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John Abbott College preparing its new strategic plan

Consultations with community, students and staff to determine college's objectives

Karen Seidman
The Gazette
Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Is there anything that John Abbott College could be doing better?
That’s one of the questions that will be addressed as the Ste. Anne de Bellevue college launches an update of its 2004-09 strategic plan and begins consulting the community to determine if there are issues it needs to address or trends that it needs to recognize.
For example, although environmental concerns were already evident in the last strategic plan, that’s an area that may have increased prominence this time around, according to John Abbott College communications officer Neil Griffiths.
“We set up a sustainability committee as a result of the last strategic plan, but that might be a concern that’s made more explicit now,” said Griffiths. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see that bump up in prominence.”
The college has been running ads in local newspapers saying: “John Abbott College needs your insight!”
Griffiths said the college takes the feedback it gets from the community seriously and developed its new slogan - Lakeside View, Global Vision - based on comments made during consultations for the last five-year plan.
“We are looking for input from surrounding communities about what we should target as priorities,” said Griffiths. “We want as wide an input as possible.”
The college, said Griffiths, is working hard to create a dynamic learning environment that prepares its graduates for all challenges.
“We already know that people want us to be an employer of choice, a dynamic place of learning, a community resource and at the centre of many activities,” explained Griffiths. “I don’t think we’re really anticipating a major change from that. But we’re evaluating the last plan which should show if there are any areas for improvement.”
The last strategic plan outlined four key directions:
-To challenge students to achieve their academic and developmental goals to the best of their potential.
-To maintain and develop a dynamic learning environment that earns it recognition as a leading college in Canada.
-To be recognized as an employer of choice, known for the quality of its human resources services and the support it provides its employees to accomplish their work.
-To be recognized as a valuable community resource and an integral partner in the itellectual, cultural, social and economic development of its community.
Griffiths said a new strategic plan should be ready by the end of the school year.
“We’re consulting with all levels of the college to get their input,” said Griffiths. “We want to ensure we’re on the right track.”
All submissions will be integrated into the portrait of the institution and considered in the development of the college’s five-year strategic plan. Submissions can be made electronically to: strategic.plan@johnabbott.qc.ca or by mail to: John Abbott College Strategic Planning Process, Office of the Director General, 21275 Lakeshore Rd., Ste. Anne de Bellevue, H9X 3L9.