Trent University Reappoints Vice President Academic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 30, 2007
Trent University is pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Susan M. Apostle-Clark to the position of Vice President Academic and Provost.
“Vice-President Apostle-Clark has made excellent progress with her current mandate and is well-respected by the University community,” said Bonnie Patterson, President and Vice-Chancellor. “She has the attributes, experience, knowledge and dedication to Trent needed to pursue the proposed mandate. Vice-President Apostle-Clark has earned the opportunity to build on the accomplishments of the past four and a half years and the University would be greatly disadvantaged to lose her at this time.”
Professor Apostle-Clark is an accomplished scholar and administrator, and has served as Trent’s Provost since July 2003. Prior to Trent, she held several senior positions in both the university sector and the provincial government in Nova Scotia.
The process to review the Academic Vice-Presidency included an examination of the office and priorities for this portfolio for the next several years. The review process was conducted by a representative committee comprising faculty, students and administration. The committee sought input from the whole university community.
The mandate for the Vice-President (Academic) from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013 will focus on six key areas:
- Academic Planning and Strategic Enrolment Management. The Vice-President (Academic) will continue to lead the University in planning our educational operations (in Peterborough and elsewhere), enrolment targets and the strategies required to achieve them. This will involve various administrative units within and outside this Vice-President’s portfolio. Planning will include evaluation of current activities and the introduction of new strategies and tactics to ensure Trent’s programs and recruitment will be competitive. Marketing, recruitment practices, course offerings, admissions procedures and standards, scholarships and the use of technology will be addressed.
- The Undergraduate Curriculum. The review of the undergraduate curriculum must be undertaken as soon as possible. Resolution of the four-year undergraduate degree issue will need to be a priority. The review should encompass examination of curricular relevance, course offerings, program titles, up-codes and innovations such as a common first year, enrichment programs or a capstone fourth year and should also result in a rationalization of degree requirements and pre-requisite structures.
- Undergraduate and Graduate Program Development. Coordination of human and financial resources and services between undergraduate and graduate studies will support students and lead to the orderly development of programming at both levels consistent with resource constraints.
- Student Engagement and Support. Systematizing and improving our array of student services, on the Symons campus and at other locations where our programs are offered, will provide better support and assist with retention. The key will be to find ways to engage students and meet their needs.
- Research. The strategic plan for research is expected to be completed in fall 2007. Implementation of this plan, along with a new emphasis on internationalization, will be the focus during the Vice-President (Academic)’s next term.
- Integration and Implementation of Strategic Plans. With a strong planning framework now in place, leaders throughout the Vice-President’s portfolio must be encouraged to implement the plans via the University’s instruction, research and support programs. This will require new levels of coordinated effort and community engagement and will encompass innovation and new broad interests (e.g. internationalization).
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For more information contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Officer, (705) 748-1011, ext. 6185
