Western University
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

Of notable importance is Western's accomplishment on Achieving Excellence on the World Stage in 2014. Western recently released a strategic plan that provides an overall positioning statement on the importance of respecting the contributions and input of all members of our campus community. “Western is a community that respects, embraces, nurtures and celebrates the diversity of its members. Our community is one where all members are valued, respected and included. We strive to ensure our workplace is fully accessible and respectful of people’s different needs and abilities.” For more information, please visit: http://president.uwo.ca/strategic_planning/index.html

The membership composition of Western’s organizational structure is also designed to create opportunities for stakeholder engagement. The University of Western Ontario Act, 1982, governs Western, and outlines the structure and membership of Western’s Board of Governors. This structure helps ensure key stakeholders are integral in the University’s governance. Please see more information at: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/about/western_university_act.html

Similar to the Board, the senate has an extensive membership drawn from a wide range of stakeholders. This group is responsible for the academic policy of the University and consists of 103 Senators (102 voting members) plus 10-13 observers (complete listing at http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/senate/members.pdf)

Each of Western’s 12 faculties also have established Faculty Councils with representation coming from a cross section of stakeholders affiliated with the more specific issues important to the various faculties.

From an academic and administrative policy standpoint, the following processes directly relate to identifying and engaging stakeholders:
1. Quality assurance process: http://www.uwo.ca/pvp/vpacademic/iqap/doc/western_iqap.pdf

2. Teaching Evaluations - use of student feedback on teaching effectiveness
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/teaching_evaluations_r9805pactl.pdf

Awards/Hiring:
Western has numerous awards to recognize faculty and staff. Many of these awards are based the engagement of stakeholders’ to provide nominations. e.g. Distinguished University Professorship, The Western Award of Excellence.

For some significant hirings such as Deans there is comprehensive process that includes stakeholder input on important characteristics for the successful candidates.
http://provost.uwo.ca/pdf/decanal_review/DecanalGuidelines-Apr2014.pdf

Broader Community:
Western also connects with the broader community through initiatives like the Town and Gown Committee.
http://communications.uwo.ca/westernnews/downloads/wnews-pdf/2013/WN_Nov7_Web.pdf

Alumni Association works to connect Western to over 200,000 graduates.
http://www.alumni.westernu.ca/get-involved/association/

Social Media:
Western’s social media presence is ranked as one of Canada’s best. Ultimately it serves as a channel to provide stakeholders the opportunity to engage. http://uwo.ca/social_media.html

In addition to the structural processes that guide Western (e.g. Board of Governors membership) there are many initiatives on campus that actively seek quality stakeholder engagement. Some recent examples include:

Western’s Strategic Plan renewal:
A great deal of consultation occurred in developing the new strategic plan at Western. A listing of written submissions and meeting notes can be found at http://president.uwo.ca/strategic_planning/consultation.html

WE Speak: Faculty and Staff engagement survey:
http://www.uwo.ca/faculty_staff/wespeak/

Employment Equity Survey:
http://www.uwo.ca/equity/diversity/employment/survey.html

Survey on Socially Responsible Investing for Western pension plan members:
http://www.uwo.ca/hr/pension/investment/investing/survey_results.html

Consultation process in the development of Imagine 2022 – Sustainability at Western.
http://sustainability.uwo.ca/about_us/imagine_2022.html

Western Libraries – Service Quality
http://www.lib.uwo.ca/aboutwl/libqual.htm

Indigenous Community Engagement Strategy
http://indigenous.uwo.ca/indigenous_outreach/indigenous_community_engagement_strategy.html

Western Housing Mediation Service
http://www.has.uwo.ca/housing/mediation/

WebCT OWL replacement
http://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/stories/2010/October/western_seeks_input_on_webct_owl_replacement.html

Underrepresented groups:

PrideWestern is a University Students’ Council service dedicated to supporting and celebrating gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, intersex, asexual, queer, questioning students, and their allies at the University of Western Ontario. Run entirely by students, PrideWestern provides support, organizes speakers, and events such as coffeehouses on and off-campus, discussion groups, Rainbow Revolution, Pride Ball, and bi-weekly movie nights. For more information, visit: http://grad.uwo.ca/current_students/student_services/pride_western.html

- Indigenous Services offer counseling services and programs to First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in a supportive environment. Outreach and recruitment services are provided through educational presentations to elementary, secondary, post-secondary and mature prospective students. Additional information provided includes: Western's services and programs, admission requirements, financial assistance, and student life.

- Services for Students with Disabilities in the Student Development Centre (SDC) has staff members who specialize in assisting students with various disabilities to adjust to the university environment. These disabilities include, but are not limited to: vision, hearing and mobility impairments, learning disabilities, chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Services provided include: academic accommodation, on-campus transportation, alternative format texts, counseling, etc.
Student Development Centre - http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/

- Western's Caucus on Women's Issues is open to all women on-campus, who work together to serve as agents of change and to support the aspirations of women in the Western community. Past activities include: working on mentoring issues and trying to work out strategies for women who are establishing and developing their careers whether as undergraduate or graduate students, or as staff or faculty members. http://www.uwo.ca/wcwi/

- Western is committed to achieving barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities studying, visiting and working at Western through Western’s Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee. The Committee is responsible for consulting with people with disabilities in preparing Western’s annual accessibility plan.

- Western's Educational Assistance Plan for Staff provides financial assistance to help staff seek or finish a degree, pursue professional development, or take individual courses that are relevant to their career aspirations and provide advance funding for many courses

Units/Groups/Associations that provided oral and/or written input to the
Senate Committee on University Planning:

1. Aboriginal Education and Employment Council
2. Academic and Administrative Leaders’ Forum (November 29, 2012)
3. Board of Governors
4. Continuing Studies
5. Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration
6. Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations
7. City of London (signed by Mayor Joe Fontana and City Manager Art Zuidema)
8. Department of Women’s Studies and Feminist Research
9. Equity and Human Rights Services
10. Faculty Council of Arts and Humanities
11. Faculty Council of Education
12. Faculty of Engineering
13. Graduate Education Council
14. Faculty Council of Health Sciences
15. Faculty Council of Information and Media Studies
16. Faculty Council of Ivey Business School
17. Faculty of Law
18. Faculty Council of Don Wright Music
19. Faculty of Science
20. Faculty Council of Social Science
21. FIMS Students’ Council
22. Housing and Ancillary Services
23. Human Resources Division
24. Indigenous Services
25. Joint Employment Equity Committee
26. London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership
27. Office of the Vice-Provost (Academic Programs and Students)
28. Pillar Non-Profit Network
29. Postdoctoral Association at Western
30. Professional and Managerial Association
31. Public Humanities Program
32. School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
33. Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
34. Society of Graduate Students
35. South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre
36. Teaching Support Centre
37. UK Foundation Board of Directors
38. United Way of London & Middlesex (Andrew Lockie, CEO)
39. University Ombudsperson
40. University Students’ Council
41. University of Western Ontario Faculty Association
42. Western Alumni Association
43. Western Heads East
44. Western Libraries
45. WindEEE Research Institute
46. Writing Support Centre

Visit this link for more information: http://www.ipb.uwo.ca/documents/2014_Strategic_Plan.pdf

Identified above.