Faculty of Computer Science

Strategic Plan

Strategic Planning Process

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Computer Science is developing its new strategic plan. The Faculty’s last strategic plan has reached the end of its lifespan, and the Faculty is ready for the new stage in its evolution. We are looking to evolve the structure to be aligned with its newfound size and to establish the conditions to continue to flourish and cement its position as a premier destination for teaching, learning, connecting, and research.

The Faculty of Computer Science will be accompanied by Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) to support the development of our new plan. This highly experienced team has built a strong reputation for guiding academic institutions through strategic planning.

Timeline

Consultations and information gathering begin in June 2024. The Faculty plans to have finalized the new Strategic Plan by May 2025.

Launch - April 2024
External interviews - May-June 2024
Survey of internal community and other Computer Science Faculties - June-September 2024
Focus group with internal stakeholders - July-September2024
Environmental scan - August 2024
Draft Plan - September 2024
Finalized Plan - October 2024

Consultation Process

The strategic planning process will include an extensive consultation process to listen to the aspirations, values, and ambitions of our vibrant community.

Consultations will include members of the Dalhousie Faculty of Computer Science community—such as our faculty, staff, students, administrators, and alumni—and external partners and stakeholders. Insight will be gathered via interviews, focus groups, and surveys.

The consultation process will begin in June, and is planned to continue until October 2024.

Community Consultation Sessions

Focus group with Internal Stakeholders – July-September 2024

HESA will conduct group consultations with the Faculty of Computer Science’s internal populations (faculty, staff, students). The sessions will last an hour and will be hosted in-person or virtual (as needed). The organization of these groups is best ascertained by internal members of the Faculty of Computer Science community than by HESA. However, we find a few principles helpful:

We like to provide sessions that invite specific stakeholder groups (Faculty, staff, students) to allow for an open exchange of views.
We like to limit focus groups to 15, and so recommend, with the help of an administrative assistant in the Faculty of Computer Science, that registration system is implemented to understand attendance beforehand.
We will also provide members of the Faculty of Computer Science to participate virtually through a response form posted on this webpage.

Community Consultation Sessions Schedule

Schedule

Group	Date (tentative)	Location
Dalhousie Student Session 1 (undergraduate)	July	TBD
Dalhousie Student Session 2 (graduate)	End of September	TBD
Dalhousie Student Session 3 (undergraduate and graduate)	End of September	Virtual
Faculty and Teaching Staff 1	July	TBD
Faculty and Teaching Staff 2	August	Virtual
Faculty and Teaching Staff 3	End of September	Virtual or in-person
Administrative Staff 1	July	Virtual or in-person
Administrative Staff 2	End of September	Virtual or in-person

Reports and Environmental Scan

As part of the Strategic Planning Process, Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) provides the Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Computer Science with reports and an environmental scan related to the strategic planning efforts.

HESA Reports on Consultations (Forthcoming Link)

Environmental Scan (Forthcoming Link)