Strategic Plan
“MomentUM: Leading Change Together” is the plan defines who we are and outlines are commitments and strategic goals.
MomentUM: Leading Change Together
University of Manitoba Strategic Plan 2024 – 2029
UM is a unique and extraordinary community that does great things. Together, we can do even more. Let’s continue to be creative, be curious, be bold, be engaged, and think big.
Michael Benarroch
President and Vice-Chancellor
Our plan to lead change together
Grounded in UM’s mission, vision and core values, and in the spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration, we will respectfully lead change and shape a brighter future for all.
Commitments
Guiding how we move forward together are our fundamental commitments to:
- Fostering a vibrant community
- Advancing Reconciliation for transformative change
- Building a sustainable future
Strategic themes
Over the next five years, we will work together to achieve our goals across three interconnected strategic themes:
- Creating knowledge that matters
- Empowering learners
- Reimagining engagement
Creating knowledge that matters
In leading change, UM will demonstrate advancements in exceptional research, scholarship and creative activities to create knowledge that matters and that positively impacts the communities with whom we engage. UM will be increasingly sought out for our expertise and recognized for our contributions.
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Creating knowledge
Goal:
Inspire knowledge creation by supporting and promoting an environment of excellence.
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Creating knowledge
Goal:
Build reciprocal relationships with communities to anticipate and identify solutions to emerging societal, cultural, economic, health and environmental needs of Manitoba and beyond.
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Creating knowledge
Goal:
Identify sustainable and high-impact solutions through increased collaboration and connection across our campuses.
Empowering learners
In leading change, UM will empower learners through learning experiences that meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. We will provide researchers, instructors, staff and learners with the knowledge, skills and supports they need to achieve their goals.
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Empowering learners
Goal:
Respond to changing needs of learners through the creation and advancement of supportive systems for learning and success.
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Empowering learners
Goal:
Build sustainable futures for learners by increasing opportunities for innovative and meaningful learning experiences.
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Empowering learners
Goal:
Foster an exceptional student experience by strengthening teaching and student support services across the university.
Reimagining engagement
In leading change, UM will be a partner of choice with the greater community. We will be a destination to learn, create, work, and play. In reimagining engagement, we will connect and thrive as a community for today and tomorrow.
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Reimagining engagement
Goal:
Strengthen and build mutually beneficial and reciprocal external relationships through meaningful and authentic engagement.
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Reimagining engagement
Goal:
Empower staff, faculty, and students to thrive and succeed by creating a culture of belonging, well-being and inclusion.
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Reimagining engagement
Goal:
Achieve sustainability and accessibility targets through community decision-making processes and institutional initiatives.
How we get there
This is a university plan informed by our community. We appreciate your engagement, support, and the energy you have invested in sharing your ideas and aspirations.
Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice - President (Academic)
Gaining MomentUM
Identifying the actions we need to take to meet the goals outlined in this plan is our next step in this process. Guided by our three fundamental commitments, these actions will support the three strategic themes that advance our mission and allow us to become a vibrant and thriving community, strengthened by Indigenous knowledges and perspectives, and leading change that makes meaningful impact in our province and wider world.
Together, we will use this framework to gain momentum and lead change to shape a brighter future for all.
Witness ceremony
To meaningfully action our new strategic plan, a Witness Ceremony was held at the MomentUM launch event. The term “witness” is a reference to the Indigenous principle of witnessing, which varies among First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Through witnessing by honoured and respected guests, the event or work that is undertaken is validated and provided legitimacy.
Four witnesses from the UM Indigenous community who represent Elders, faculty, students and staff will bring the MomentUM launch history back to their internal and external communities and inspire their peers to sew Reconciliation into discussions and actions as it has been woven into the strategic plan.
Strategic Plan Implementation Committee
The Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, made up of representatives from faculty, staff and students, will work together to identify key indicators used to measure success of the plan, engage with academic and administrative units to develop unit-level plans, and report annually to the community on our accomplishments and challenges.
Informed by data from academic and administrative units, the Implementation Committee met multiple times over the Fall 2024 term to draft key indicators and sample actions that support the shared goals outlined in the plan. Working with the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous), the Committee is now reviewing its work to ensure alignment with the institutional commitments outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Framework: Time for Action endorsed by the Board of Governors in December 2024. A final focus group check-in will follow later this term with the expectation that an implementation report will be shared with the community in spring 2025.
Committee membership
- Chair: Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
- Jeff Adams, Registrar and Executive Director, Enrolment Services
- Naomi Andrew, Vice-President (Administration)
- Angie Bruce, Vice-President (Indigenous)
- Sharon Bruce, Professor, Max Rady College of Medicine
- Terry Bunio, Director, I.S.T. Planning and Governance
- Tina Chen, Vice-Provost (Equity)
- Christine Cyr, Associate Vice-President (Indigenous), Students, Community, and Cultural Integration
- Cassandra Davidson, Academic Planning and Priorities Specialist, Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
- Raman Dhaliwal, Associate Vice-President (Administration)
- Kelsey Evans, Associate Director, Office of the President
- Brenda Gunn, Professor, Faculty of Law
- Vanessa Koldingnes, Vice-President (External)
- Kelley Main, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies
- Peter Nickerson, Vice-Provost (Health Sciences) and Dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
- Catherine-Grace Peters, Director, University Communications
- Susan Prentice, Professor, Faculty of Arts
- Randy Roller, Executive Director, Office of Institutional Analysis
- Jillian Seniuk Cizek, Associate Professor, Price Faculty of Engineering
- Divya Sharma, student, UMSU President
- Greg Smith, Vice-Provost (Academic Planning and Programs)
- John Sorenson, senate representative, Associate Head, Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
- Allison Stephen, Director, Office of the Vice-President (Research and International); delegate for Vice-President (Research and International)
- Sarah Teetzel, senate representative, Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
- Erin White, Fellow in Equity, Anti-Oppression and Social Justice
- Louella Yambot, Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator, Desautels Faculty of Music and School of Art
- Christopher Yendt, student, GSA President
A shared vision
Faculty, staff, and students contributed to a new community mural by submitting their answer to the prompt, “My UM will be …” The bold, colourful art installation brings to life UM’s new strategic plan and reminds viewers of the university community’s shared goals and aspirations for a brighter future.
UM Institutional plans
Explore the plans that guide us and drives us to learn, understand and innovate, to bring together diverse voices and perspectives and to build a better future for our university, community, province and world.