Sheridan College (Ontario)
PAE-2: Strategic Plan

Under the STRATEGIC THRUSTS Sheridan College addresses sustainability specifically promoting environmental sustainability. Description: from the strategic plan 2009-2014 •Sheridan will participate more actively in green community efforts and adopt a greener approach to future developments. We will recognize and promote integrative and holistic approaches to sustainability and establish guiding principles. This will have impacts on curriculum, operations and organizational effectiveness initiatives as new approaches are adopted. By reducing waste and promoting environmental responsibility, Sheridan will act as a role model for students as they move into the workplace. •Furthermore, one of Sheridan Priority initiatives is the implementation of digital learning (DLE) which includes a different mindset around educational resources by revisiting how resources such as textbooks and handouts are distributed and in the process enhancing environmental sustainability.

The social dimensions and their impacts on students, faculty members are stayed in different parts of the strategic plan. For example Sheridan is committed to building a” More Welcoming” culture 1-“Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of our diverse community” We serve an increasingly diverse community with a broadening array of needs. We must become more appreciative of the diversity of our students, our employees and their families. We need to raise our cultural competencies, creating programs and services delivered in more welcoming and inclusive ways, as well as serving the needs of continuous learners, building direct marketing approaches to prospective and existing students. (Page 14) 2-“New Canadian and re-skilling outreach” We need to reach out to the growing audience of more mature foreign-born students, improving their language skills and providing a bridge to jobs that acknowledge their prior qualifications and experience. We will accommodate their needs through more outreach, advisement, support and programs offered using varied modes of delivery, more timing choices and compressed courses. (Page 14)

While the economic dimension has not described specifically in the strategic plan, Sheridan College addresses the economic dimension by committing to provide open, clear, transparent and accountable governance and leadership. A new strategic governance committee structure has been introduced to evaluate new initiatives and opportunities, ensuring that coordinated strategic discussions continue across the organization and alignment of academic, enrolment, fiscal, human and physical resources is sustained (page 21) Furthermore, Curriculum renovation and innovation will depend on continuous scanning of the external environment which will be critical so that emerging trends influencing graduate skills and knowledge needed in the new economy are incorporated into curriculum. The initiative involves creating new courses and removing courses that are no longer required. The processes will be ongoing and responsive to the changing environment and the evolving needs of our audiences. (Page 23)