The Government of the Northwest Territories committed to establishing polytechnic university and directed the hiring of an Associate Deputy Minister and formation of the ECE-based Aurora College Transformation Team.

Associate Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary Education Renewal will oversee the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university. The Associate Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary Education Renewal, assumes the role of President of the College and supervises, administers and directs all aspects of the operation of the College, including the delivery of College programs at the three campus locations and Community Learning Centres.

Career and Education Advisors work with students in Grades 9-12 and with youth aged 18-24 to support informed decision making regarding their education and career paths. These groups represent a significant portion of the NWT’s future workforce and their success is critical to the NWT’s economic success.

The Academic Advisory Council consists of individuals with the necessary expertise and qualifications to support the Associate Deputy Minister of Post-secondary Education Renewal in decisions relating to academic programming and academic support services for the polytechnic university. The Academic Advisory Council met for the first time on November 19, 2019 and included representatives from eight post-secondary institutions: Wilfrid Laurier University, Ryerson University, University of Alberta, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Ontario Tech University and Yukon College.

The new student information system, a GNWT investment in Aurora College, will support internal information management and public reporting of statistics.

A new Program Review Policy that meets best practices and national standards is in place and being applied to the review of all existing programs. This policy will continue to be updated as Aurora College establishes additional capacity related to program review and development.

Aurora College employees will be directly engaged in the transformation into a polytechnic university. Four Working Groups, made up of Aurora College employees and Aurora College Transformation Team members, will be established to help coordinate the implementation and completion of the projects in four distinct areas: Academic Program Management, Recruitment and Retention, Accountability and Operations.

Aurora College, Collège nordique francophone, and Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, entered into an agreement to formalize a collaborative relationship and build capacity to increase access to post-secondary programming and services in the NWT. Signatories will contribute their institutional strengths to support the development of complementary programs and services that will provide students with more program choices, attract research investments, and respond to workforce development needs.

Based on feedback from partners, stakeholders and the public, Areas of Specialization for the polytechnic university will inform future programming decisions, investment in research and the formation of new strategic partnerships.

Introducing a Centre for Teaching and Learning pilot project that will contribute to professional development within Aurora College and will play a key role in supporting a learning-centred environment for Aurora College students. The Centre of Teaching and Learning pilot project will be supported by five new positions within Aurora College, including an Interim Director of Teaching and Learning located in Fort Smith.

Aurora College's 2020-2023 Strategic Plan will include a new vision for the College to help guide it on the path to becoming a polytechnic university. A second 3-year plan will be released in 2023 and a 5-year strategic planning cycle for the polytechnic university will begin in 2026.

The release and tabling of the 2019-2020 Aurora College Annual Report in the Legislative Assembly meets a legal requirement and highlights the achievements of the College. The tabling of the 2019-2020 Annual report completes this commitment however subsequent years will incrementally build on this year's report to reflect a polytechnic university.

Research is an important part of a post-secondary institution.  Three new Research Chairs will drive innovative research and capacity, each based at one of the three Aurora College campuses. Each Research Chair will be responsible for developing and implementing an applied research program related to the areas of specialization.  Their work will align with Aurora College's strategic direction and values, build Northern capacity and address Northern research needs.

Program policies that address the creation, suspension and termination of programs at the institution are in place and are aligned with the institution's vision, mission, goals and areas of teaching and research specialization.

A skills matrix ensures that Board of Governor members have the necessary competencies and, as a whole, the Board comprises the necessary skills and experience to provide strategic direction and oversight of Aurora College and the polytechnic university.  The matrix approach has been developed and the specific competencies will continue to be defined over time, following the legislative process to amend the Aurora College Act. 

A new Aurora College Executive Leadership Team structure will support the changes and growth of the College both during and after its transforms into a polytechnic university.

The Bachelor of Education Program is undergoing a review using the revised program review process. The review will inform the development of the College's 3-year Academic Plan that will be released in September 2021.

Steps are put in place to ensure casual and sessional staff can participate in GNWT Performance Development opportunities.

A course calendar specific to trades, apprenticeships and industry training is developed and aligns more closely with the needs of employers.  The calendar will be published on the College’s website to improve program consistency and assist students in planning and preparation.

A draft bill is introduced to amend the Aurora College Act, which includes a change in governance that leads to the reinstatement of the Board of Governors and a new arm's length governance model for Aurora College.

The Policy Development Framework will be considered and enhanced to best support the institution.

Mandatory training for all Aurora College staff will be scheduled and completed in this academic year to ensure awareness of  the protection of privacy and sharing of personal information.

Students have increased access to recreational facilities in campus communities, enhancing their post-secondary experience.

A student resources quick guide, supported by a section on the Aurora College website ,will provide students with an understanding of the services available to them, how to access those services and the standards by which they can expect responses from the service providers.

A Student Recruitment Calendar, aligned with the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan will support an effective recruitment process. This will guide the recruitment for the 2022-2023 academic year.

All Aurora College policies related to records management are up to date and meet current standards.

The 3-Year Academic Plan guides decisions and will help to focus transformation in this area.

The Strategic Enrolment Management Plan will support student success and the success of the Plan will be realized when its implementation is included in the budgeting cycle.

A cyclical schedule is developed that specifies dates for the next review of each Aurora College program in order to support continuous quality improvement.

Establishing a co-investment partnership with other Canadian institutions will strengthen the foundation of Aurora College and supports research, academic program management and governance as it transformation into a polytechnic university.

Other potential co-investment partners include any organization interested in working with the polytechnic university to advance its own priorities related to the areas of teaching and research specialization. Co-investment partners may be federal, territorial, Indigenous or community governments, industry or businesses, or other post-secondary education institutions. This may include contributions of knowledge, expertise, human resources, facilities, equipment or funding.

A new arm's length governance system for Aurora College will be established through Legislated amendments to the Aurora College Act. Implementation of the changes can then begin.

Establishing co-investment partnerships with other Canadian institutions will strengthen the foundation of Aurora College and supports research, academic program management and governance as it transforms into a polytechnic university.

Other potential co-investment partners include any organization interested in working with the polytechnic university to advance its own priorities related to the areas of teaching and research specialization. Co-investment partners may be federal, territorial, Indigenous or community governments, industry or businesses, or other post-secondary education institutions. This may include contributions of knowledge, expertise, human resources, facilities, equipment or funding.

Work on a comprehensive plan for community learning centres will feed into the completion of an overall Facilities Plan for the polytechnic university.  This will include an articulation of the types and levels of programing to be delivered at the various community learning centres. It is critical that the polytechnic university maintain close connections between campuses, community learning centres and to the secondary school system. This is sometimes referred to as “student pathways”. Effective student pathways ensure equitable access and provide learning opportunities that make sense for Northerners.

Programs requiring the use of internet bandwidth are understood and plans are in place to increase capacity as and where needed.

Aurora College Electronic Information Learning Environment Policy will be updated to better reflect, and align with the needs of programming today and in the future.

An orientation process for all Board members provides a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities as a member of the Board and of the institution.

A revised role for campus directors will be established that supports the new organizational model.

A new organizational design will be developed that meets the needs of a polytechnic university.

New faculty job descriptions, roles and performance development systems have been established to accommodate  teaching, research and service.

As part of the development of the Facilities Plan, an analysis of different models of program delivery will be conducted.

Student success is enhanced when student housing is in good condition, is safe and culturally appropriate for the students we serve.

An increase in the number of co-partner agreements for the delivery of courses at community learning centres will be explored, including the potential for formal partnerships with community and Indigenous governments.

Increased accessibility of the polytechnic university for NWT residents in communities.

The job description for Student Counsellors has been reviewed and revised to better meet the needs of students.

The Academic Council comprised of the Executive Leadership Team, program heads and school chairs, faculty, staff and student representatives will ensure all programs are aligned with the overall vision, strategic direction and areas of specialization developed through the transformation into a polytechnic university.

Building on work already underway through the GNWT Education Renewal Initiative, engagement with Education Authorities will help to create an integrated learning environment between secondary and post-secondary education. It is critical that the polytechnic university maintain close connections between campuses, community learning centres and to the secondary school system. This is sometimes referred to as “student pathways”. Effective student pathways ensure equitable access and provide learning opportunities that make sense for Northerners. This work will also entail increased opportunities for students to gain post-secondary credits while still in high school, which makes completing a qualification easier, faster and less expensive.

Supporting the advancement of the polytechnic university will be critical to its success. Building co-investment partnerships is a key focus of advancement for any successful post-secondary education institution.   

Establishing co-investment partnerships with federal, territorial, Indigenous or community governments, industry or businesses, other post-secondary education institutions or any organization interested in working with the polytechnic university to advance its own priorities as they relate to the areas of teaching and research specialization. Co-investment partners may contribute knowledge, expertise, human resources, facilities, equipment or funding.

A 2023-2026 Strategic Plan will overlap Aurora College and the polytechnic university.  It will guide Aurora College for the second phase of the transformation and the polytechnic university through its initial years.  A 5-year strategic planning cycle for the polytechnic university will begin in 2026.

The 5-Year Academic Plan for the polytechnic university guides programming decisions.

The governance model for the polytechnic university will be established in the Polytechnic University Act. It is currently proposed that the polytechnic university have a bicameral governance system that includes two branches of decision making including a Board of Governors as the main governing body and a Senate as the academic authority.

The polytechnic university will be launched with the first cohort graduating from the institution in the spring of 2025.

A bicameral governance model has been proposed and will eventually be established through the passing of the Polytechnic University Act.  The bicameral model has two branches of decision making -- a Board of Governors as the main governing body and an Academic Senate as the academic authority.