Integrated planning and assessment cycle

Athabasca University entered its first full cycle of integrated planning in April 2018. Integrated planning has introduced a strong element of openness to the AU’s resource planning process and is central to the successful implementation of Athabasca University’s strategic plan: Imagine: Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities.

Why integrated planning?

Integrated planning:

• aligns our institutional priorities with our institutional resources through the establishment of annual institutional planning priorities to ensure resource allocation across the university is consistent with the objectives of Imagine.
• sets the foundation for assessing and understanding the current and future needs of faculties and administrative units across the institution by providing a comprehensive view of resources and commitments to ensure the alignment of resources with academic priorities.
• supports Athabasca University’s execution, assessment, and accountability cycle.
• enables AU leaders, teams and individuals rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges with a lens to continuous improvement through enhanced coordination and use of resources.

Several important documents set the stage for integrated planning at AU.

• Provost’s Paper on Integrated Planning (April 2018)
• Integrated Planning Framework
• Integrated Planning Calendar

The Provost’s Paper on Integrated Planning provides an overview of integrated planning and sets the foundation for the first integrated planning cycle.

The Integrated Planning Framework provides a visual representation of AU’s integrated planning framework.

AU’s fiscal planning cycle is outlined in the Integrated Planning Calendar.

Assessment

Assessment is a key pillar of Integrated Planning as it helps us determine whether we are on track or need to make adjustments and course corrections in our planning efforts, both at the strategic and operational levels. The university is currently aligning measurement and assessment activities through a project focused on developing institution‐level KPIs that are central to the objectives of the Imagine Plan. The KPI’s will be used as benchmarks to guide institutional planning through 2022.

Stewardship of Integrated Planning

Administrative Council is the senior academic administrative advisory body responsible for integrated planning and the development of the annual integrated resource plan for approval by Executive Team. The Council is a principal vehicle for communication among the President, Provost, Vice-Presidents, and senior administrators responsible for leadership and stewardship over university operations and affairs.

The Provost’s Integrated Resource Planning Working Team supports the structure of the integrated resource planning process; this includes assisting in the process of resource allocation and reallocation by working closely with Administrative Council. The Working Team advises members of Executive Team and Administrative Council on resource allocation and reallocation matters.

Planning Templates

To assist the integrated resource planning process for FY 2020-2021, please refer to the documents below.

• AU Operational Planning Template 2021-2022 (due October 13, 2020)
• AU Business Case Template

Contact

The first year of this planning cycle, 2019-2020, is a transition year. To obtain assistance in the development of unit operational plans, integrated resource plans, or business cases, please contact the Integrated Resource Planning Working Team at irp@athabascau.ca.