Broad-based committee
preferred

"T would very much prefer to have a
committee such as this that would really
represent a broad cross section of the
institution and that would work as the
stecring committee of the strategic
planning process," said Peter.

Tim Segger suggested that results of the
Access Committee were "evidence that
this kind of process is very effective."

"The wisdom of this group (Access
committee) is something that became
clear as the process went on," he said.

Tim reminded the committee that the
Access plan that resulted in UCFV was a
different path than the options originally
considered.

Tim also noted thatif the Access
committee is to become the Strategic
Planning steering committee it will
require some "resuscitation."

Need lateral thinking and a
little excitement

Peter expressed the view that "when the
institution is in reasonably steady state the
traditional, rational, sectoral approach to
strategic planning is nota bad process, but
at a time when the institution is making
some exponential moves forward -
particularly when you’re looking at
adding components to the institution that
simply don’t exist right now - the sectoral
approach breaks down because there is
nobody already in the institution that can
address those things. You need a group of
people who can indulge in a litte lateral
thinking and provoke a little excitement."

There was no disagreement with the
concept of broad-based, consultative
planning. However, several concerns were
raised about the logistics of creating the
new Steering Committee and with the
time and work required for those directly
involved.

Peter indicated that the Strategic Planning
steering committee work will not really
begin in earmest until January ’93. "If
there are some measures that need to be
taken in order to allow people the time to
get into this, that would have to be looked
at and would not be unrealistic."

Wayne Welsh questioned whether the
efforts of strategic planning would be
effective, especially in terms of attracting
essential funding.

Vision needed

Peter responded that "if you don’t havea
vision you're certainly not going to get it
(additional funding). If you do have a
vision there’s no guarantee that you’re
going to getit. Unless you have a

well-thought-out, firmly -rooted plan that’s

realistic, that deals with issues like
participation rates and economic needs of
the communities you are really going to
have a hard time attracting the dollars."

"The success of the document(UCFV
proposal) was due to the fact that it had
been very carefully thought out; it was a
vision."

Fay Hyndman noted that the Access
committee provided an excellent forum
for staff to become directly involved in
decision making and to hear first-hand
about emerging issues and plans.

Concerns raised

Virginia Cooke raised a concern about the
transformation process.

“Access has been all along a kind of
exercise in democracy in the sense that
people were elected to put together some
vision of what a degree granting
institution would look like,” she said. "We
can’t say we’re still representing you all
but we’re just going to change what we’re
doing," she said.

Virginia said she would be uncomfortable
changing the mandate of the Access
commitee without a full discussion with
all the constituencies.

Peter agreed, and proposed that the
members of the Access committee sound
out their constituents and retum to the
issue at the next Access committee
meeting.

Peter offered to draft an overview of the
Strategic Planning committee task
including a general sense of its mandate
and a more specific list of the major issues
it will need to address.

Other concerns focused on the fate of
outstanding issues and subcommittees

within the Access Committee mandate.
Peter pointed out that some, such as the
Arts Curriculum committee, might be
shifted to the standing committee process
under PAC. Others such as the Education
degree subcommittee were more
problematic and will need special
consideration. In several cases, such as the
First Nations subcommittee, issues might
be brought to both the Strategic Planning
steering committee and PAC depending
on their particular nature.

Information and Forums
planned

It was agreed that information about the
proposal to establish a Strategic Planning
steering committee will be circulated to
all employees, discussed at department
meetings and then examined at two open
forums set for noon on November 25 in
Chilliwack and December 2 in
Abbotsford.

As the meeting wound down, the issue

of whether or not it would be more
effective to redirect the Access committee
or create a new Strategic Planning
Steering committee was tabled until the
next Access committee meeting on
December 9.

Consultative concept
endorsed; logistics need work

Wanda Gordon offered the observation
that, “I don’t think anyone could arguc
with the philosophy behind the concept of
full participation in strategic planning -
what needs to be worked out are the
logistics."

Strategic Planning Forums

Chilliwack , November 25,
noon in Room Ag 114

Abbotsford, December 2,
noon in the Main Theatre