Business and Economics

Strategic Goals and Actions

To accomplish its mission, the School has established 10 strategic goals relating to aspects of its academic and administrative performance. It works closely with all university partners such as TRU World, Open Learning and the Centre for Student Engagement and Learning Innovation in achieving these goals. AACSB accreditation is being pursued to demonstrate the School’s commitment to quality and raise its profile among other research universities in the province.

 Program Quality and Student Engagement

The School will provide challenging and innovative courses and programs that respond quickly to change and emphasize academic and professional engagement. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Design an effective, faculty-driven assurance of learning system that incorporates extensive stakeholder feedback and current trends in business education.
  2. Research potential new courses and programs including interdisciplinary and double/joint degree options with other non-business disciplines and educational institutions.
  3. Maintain academic integrity through careful curriculum management; strict adherence to policies governing academic honesty and student advancement; and high standards for faculty selection, course assignment and evaluation.
  4. Support faculty participation through a complement of no fewer than 75 percent full-time instructors.
  5. Implement optimal class size policies that best facilitate student learning at all levels.
  6. Improve the quality of instructional materials and expand the use of educational technologies such as learning management systems.
  7. Promote the effective use of active, case-based, project-based and collaborative learning techniques.
  8. Incorporate the use of team teaching where appropriate.
  9. Expand opportunities for experiential learning through participation in activities such as cooperative education, internships or practica; study abroad; field trips, courses, or schools; service learning; speaker series; student research; work study placements; teaching assistantships; student and university governance; student competitions; community-based consulting projects; entrepreneurial activities; student clubs; and professional organizations.
  10. Develop a more student-centric environment where students assume greater responsibility for their education through discovery and self-directed learning facilitated by faculty.
  11. Design an evaluation system that thoroughly documents a faculty member’s professional progress and encourages continuous improvement of instructional skills, professional knowledge and scholarship, and instills a commitment to service.
  12. Improve the ability to attract and retain high-quality faculty and administrators by offering competitive salaries, benefits and support for scholarship and development.
 Student Services

The School will achieve high levels of student recruitment, retention, engagement, satisfaction and academic/career success. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Implement effective domestic student recruitment procedures.
  2. Enhance student orientation activities.
  3. Improve the level of communication among students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
  4. Introduce a student advisory group.
  5. Centralize and automate academic advising for all campus, international and distance students.
  6. Promote the availability of scholarships, bursaries, and awards for business students.
  7. Provide additional support and referral services for students experiencing academic and personal difficulties.
  8. Expand campus employment, career mentoring, and job placement services.
  9. Increase the number and diversity of cooperative work term placements and internships.
  10. Expand service learning opportunities for students.
  11. Implement e-portfolios and co-curricular transcripts and expand the number of approved co-curricular activities.
  12. Develop additional extracurricular educational, social, and athletic activities for students.
  13. Provide additional professional development opportunities for student services personnel.
 Accessible Education

The School will provide students with the ability to transition into or out of post-secondary education over their lives as their professional and family commitments and educational needs change. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Maintain an open admissions policy where all qualified students are admitted.
  2. Maintain laddered curriculum with a progressive credential structure.
  3. Actively participate in prior learning assessment, including the TRU Credit Bank.
  4. Regularly update the BC Transfer Guide and conduct transfer credit assessments with major colleges and universities outside the province.
  5. Expand on-campus and blended programming at satellite campuses in British Columbia and partner institutions overseas.
  6. Schedule classes at non-traditional times using alternative delivery formats.
  7. Increase course availability for non-business students.
 Multi-Modal Delivery

The School will provide students access to the mode of course or program delivery that best suits their preferred learning style, financial situation or professional and family commitments. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Offer courses and programs in both the face-to-face and distance modalities.
  2. Expand the use of blended course and program delivery.
  3. Educate faculty on how to effectively develop and facilitate face-to-face, distance, and blended courses.
  4. Supply all first-time learners with training on how to best study in their chosen modality.
  5. Harmonize the content and structure of all face-to-face and distance courses and programs.
  6. Ensure all courses and programs display the same high level of academic integrity regardless of mode of delivery.
  7. Provide all learners access to the same academic services and activities.
  8. Use the paced cohort format for all on-campus and graduate programs where extensive student-to-student interaction is critical to learner development.
  9. Use the independent study format for undergraduate distance courses where student flexibility is important.
  10. Expose campus-based students to distance and blended education to develop their ability to learn independently and engage in life-long learning.
 Aboriginal Education

The School will provide a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for aboriginal students to help them attain their education goals and career ambitions. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Establish partnership agreements with institutions focusing on aboriginal education.
  2. Assist aboriginal communities and organizations in the academic preparation of students.
  3. Incorporate aboriginal related curriculum in courses where appropriate.
  4. Expand programs related to aboriginal economic development and self-governance.
  5. Increase involvement in campus-based aboriginal support services and activities.
  6. Offer professional development activities for faculty relating to aboriginal student issues.
 International Education

The School will provide a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for international students to help them attain their education goals and career ambitions. We will also expand the global knowledge and cultural awareness of all students and faculty. To accomplish these goals, the School will:

  1. Assist in recruiting higher-quality international students from a more diverse group of countries.
  2. Maintain a culturally diverse learning environment through an appropriate balance between the number of domestic and international students.
  3. Enhance the effectiveness of overseas partnerships.
  4. Improve the communication skills of international students.
  5. Increase involvement in campus-based support services and activities for international students.
  6. Provide professional development activities for faculty relating to international student issues.
  7. Upgrade curriculum relating to globalization and cultural diversity.
  8. Expand opportunities for domestic students to travel, study, and engage in cooperative education or service learning abroad.
  9. Expand opportunities for faculty to teach and engage in scholarship and development internationally.
  10. Encourage domestic students to study a second language.
 Scholarship and Development

The School will increase the number and quality of intellectual contributions and development activities to provide a more academically and professionally engaging learning environment; to improve faculty instructional skills; and to create new knowledge that impacts the theory and practice of business, economics, and teaching and learning. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Recruit academically or professionally qualified faculty with a strong potential for scholarship and commitment to development.
  2. Establish an orientation and mentoring system for new faculty that stresses the importance of scholarship and development and assists in achieving tenure and promotion.
  3. Expand library holdings and improve access to research databases and technology.
  4. Increase funding for instructional release time, field research, conferences, and development activities.
  5. Provide training on how to secure funding for scholarship and development.
  6. Increase the number, value and approval rate of research proposals submitted to funding organizations.
  7. Create a positive environment for scholarship and development by celebrating the intellectual contributions and professional development accomplishments of students and faculty; aiding in the dissemination of their work on-campus and externally; hosting more visiting scholars, seminar series, public lectures and colloquia; and encouraging interdisciplinary research.
  8. Incorporate the results of scholarship and development in curriculum and delivery.
  9. Expand opportunities for faculty to design, deliver and enrol in executive education courses or engage in consulting and contract research.
  10. Develop new research-based graduate programs, institutes, and research chair positions that draw upon the expertise and interests of faculty.
  11. Expand student scholarship and development opportunities including a thesis option, positions as research assistants, and participation in conferences.
  12. Ensure all students appreciate the critical role scholarship plays in society and the importance of academic and ethical integrity in the research process.
  13. Inform students about graduate education opportunities.
  14. Publicize the scholarly successes of alumni.
 Administrative Services

The School will provide the human and financial resources, physical infrastructure, information technology and other support services necessary for students and faculty to excel in their learning, teaching, scholarship, development and service responsibilities. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Provide modern teaching and learning spaces that incorporate the most effective educational technologies.
  2. Secure quality office facilities in a centralized location to enhance collegiality among faculty and the professional image of the School.
  3. Streamline administrative procedures to promote efficiency and ensure compliance with institutional policies and contractual requirements.
  4. Develop a policy manual for the orientation of new faculty and support personnel.
  5. Implement an enrolment system that aids in forecasting student demand and produces convenient schedules for students and faculty which efficiently use university resources.
  6. Maintain a positive relationship with the different bargaining units where collective agreements are respected and complaints dealt with collegially.
  7. Increase revenues through greater involvement in multi-modal course and program delivery, international student recruitment, and overseas partnerships and activities.
 External Relationships

The School will enhance its relationships with alumni, businesses, professional organizations and the community to gain valuable program input; assist in integrating theory and practice; help students transition from school to the work place; and provide a greater number of public service opportunities. These efforts will help develop a strong brand image that assists in fundraising and student and faculty recruitment. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Design an integrated marketing and communication plan that effectively targets prospective students and other stakeholders.
  2. Maintain a website that is attractive, informative, accurate, easy-to-navigate, and incorporates the latest developments in social media and technology.
  3. Establish program advisory committees consisting of external representatives.
  4. Increase the number of faculty serving as guest speakers at business events, subject matter experts for the media or regular contributors to newspapers, magazines, and other news sources.
  5. Encourage faculty participation on the boards of different service organizations, economic development groups, and businesses.
  6. Support faculty involvement in academic and professional organizations at the local, provincial, national, and international levels.
  7. Develop a greater number of professional development opportunities for managers and entrepreneurs in the region by expanding executive education opportunities.
  8. Promote the activities and successes of faculty, students, and alumni throughout the university and community.
 Resource Enhancement

The School will generate the supplemental resources necessary for the successful implementation of the strategic plan. To accomplish this goal, we will:

  1. Expand advancement activities to increase gifting by alumni, corporations, foundations, and private donors.
  2. Grow the number of industry partnerships that provide financial or operational benefits.
  3. Develop and maintain a stronger ongoing relationship with all alumni, corporations, foundations, private donors, and industry partners to raise the propensity to give and involvement in academic and student recruitment activities.
  4. Increase the number and value of scholarships, bursaries, and awards available for business students.
  5. Expand executive education, consulting, and contract research domestically and internationally.