Position and Promise

Thank you for your time and collaboration at our meeting on June 6. As noted that afternoon, the position and promise statements are foundations for future work and need to resonate with as many of our colleagues as possible.

The PM Team values the the many comments and offer the revised statements below. For your information, we also checked in with Dr. Black of SEM Works. His opinion of the net result is, "No problems at all. This looks great!" All being well, your feeling about the statements will be similar!

Medicine Hat College provides education that prepares students for further studies, careers, and life.

Our position:
Our people are passionate about unleashing the potential of every student—intellectually, emotionally, and socially.

Our promise: Unleashing Potential
Through every encounter we have with students – and all that we do – we will seek to recognize and encourage their potential as learners, workers, and global citizens.

Persona Groups Update

Persona Groups
“Persona groups” are the student audiences most important to the college. Defining these groups is a critical component of our overall efforts. Only when we understand the students we serve – and have knowledge of their expectations, needs and goals – will we be able to continually refresh and renew our programs and services to focus on success.

The One College project management team was a touch concerned that our selection of persona groups in February 6 did not follow the evidence-based principle that is one of the foundations of this initiative. As you recall, selection of the groups was made based on our collective opinions.

To address this concern, we conducted additional analysis of potential student groups to provide a comparison set to that selected on Feb 6. Further, we engaged an external party to indentify a third set of possibilities.

Final selection of the groups was based on the Campus Alberta Planning Resource, 2011 Environmental Scan, and the institution’s current Comprehensive Institutional Plan. Additional data were referenced as required. Groups were distinguished based on their unique service needs.

The table below shows the February 6 selection, as well as the outcomes of the comprehensive review. This work also reviewed data relevant to aboriginal learners to ensure this potential student segment – key within government expectations – was properly evaluated. Data indicates that this group would be at best represent a very small proportion of the institution’s student body.

Feb 6 Selections	Priority	Based on further review
High school direct students	1	Recent High School Graduates
Mature students	2	Mature Learners/Regional Workforce
New Canadians	3	Saskatchewan Students
International students	4	Academic Upgrading
High risk students	5	New Canadians (International Immigrants)
Workforce (post-credential) students	6	Occasional Learners
	7	International Students

You will be able to access the full persona group report here. Please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback through onecollege@mhc.ab.ca

Project Name

One College Initiative
Why this phrase? There are lots of reasons, but primary among them:

1. To indicate a shift toward changing rather than planning. Employees will participate in a change initiative rather than “SEM planning.”
2. “One College” exists as a central theme from the February 6 retreat.
3. The phrase implies common goals and collaboration.
4. It is simple. Hopefully people to be able to say things like, ‘I’m involved in the One College Initiative.’
5. The word ‘initiative’ suggests ongoing work, rather than a ‘project’ with fixed start and end points.

About the Strategic Plan

There has been a lot of discussion about the role of the existing strategic plan. We feel this should be a companion to the change process. Where we observe convergence we will take note and celebrate the alignment; should we observe divergence we will take note to trigger change in the ‘strategic plan’ at a later date.

April 23 and 24 Focus Groups

Please find below the full list of focus groups being conducted by SEM Works. The purpose of the sessions is to gather information about perceptions of the college now, versus perceptions of the what the college could be in the future. The information will be used to help us develop Institutional Position and Promise.

- Students are being invited by phone.
- Employees are being invited via email and the On Campus blog.
- A dedicated session is provided for Brooks Campus employees.
- External participants are being invited by Advancement and the President's Office.

April 23	April 24
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. –  Employees	9 to 10 a.m. – International students
10 to 11 a.m. – Students (New Canadians)	10:30 to 11:30 - Employees
noon to 1 p.m. – Employees	1 to 2 p.m. – Undeclared students
2 to 3 pm - Mature students	3:30 to 4:30 – Brooks employees
3:30 to 4:30 – HS Direct students	6:30 to 7:30 pm - External

Welcome

This blog is intended to keep you up-to-date with the One College Initiative. Our plan is to post new information and alert you to that while the blog allows you to revisit previous decisions and announcements.

Be part of the One College Initiative: This is your first of many invitations to participate in the “One College Initiative.” We’re looking for employees to share their thoughts on the college today and how it could be better in the future.  

Please note that the schedule has been altered. Three sessions are planned:

April 23: 8:30 to 9:30 am in C225
12:00 to 1:00 pm in C225

April 24: 10:30 to 11:30 am in C225

Brooks Campus: April 24: 3:30 to 4:30 pm

All you need to bring are your impressions of the college today, and how we could be better in the future. The sessions will be conducted by a consultant and you’ll be with a small group of other employees.

This is a first come, first served opportunity. Please respond to feedback@mymhc.ca.