UCalgary town hall tackles a multiplicity of topics

On Jan. 29, more than 670 people packed MacEwan Hall and another 400-plus tuned in online for a wide‑ranging look at the university’s current direction, during a campus town hall.

In a discussion UCalgary President Ed McCauley described as a “candid conversation,” members of the Executive Leadership Team provided updates on everything from budget and recruitment, to construction and 60th Anniversary celebrations.

“I want to say that there’s no big announcement – just an unfiltered view of where we are at now and where we are going together,” said McCauley, UCalgary’s president and vice-chancellor.

Executive Leadership Team, present

Members of the university’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) helped cover an expansive range of topics, including major accomplishments over the past year, financial challenges facing the university, and funding of strategic initiatives, including the Taylor Family Kinesiology Building and Talent for Tomorrow.

Joining President McCauley was Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Sandra Davidson; Vice-President (Research) William Ghali; General Counsel and Vice-President (People and Culture) Jacqueline Lacasse; and Vice-President (Development and Alumni) Andrea Morris.

As well, Vice-President (External Relations) Kate Hamilton; Vice-President (Finance and Services) and Chief Financial Officer Wilbert Arends; and Vice-President (Digital Transformation and Technology) and Chief Transformation Officer Nipa Chakravarti shared the stage at Mac Hall.

Town hall topics varied

The president promised a view of the present and future, and the town hall delivered.

Key points of the town hall included: 

• UCalgary’s annual consolidated budget is $1.8B, and UCalgary is among the most administratively efficient universities in Canada. 
• Overall student enrolment this fall is 38,113 students, with 88% average for admission.
• For every student accepted, UCalgary turns away four fully qualified applicants.
• UCalgary brought in $632 million in external research funding over the past year.
• $175 million was raised for UCalgary by more than 5,700 donors in the past year.
• New programs include Energy Science, Master of Finance and Southern Alberta Medical Program.

Optimism on heels of province’s own report

McCauley also spoke of budget pressures, including international enrolment decline, but then cited the province’s Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Competitiveness as a source of hope for future government funding.

“The leading recommendation was exactly what we asked for: a new funding model that incorporates both excellence and growth,” said McCauley.

“We’re optimistic that we are now on a path towards a long-term sustainable operating funding model.”

60 years young

McCauley also recalled how much Calgary’s young university has accomplished, in only five decades.

“We officially turn 60 years young in April. Universities across the country have taken generations to achieve the innovation and impact we’ve already demonstrated,” said McCauley.

“We’re the youngest Top 5 research university in Canada, we’re in the top 1% of universities around the world, and we’re just getting started.”

Questions and answers

Questions from the audience involved all members of the ELT, and topics varied from AUPE bargaining to research funding and campus renovations.

The questions were both asked live from the floor, and, like one question — about whether the university would return to a five-day in-the-office work schedule — submitted in advance by members of the campus community.

“I think it’s unlikely the university will be going back to a five-day in-the-office work schedule; I say that despite some employers moving in that direction,” said Lacasse, vice-president (People and Culture), answering the hybrid work question.

Lacasse added that it’s become apparent that focus cannot just be on flexibility, and in-person relationships and face-to-face collaboration are a vital part of the energy and environment at the university, from mentorship to fostering a vibrant community, to delivering exceptional student experience and services. 

She says finding the right balance is essential, and UCalgary must continue to monitor and determine what approaches work best for UCalgary.

“I think we have learned a lot from the last few years, and we understand better not just how important flexibility is, but how important it is to come together and collaborate.”