”
                                                                                         be celebrated at a Faculty-wide launch
                                                                                         event in Fall 2015. The plan has various
                                                                                         action items identified for immediate
                                                                                         implementation, and the SPSG and
                                                                                         DAG believe that the positive dialogue
                                                                                         and energy present in the planning
   Destiny                                          Dream                                process will be carried forward into the
                       Positive
”create what                                     ”imagine what                           implementation of the strategy.
                        core
   will be”                                        might be”
                                                                                         The FHSS vision statement is derived
                                                                                         from the vision statements created
                                                                                         during the AI planning day in February
                                                                                         2014. It captures the spirit of the
                                                                                         forward-looking statements developed
                       Design                                                            in the AI conversation, and is informed
                     ”determine                                                          by elements from all of the vision
                     what should
                                                                                         statements, drawings and other
                         be”
                                                                                         input received during the FHSS’ AI
                                                                                         conversation.

                  SOAR Framework                                                        Results
                                                                  Strategic
                                                                initiatives /
                                                                  strategy
                                          Co-create
                                        values, vision,                                  inspire
                       Internal          and mission                                   to achieve
                       analysis                                                          results
                      strengths                                  innovate
                                                                  to meet                 R
                                                                aspirations
                                          imagine
                       inquiry
                                            the                     A
                                        opportunities
                         into
                      strengths
                                              O                                        Implement

                          S                                       Tactical
                                                              functional plans
                                                                                       continuous
                                                                                      improvement
                                                               and integrated
                                                                 programs
                                         Innovations
                                           desired
                       External           outcomes
                       analysis                                    Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results
                     opportunities                                 (Stavros, Cooperrider, Kelly 2005)

                                     19 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Appendix B: Questions from the              Appendix C: Questions from the FHSS
FHSS day of Appreciative Inquiry.           face-to-face and online input sessions
“Envisioning the Future of FHSS”            (March 19 – April 24, 2014)
(February 13, 2014)

1. What is the most rewarding               1.   Culture and identity                            b. How could we strengthen our
   experience you have had at AU, in             a. What is the culture and identity                pedagogy and program/course
   general, and in FHSS, in particular?              of FHSS at its best?                           design and delivery in FHSS?
   • Describe it in detail.                      b. How could we further form and               c. Being ‘student centred’ or
   • What made it a great                            strengthen this desired culture                ‘student focused’ has emerged
        experience for you?                          and identity?                                  as a strong theme within the
   • Who else, if anyone, was                    c. Being ‘student focused’ or                      planning process thus far. How
        involved?                                    ‘student centred’ has emerged                  could FHSS promote student
2. What do you feel is the most                      as a strong theme within the                   success/student learning in
   gratifying aspect of your                         planning process thus far.                     terms of its pedagogy and
   contribution to FHSS?                             How can FHSS develop and                       program/course design and
3. What is it about AU in general, and               strengthen a student focused                   delivery?
   FHSS in particular that you value?                or student centred culture and             d. What are the strategic next
4. Which values, qualities, or activities            identity?                                      steps to building a culture and
   give FHSS its unique character?               d. What are the strategic next                     reputation of excellence in
5. Which values, qualities, or activities            steps to building an FHSS                      pedagogy and program/course
   enhance the vitality and resilience in            culture and identity that all                  design and delivery for FHSS?
   FHSS?                                             stakeholders will want to be a          4. Resources
6. What has FHSS been doing well that                part of?                                   a. To build a strong and resilient
   you most want to take forward?           2.   Research                                           FHSS, a variety of resources
7. Imagine the ideal FHSS, five to ten           a. What are FHSS’ current                          are required. What are FHSS’
   years from now:                                   research strengths and                         current resource assets?
   • What do you see? What does it                   opportunities?                             b. How could FHSS strengthen
        look like?                               b. How could we strengthen                         its resiliency and move to
   • What would we be doing in                       research efforts at FHSS?                      secure the resources it needs
        your preferred future for FHSS?          c. Being ‘student centred’ or                      to function optimally and to
8. Create a provocative proposition(s)               ‘student focused’ has emerged                  pursue future initiatives?
   —bold, affirmative statements                     as a strong theme within the               c. Being ‘student focused’ or
   grounded in what is—that provoke                  planning process thus far. How                 ‘student centred’ has emerged
   action, and use the present tense,                could FHSS be more student                     as a strong theme within the
   for this desired image of your                    focused in terms of its research               planning process thus far. How
   preferred future that fosters “FHSS               activities?                                    could FHSS be more student
   at its best.”                                 d. What are the strategic next                     focused in terms of resource
9. Building on “the best of what is” in              steps to building the research                 acquisition, development and
   FHSS, and our interactions today,                 culture and reputation for                     allocation?
   what preferred future for FHSS                    FHSS?                                      d. What are the strategic next
   would inspire your confidence?           3.   Pedagogy and Program/Course                        steps to acquire, develop and
                                                 Design and Delivery in FHSS                        allocate the resources FHSS
                                                 a. What are the current key                        needs to excel?
                                                     strengths and opportunities in
                                                     pedagogy and program/course
                                                     design and delivery for FHSS?

                                            20 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
Appendix D: Envisioning the Future
of  FHSS process highlights

1.    November 21, 2013: First Strategic    14. February 4, 2015: Joint Dean’s
      Planning Steering Group meeting           Advisory Group and Strategic
2.    February 13, 2014: Envisioning the        Planning Steering Group meeting to
      Future of FHSS: Day of face-to-face       review and confirm the second draft
      Appreciative Inquiry (Matrix Hotel,       of Envisioning the Future of FHSS
      Edmonton)                                 strategic plan
3.    February – March, 2014: Online        15. June 8, 2015: Input session on
      input on Envisioning the Future of        second draft of Envisioning the
      FHSS AI questions through the FHSS        Future of FHSS strategic plan
      Strategic Planning Moodle site        16. September 22, 2015: Official launch
4.    March 19, 2014: Input session on          of “Envisioning the Future of FHSS”
      The Culture and Identity of FHSS          strategic plan
5.    April 3, 2014: Input session on The
      Future of Research at FHSS
6.    April 11, 2014: Input session on
      Pedagogy and Program/Course
      Design and Delivery in FHSS
7.    April 23, 2014: Input session on
      Resourcing FHSS for the Future
8.    May 16, 2014: Joint Dean’s Advisory
      Group and Strategic Planning
      Steering Group meeting to review
      and confirm emerging strategic
      directions and themes
9.    June – July 2014: First draft of
      Envisioning the Future of FHSS
      strategic plan prepared
10.   July 2014: Program/Course
      Development and Program/Course
      Delivery working groups struck
11.   August 29, 2014: Strategic Planning
      Steering Group meeting to review
      and discuss the first draft of the
      strategic plan
12.   October 2014: Working Group
      reports circulated for feedback and
      incorporated into strategic plan
13.   November 2014 – January 2015:
      Second draft of Envisioning the
      Future of FHSS strategic plan
      prepared by Strategic Planning
      Steering Group

                                            21 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
The word cloud below summarizes the most
                                              frequently used words from the February
                                              2014 Appreciative Inquiry conversation.

                                                                                                                   communication
                   fhss
                   student

                                                                                                                     research
                                         athabasca

                                                                                           work           opportunities
                                                                                           staff
                                                                              feedback

                                                                                                                                           interaction
                                                     needs
                                                                           colleagues

                                                                                                                                   rewarding
                                          program                  value
                                                                           courses
               open

                                          faculty

                                                                                                                                                   quality
                                          tutor                    most

                                                                                                                                                   having
           our
                   students
thorough
programs                                                                                                                                       support
  course                                                                                                                            learning
                                                                                                                                               values

                                                                                                                                   critical
            best

                                                                                                                                          model
           academic
                    au                                    university                                 me
                                                                                                          social
                                                                                     teaching
                                      tutors

                                                                                         diversity

                                                                                                             us

                      doing
                                                          education           future
                              being
                                 experience

                                                          new
                                                                                   where
                                                        positive

                                              22 | Envisioning the Future of FHSS, 2015-2019
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