Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.44
Liaison Mike Wilson
Submission Date Jan. 29, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Victoria
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution adopted a framework for community stakeholder engagement in governance, strategy and operations?:
Yes

A brief description of the policies and procedures that ensure community stakeholder engagement is applied systematically and regularly across the institution’s activities:

The Community Engagement Framework for campus land use planning and development projects represents a committment to working with community stakeholders to successfully implement campus developments that advance the university's academic mission. The framework provides for a consistent methodology to be used to determine the overall approach and to implement effective engagement programs. Engagement plans provide clarity about the specific engagement techniques that are to be included in work plans, their sequencing, key audiences and the timing of activities.


A brief description of how the institution identifies and engages community stakeholders, including any vulnerable or underrepresented groups:

The community engagement framework is a guiding document that provides clarity on what types of engagement processes and activities will be used in the successful implementation of land use planning and capital projects at UVic. It provides for the university to proactively seek community stakeholder input and address concerns that are raised, where feasible within UVic’s mandate.

UVic hosts a program, University 101 and 102, that offers free, non-credit, academic courses to people in the community whose economic and social circumstances normally pose obstacles to university education. The program is supported by a wide variety of departments and offices across campus and the community including private donations. See: http://web.uvic.ca/uni101/.


List of identified community stakeholders:

From the UVic Community Relations website, a list of community stakeholders with whom the university regularly meets and consults with (http://www.uvic.ca/external/community/uvic-in-the-community/index.php):
Cadboro Bay Residents Association
Camosun Community Association
Community Association of Oak Bay
Gordon Head Residents’ Association
Mt. Tolmie Community Association
North Henderson Community Association
Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association
City of Victoria - City Hall
District of Oak Bay - Municipal Hall
District of Saanich - Municipal Hall
Township of Esquimalt - Municipal Hall
District of North Saanich - Municipal Hall
District of Saanich - Municipal Hall
City of Colwood - Municipal Hall
District of Highlands - Municipal Hall
District of View Royal - Town Hall
Town of Sidney - Municipal Hall
District of Sooke - Municipal Hall
District of Metchosin - Municipal Hall
City of Langford - Municipal Hall
Chamber of Commerce
Community Social Planning Council
Leadership Victoria
Victoria Foundation
United Way of Greater Victoria

A University - Community Association Liasion Committee is also in place to provide for regular meetings with representatives from the resident associations in close proximity of the campus to exchange information on topics of mutual interest.


A brief description of successful community stakeholder engagement outcomes from the previous three years:

UVic prepared a " Better Neighbours report and worked with community stakeholders to develop a community engagemetn framework after concerns with elements of the university’s planning for its new Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA) were resolved. The subsequent collaborative process used to develop a community engagement framework in 2012 helped UVic and community stakeholders better understand each other’s concerns and objectives. The framework addresses impacts of concern, and demonstrates that the greater the level of impact, proximity to neighbouring communities and inconsistency with the Campus Plan and zoning bylaws, the greater the need to engage community stakeholders. It has been utilized for several new capital projects and intiatives on campus including a campus bike centre development, an addition to the Continuing Studies Building and a campus cellphone service improvement project. In 2014, UVic will be updating its Campus Plan, providing direction for the physical development of the campus over the next decade. As future capital projects move forward, there will often be a need to engage community stakeholders to identify and address issues. UVic is committed to using the framework for designing, gaining feedback and executing context-appropriate and effective engagement programs.


The website URL where information about the institution’s community stakeholder engagement framework and activities is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

In 2012 UVic published a planning document that outlines the framework for community engagement entitled, "Engaging with Our Neighbours: A Community Engagement Framework for Campus Land use Planning & Development Projects" (see: http://www.uvic.ca/assets2012/docs/pdfs/UVic-Engagement-Framework-Dec-13-2012_v1.pdf). The framework is a guiding document that provides clarity on what types of engagement processes and activities will be used in the successful implementation of land use planning and capital projects at UVic. It is the successful result of extensive effort over a period of seven months by the university, community representatives, municipal planning department staff, resident association members, the UVic-Community Association Liaison Committee and other stakeholders.

UVic also has a Community Relations department that builds and maintains links between the university and its various external communities through outreach activities, sponsorships, memberships in local organizations (e.g. Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce) and regular meetings with local community associations, municipalites and other stakeholders in the region. See: http://www.uvic.ca/external/community/index.php.

UVic hosts a program, University 101 and 102, that offers free, non-credit, academic courses to people in the community whose economic and social circumstances normally pose obstacles to university education. The program is supported by a wide variety of departments and offices across campus and the community including private donations. See: http://web.uvic.ca/uni101/.

UVic's Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community-University Engagement has signed an MOU with the United Way of Greater Victoria that supports the Engaging Neighbours initiative, the University 101 program (see above) and six Issue Papers on core United Way priority areas.


In 2012 UVic published a planning document that outlines the framework for community engagement entitled, "Engaging with Our Neighbours: A Community Engagement Framework for Campus Land use Planning & Development Projects" (see: http://www.uvic.ca/assets2012/docs/pdfs/UVic-Engagement-Framework-Dec-13-2012_v1.pdf). The framework is a guiding document that provides clarity on what types of engagement processes and activities will be used in the successful implementation of land use planning and capital projects at UVic. It is the successful result of extensive effort over a period of seven months by the university, community representatives, municipal planning department staff, resident association members, the UVic-Community Association Liaison Committee and other stakeholders.

UVic also has a Community Relations department that builds and maintains links between the university and its various external communities through outreach activities, sponsorships, memberships in local organizations (e.g. Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce) and regular meetings with local community associations, municipalites and other stakeholders in the region. See: http://www.uvic.ca/external/community/index.php.

UVic hosts a program, University 101 and 102, that offers free, non-credit, academic courses to people in the community whose economic and social circumstances normally pose obstacles to university education. The program is supported by a wide variety of departments and offices across campus and the community including private donations. See: http://web.uvic.ca/uni101/.

UVic's Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community-University Engagement has signed an MOU with the United Way of Greater Victoria that supports the Engaging Neighbours initiative, the University 101 program (see above) and six Issue Papers on core United Way priority areas.

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