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​Laurier’s Faculty of Science has grown rapidly since its inception in 2000, and is now home to over 3800 undergraduate students and over 100 faculty across seven departments. As Laurier has made the transition from a primarily undergraduate to comprehensive institution, we have maintained a commitment to high quality und​ergraduate student teaching, while our research activities and graduate programs have grown. There is an incredible breadth of disciplines both in terms of research and programs, ranging from the social sciences to the natural sciences and mathematics. We view this breadth of activity as an important distinguishing feature of our faculty.

The strategic plan for the Faculty of Science comes at a time of considerable change at both the institutional and provincial levels. The provincial government will be changing its funding of universities, and this shift will emphasize its priorities of institutional differentiation as well as student skills development. At the institutional level we are in the transition to a responsibility-centred management budget, one where decisions and financial accountability are shifted to the Faculty level. In addition, the university recently released an institutional Strategic Academic Plan (SAP), and our plan for the faculty needs to align itself with the institutional directions.

The three central pillars of Laurier’s SAP are:

  • Academic Excellence;
  • Experiential Learning; and
  • Diversity.

Several of the components of the Science Strategic Plan align directly with the priorities established in Laurier’s SAP.

The plan that follows outlines our overarching priorities and objectives for the next five years. Within each objective outlined in the plan, we have articulated specific short term goals for the 2017/18 academic year and included some potential goals to be addressed in the future. These goals will be reviewed on a yearly basis to track progress and to establish new goals in future years. While the specific goals that are articulated span the Faculty of Science, the intent for this plan is to guide activities at the departmental level as well. It is expected that individual departments will develop their own goals that align with the Science Strategic Plan. It should be noted that the pillars, objectives and goals are not set out in order of priority. Rather, they start with undergraduate and graduate education and extend to research and the community beyond. It is also noteworthy that the pillars are fundamentally interconnected and as such some of the goals, while placed within one pillar, also serve to advance the other pillars.​

Strategic Plan Pillars

Mission Statement

Using scientific processes, we aspire to generate new ideas and discover the world in all its complexities, and to integrate research with teaching to advance knowledge and ultimately benefit society.

Summary

​​​​​​​​While building the foundation of the strategic plan has occurred, the work has just begun to ensure that the document stays relevant to the goals and aspirations of all individuals within the Faculty of Science. Over the next year, as we continue to work on the immediate goals outlined above, we will continue to develop and modify future goals and objectives that will underscore our mission statement. Departments will be asked to identify champions to ensure that our ambitions are being met.

Future goals will need to be identified and clarified to ensure that they align with the needs of our students as well as promoting of the Faculty of Science through teaching, learning, research and service. Listed below are items for future consideration. As this is a living document, these objectives will be reviewed annually and may change based on new priorities and challenges within the Faculty of Science. Individuals are asked to bring forward ideas for discussion as only through the collaboration of many viewpoints will we move forward as a faculty.​

Next Steps: Potential Future Goals

  • Communicate to faculty and students the experiential learning opportunities available to students.
  • Expand Community Service Learning (CSL) opportunities for and establish supports to facilitate participation in CSL.
  • Establish a student peer mentoring/leadership program.
  • Develop empirical approaches to assessing effectiveness of new courses and innovative initiatives related to teaching and learning.
  • Establish peer mentoring programs to promote student success.
  • Develop a senior undergrad science “cohort” course with a focus on interdisciplinary approach to solving a larger, real world problem.
  • Integrate research into courses through case studies or problem-based approaches.
  • Facilitate opportunities for students from science to attend conferences.
  • Increase faculty participation in public lectures (both on campus and with the external community).
  • Work with Career Services and the Community Service Learning office to increase partnerships with outside agencies such as industry, governments, and NGOs.
  • Provide or conduct seminars with business and industry leaders.

For a print copy of the Faculty of Science Strategic Plan, contact the Faculty of Science at scienceinquiries@wlu.ca

Contact Us:

E: ScienceAdmin@wlu.ca
T: 519.884.0710 x2129
F: 519.884.0464
Office Location: Science Building main floor, N1048, Waterloo campus

Science Building Hours

Monday–Thursday: 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Friday: 6 a.m.–9 p.m.
Weekends/Holidays: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Dean of Science Office Hours

Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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