Many unknowns still exist globally and locally when it comes to COVID-19 and what lies ahead. While public health authorities have not indicated any definitive timelines for current prevention measures and restrictions affecting our community, university planners can still plan ahead with flexibility using the informed advice of public health, pandemic, and emergency management experts.
The University of Alberta has established a Fall 2020 Planning Group of a steering committee and six sub-groups to oversee planning for the Fall 2020 Academic Term. Their planning activities will be guided by a set of principles, three main and adaptable scenarios according to the various prevention measures and restrictions, and three key goals:
To provide the best possible learning experience for our students.
To maximize research activities throughout the pandemic.
To continue to use this period to propel innovation, efficiency, and relevance in our research, our work, and our classrooms as a leading global research university.
See the University of Alberta Fall Semester Scenario Planning document for additional details.
The vision, principles, planning assumptions and three adaptable planning scenarios of the Fall 2020 Planning Group were approved by the President’s Executive Committee on April 16 and presented to the General Faculties Council on April 20.
Purpose
The Fall 2020 Planning Group will develop a unified plan according to three guiding scenarios to address all functions and operations necessary for the university to fulfil its mission as of the Fall 2020 Academic Term.
Next Steps
April - May: Planning and consultation
June: University leadership review and governance approval of Fall 2020 unified plan
July: Implementation begins based on preventative measures as of July 1, 2020
Fall 2020 Oversight Committee
The Fall 2020 Oversight Committee is composed of leaders from across administrative units and faculties.
Committee Membership Andrew Sharman, Vice-President, Facilities and Operations, and Executive Lead, U of A COVID-19 Response (Chair)
James Allen, Associate Vice-President, Operations and Maintenance
Marj Cayford, Senior HR Partner, Human Resource Services
Andre Costopoulos, Vice-Provost and Dean of Students
Martin Coutts, Associate Vice-President, Finance and Supply Management Services
Walter Dixon, Associate Vice-President, Research, Research and Innovation
Jillian Hamilton, Strategic Communications and Issues Manager, University Relations
Katherine Huising, Associate Vice-President, Ancillary Services
Andrew Leitch, Director, Enterprise Risk Management Programs
Mike MacGregor, Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President, Information Services & Technology
Brooke Milne, Vice-Provost and Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research
Rob Murno, Director, Environment, Health & Safety, Risk Management Services
Melissa Padfield, Vice-Provost & University Registrar
Steve Patten, Associate Dean, Research, Faculty of Arts
Wayne Patterson, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Human Resources
Wendy Rodgers, Deputy Provost
Chad Schulz, Director, Financial Services
Andrea Smith, Senior Administrative Officer, University Relations
Philip Stack, Associate Vice-President, Risk Management Services
Fred West, Professor, Faculty of Science
Sub-groups
Six sub-groups have been formed by the Fall 2020 Planning Oversight Committee to tackle planning and provide guidance on six overarching areas on behalf of the university. Below are the sub-groups and their chairs.
Academic Impact Group Melissa Padfield, Office of the Registrar (Chair)
Allen Ball, Faculty of Arts
Maryam Bagheritari, Faculty Relations
Anne Bailey, University Relations, Strategic Communications
Bryan Braul, Faculty of Extension
Jason Carey, Faculty of Engineering
Gerda DeVries, Faculty of Science
Shana Dion, Dean of Students, Student Services
Wendy Doughty, Dean of Students, Student Services
Edith Finczak, Office of the Provost
Tammy Hopper, General Faculties Council, Academic Standards Committee
Jeff Johnson, School of Public Health
Kerrie Johnston, Faculty of Science
Mike MacGregor, Information Services & Technology
Janice Miller-Young, Centre for Teaching and Learning
Brooke Milne, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
Karsten Mundel, Augustana
Rebecca Nagel, Faculty of Arts
John Nychka, General Faculties Council, Committee on the Learning Environment
Jeff Rawlings, Information Services & Technology
Christy Raymond, Faculty of Nursing
Weiwei Shi, Libraries and Museums
Helen Vallianatos, Dean of Students, Student Services
Doug Weir, University of Alberta International
Communications Working Group Andrea Smith, University Relations (Co-Chair)
Jillian Hamilton, University Relations, Crisis Management Team Communications (Co-Chair)
Anne Bailey, University Relations, Strategic Communications
Laurie Wang, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Rob Desjardins, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
Sheila Graham, Faculty of Arts
Michelle Hagen, University Relations, Social Media
Brittany Hurlburt, Facilities & Operations
Julia Jones-Bourque, University of Alberta International
Alexis Ksiazkiewicz, University Relations, Government and Community Relations
Tia Lalani, Augustana
Jocelyn Love, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
Jennifer-Anne Pascoe, Faculty of Science
Tim Schneider, University Relations, Digital
Jaylene Ulmer, Office of the Registrar Faculty and Staff Working Group Marj Cayford, Human Resource Services (Chair)
Stacey Brennan, Faculty of Arts
Kendra Brunt, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Bryan Hogeveen, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
Katherine Huising, Facilities & Operations, Ancillary Services
Brian Pearson, Faculty Relations
Andrea Smith, University Relations
Aneta Thompson, Faculty of Engineering
Demetres Tryphonopoulos, Augustana Campus
Jeremy Wilhelm, Human Resource Services
Crystal Wood, Human Resource Services Finance and Resource Working Group Martin Coutts, Financial Services & Supply Management (Co-chair)
Chad Schulz, Financial Services, Integrated Finance & Resource Planning (Co-Chair)
Stephen Edge, Financial Services, Resource Planning
Edith Finczak, Office of the Provost
Amy Gong, Financial Services, Resource Planning
Sara Horseman, Financial Services, Resource Planning
Kyle Shukaliak, Financial Services, Resource Planning
Andrea Smith, University Relations
All Senior Financial Officers, as required (Finance Management Committee) Infrastructure and Operations Working Group James Allen, Facilities and Operations, Operations and Maintenance (Co-Chair)
Katherine Huising, Facilities and Operations, Ancillary Service (Co-Chair)
Dale Askey, Libraries and Museums
Lorna Baker-Perri, Facilities and Operations, Space Management
John Benson, Facilities and Operations, Building Services
Laura Boisvert, Faculty of Education
Tam Connelly, Facilities and Operations, Augustana
Rick Fix, Information Services & Technology
Cheryl Harwardt, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
Jennifer Hibbert Faculty of Arts
Brittany Hurlburt, Facilities and Operations, Communications
Alana Krahn, Students’ Union
Dolores March, Facilities and Operations, Ancillary Services
Kim Misfeldt, Augustana
Craig Moore, Facilities and Operations, Real Estate
Andrew Ng, Facilities and Operations, Strategic Portfolio Services
Jon O’Hara, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
Rob Pawliuk, Facilities and Operations, Operations and Maintenance
Geoff Rode, Facilities and Operations, Ancillary Services
Tobie Smith, Faculty of Science
Christian Tremblay, Campus Saint-Jean
Marc Waddingham, Graduate Students' Association
Kevin Watts, Information Services & Technology
Todd Werre, Facilities and Operations, Project Management Research Impact Group Walter Dixon , Research and Innovation (Co-Chair)
(Co-Chair) Rob Munro , Environment, Health and Safety, Crisis Management Team (Co-Chair)
(Co-Chair) Declan Ali, Faculty of Science
Dale Askey, Libraries and Museums
Susan Babcock, Research Ethics Office
Katherine Binhammer, Faculty of Arts
David Bressler, Agricultural Life and Environmental Sciences
Scott Delinger, Information Services & Technology
Nadir Erbilgin, Field Research Office
Jillian Hamilton, University Relations, Crisis Management Team Communications
Keith Hollands, Facilities and Operations, Engineering & Technical Services
Richard Lehner, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
Andre McDonald, Faculty of Engineering
Sharon Murphy, Libraries and Museums
Tracy Raivio, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
Michelle Rooker, Environment, Health and Safety
Mara Simmonds, Research and Innovation, Communications
Michael Walesiak, Research and Innovation, Finance & Administration
Craig Wilkinson, Research Ethics Office, University Veterinarian
Planning for your unit, team or class
Adjustments to your current Fall 2020 planning should be made in consultation with your unit’s leadership team. They are connected to this planning process and will be able to ensure any concerns or considerations you have are brought forward to the appropriate planning group in a timely manner. Many thanks in advance for your patience.
Questions?
Should you have any concerns or questions about Fall 2020 planning, please first touch base with your supervisor, dean, director or chair as they will best be able to address any inquiries specific to your team or situation.
General questions about University of Alberta Fall 2020 planning can be sent to phrtinfo@ualberta.ca.