Dalhousie University

This strategic framework, titled "A Rising Tide," outlines Dalhousie University's commitment to Nova Scotia and the world, focusing on lifting people, ideas, and communities. It is guided by two primary piers of purpose: Place and People, supported by eight core beliefs. The framework defines six shared horizons for aspiration and action: Health, Discovery, Civic Strength, Belonging, Leadership, and Challenge. The overall vision is to expand opportunity, strengthen democracy, and sustain the planet, ultimately leading to a better quality of life for its graduates and a more prosperous, productive, and inspired society.

This document identifies critical challenges and opportunities for enhancing campus health and well-being at Dalhousie University, aiming to inform an upcoming strategic planning process. It outlines six principal areas of concern: the absence of a holistic campus health and well-being strategy, insufficient adherence to policies promoting well-being, pervasive poverty and financial stress among the community, an environment (both physical and social) that undermines health and well-being, a lack of health literacy and collaborative support programming, and missing links between internal research and practical application. The strategic objective is to embed health and well-being into all facets of the university's culture, operations, and academic mandate, with adequate resources and accountability, to create a thriving environment for students, staff, and faculty.

This document compiles prioritized ideas and projects aimed at fostering a healthy campus environment for the Dalhousie community. The plan is structured around six key themes: enhancing the employee experience, promoting overall well-being, optimizing physical and social spaces, integrating well-being into teaching and learning, facilitating financial well-being, and establishing clear accountability for these initiatives. The overarching goal is to create a supportive, equitable, and caring campus where all members can thrive.

The meeting featured reports from the President and Provost, focusing on the strategic direction for 2026 amidst a period of global transition. Key discussion points included strengthening academic foundations through program reviews (PACE), emphasizing the university's role as a flagship partner in provincial and national strategic areas such as clean energy, R&D for battery storage, bio-manufacturing (GMP facility), and national defense/security conversations. Global positioning efforts, particularly deepening ties with partners in India and attracting international talent via the Impact Plus Chairs initiative, were highlighted. Discussions also covered advancing student housing and maintaining institutional financial health. Board members engaged on topics such as Enterprise Risk Management and the implications of mission-funded research on institutional autonomy.

This document presents the proposed draft operating budget plan for Dalhousie University for the fiscal year 2026-27, with forecasts extending to 2028-29. The plan addresses financial challenges by considering provincial funding, tuition rate adjustments, enrolment shifts, and rising compensation costs. Key focus areas include maintaining student assistance, facilities renewal, IT infrastructure, and library acquisitions. The primary goal is to achieve financial sustainability and a balanced budget by 2028-29 through a combination of revenue growth strategies and expenditure reductions.