Message from the President
February 10, 2009
Langara College is a community comprised of students, employees, alumni, donors, governors, partners and community members. As is the case with any vibrant community, the future is a matter of interest when developing a common sense of purpose.
As we find ourselves in an environment of constant challenge and change, it is important for Langara to have a clear vision and goals for the coming years. This will be done through a review and evaluation of what we are currently doing and consideration of new opportunities for the College. It will involve a collaborative and interactive process that builds on the institution’s past achievements, distinctive character and historic strengths. We will be able to build on our past successes together with a plan that will make us even stronger in the years to come.
Langara begins the next phase of its ongoing development in a very strong position. A reputation for excellence and quality education, a global reach in terms of partnerships and student involvement, programming that continues to adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve and a history that places us as a leading post secondary institution in the region.
Why do strategic planning?
The strategic plan is being developed to guide the institution through demographic, technological, economic and social change. This process will allow us to better respond to external shifts in order to make important choices about our future given the amount of resources we have available. The road developed will provide direction to the institution to help solidify and grow its position in all the spheres we operate.
What makes a successful strategic plan?
Central to any successful strategic planning process is the engagement of the College community. Your breadth of knowledge and understanding will bring the best ideas forward and allow us to establish a realistic, yet challenging, direction for the institution.
Broad involvement also means that more of you are engaged and part of the outcomes.
You will better understand what is going on and how you are part of the direction of the institution as it moves forward. Any change will come from your involvement, thus making the plan real and not a forgotten document gathering dust on the top shelf.
Of considerable importance is the need for us to create a plan that is not rigid and locked in place. The goals remain clear, but the means of achieving those goals may be moved or adjusted to respond to the many changes we know will come our way.
We also want to build upon our previous successes while exploring new opportunities to advance the mission and vision of the institution. These new ideas will be prioritized from the many that will be offered during the process, thus allowing for the best of the best.
Once developed, the strategic plan will be implemented, reviewed and may require adjustment as we strive towards achieving our goals over the coming years. This is not something that will end in June, but rather an ongoing process that reflects the changes and challenges to come.
I invite you to participate in the strategic planning process. To begin your participation, please login to the mylangara portal to complete the initial questionnaire.
Thank you in advance for your insight and ideas.
David Ross, Ph.D.
President