Wilfrid Laurier University
PAE-2: Strategic Plan

The Laurier Academic Plan 2010-2015 identifies "sustainability" as a core principle and "environment" as a domain. On the topic of sustainability, the Academic Plan states: The most complex questions involve challenges related to cultural, economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Inherent in sustainable systems is the need to work toward equitable distribution of opportunities, benefits and decision-making. Sustainable development occurs when we improve the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. At Laurier, we focus on sustainability from all perspectives across our academic and professional programs. Achieving global sustainability requires multi- and interdisciplinary approaches to address changing relationships among individuals, societies, organizations, resources, ecologies, businesses, technologies and development. On the topic of the environment, the Academic Plan states: At Laurier we approach environmental issues from multiple perspectives, ranging from analysis of the health of natural ecosystems and urban environments, including their impact on human health and well-being, to psycho-social perspectives on environmental awareness and activism and their relationships to the development of natural- and urban-environment related policies and practices. Our scientific, historical, socio-cultural, and theoretical analyses cover a wide range of natural environments and human communities around the globe. Enhanced understanding of the interrelationships of ecosystem parts, human-environment interactions, and human values toward natural and urban systems, are essential to understanding the complexity of contemporary debates about access to natural resources, land rights, climate change, and to sustainability.

The Laurier Academic Plan 2010-2015 identifies "Diversity" and "Justice" as core principles and "social and cultural analysis" and "cultural and artistic production" as domains. On the topic of diversity, the Academic Plan addresses what diversity is in the Laurier context and states Laurier's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the university and larger communities. On the topic of justice, the Academic Plan highlights Laurier's long-standing focus on citizenship and justice. Laurier inspires ideas of fairness, equality, and social justice throughout the university community and in society. Citizenship and justice are evident in the social and personal development of students; in academic and professional program curricula; and in scholarly focus and teaching emphasis. On the topic of social and cultural analysis, the Academic Plan attempts to define what social and cultural anlysis is and outlines Laurier's position on the matter: Laurier recognizes that meaningful actions and policies to achieve social justice and sustainability are reliant upon in-depth analysis of how events and issues have evolved, their impact and effects, and how they are represented, historically and cross-culturally, by citizens, communities, businesses, institutions, and the state. On the topic of cultural and artistic production, the Academic Plan attempts to define what cultural and artistic production is and outlines Laurier's position on the matter: Laurier recognizes the centrality of creative expression to individual and community well-being and development, and the role of the arts in identity-making and advocacy.

The Laurier Academic Plan 2010-2015 is a high level guiding document that recognizes the strengths and unique characteristics Laurier boasts as an institution while identifying the areas which Laurier will continue to emphasize and initiate focus. Predominant topics are identified as core principles and domains. In the Academic Plan, a core principle is defined as "the overarching characteristics and key intellectual areas that define us institutionally". A domain is defined as "the strategic areas where we have acknowledged excellence and where we seek to maintain or develop national and international recognition".