A Phase 1 critical milestone commitment led by the GNWT - 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.

A Phase 1 critical milestone commitment led by the GNWT - A 10-year NWT Post-Secondary Education Strategic Framework 2019-2029 will be released after a territory-wide visioning exercise that includes a public speaker series.  

Students are better served by a Service Desk that is more readily available during those times when students require them -- during the lunch hour and after 4 p.m.

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

A 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 work was led by one of the Working Groups established during Phase 1 of transformation. The 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.

Partnerships are essential to successful transform Aurora College to a polytechnic university. Aurora College, College 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.

Tracking the progress of the Aurora College Transformation ensures transparency and accountability throughout the transformation process.

During phase 1 of transformation, the GNWT and Aurora College released Aurora College's 2020-2023 Strategic Plan. This document includes 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 Aurora College Transformation Implementation Plan commits that over the course of its transformation to the polytechnic university the changes will have a neutral or positive social and economic impact.

During phase 1, Aurora College will release and table the 2019-2020 Aurora College Annual Report. This action 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.

Working Groups established during phase 1 will continue to develop or amend program policies that address the creation, suspension and termination of programs at the institution and ensure they are aligned with the institution's vision, mission, goals and areas of teaching and research specialization.

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.

A draft bill is introduced during phase 1 of transformation 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 institution supports students through the strategic use of technology and social media -- both in the recruitment and retention of students.

A Student Experience Model sets minimum standards that a typical student should experience when applying to, studying at, and graduating from Aurora College. The services and instructional elements of Community Learning Centres will also be considered as part of a Student Experience Model. This will support the development of the Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) Plan. This work was done by Aurora College as part of their efforts to enhance internal policies as they move towards a polytechnic university. 

Working Groups established during phase 1 of transformation, reviewed policies related to records management to ensure all Aurora College policies related to records management are up to date and meet current standards.

Developing a Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) plan will help the College focus its efforts where they are needed most in order to help all Aurora College students achieve success while at the institution and beyond. A SEM plan coordinates the College's core business functions such as student recruitment, student services, and academic program planning to make enrollment growth and stability something that can be predicted and is planned. This work is not a milestone committment, but important to enhancing the instution and preparing for transformation. 

Student Recruitment Ambassadors may add to the success of recruitment activities with first hand experience. The added value of ambassadors will be identified in the Recruitment, Marketing and Communications Strategy 2021-2024.

A new arm's length governance system for Aurora College will be established through Legislated amendments to the Aurora College Act. 

Building on other engagements with NWT Education Authorities the College, ECE and Education Authorities will explore ways of addressing low post-secondary completion rates and poor transition rates between the secondary and post-secondary systems. To track progress of the extensive work being done in this area, visit:  https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/en/progress-tracker 

Aurora College has created a program development team that continue to undertake projects related to program review including the Bachelor of Education Program. These efforts will support the phase 2 milestone commitment to reinstante the Bachelor of Education program. 

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. The transformational aspect of this project has been completed and it will be operationalized through the implementation of the Strategic Enrolment Management Plan.

The Program Development Team led by Aurora College has reviewed the program policies that address the creation, suspension and termination of programs at the institution. These  are now in place and aligned with the institution's vision, mission, goals and areas of teaching and research specialization. These efforts will support the phase 2 milestone commitment to reinstante programs in the areas of teaching and research. 

Through a working group created during phase 1 of transformation, the Board of Governors' recruitment process was developed. This process will provide a guide by which the public can apply to be a member of the Aurora College Board of Governors. The new process will include competency requirements to ensure an effective and efficient Board that is able to lead the institution through the changes required to become a polytechnic university.

The Polytechnic University Facilities Plan, which is a phase 2 critical milestone will identify ways to address the needs of students arriving in or returning to student housing.

Student success is enhanced when student housing is in good condition, is safe and culturally appropriate for the students we serve. A proposal for enhanced housing will be included in the Polytechnic Facilities Master Plan, released during phase 2 of transformation. 

The Polytechnic Facilities Master Plan, released during phase 2 of transformation provides provide a comprehensive proposal of each facility type, their requirements, how they support learning and research, and their connection to the broader network of facilities across the polytechnic university. This document will inform the 10-year Capital Plan.

Work to understand regional needs in terms of types of programming and methods of program delivery is a critical part of developing the Polytechnic University Facilities Plan, released during phase 2 of transformation and an important step in the overall transformation. It will inform both how the institution operates and decisions around new facilities.

A Board of Governors operating manual that outlines the roles and responsibilities of Board members, as well as accountabilities and reporting requirements is developed by ACT and provided to Aurora College for implemetation. Once established, it will be the responsibility of the Board to update or make changes to the manual. Reinstating the Aurora College Board of Governors is a critical milestone for phase 2 of transformation. 

One of the Working Groups established during phase 1 of transformation will schedule and conduct ongoing policy reviews as part of ongoing operations.

In order to establish a public post-secondary institution in the NWT, the Aurora College Board of Governors must submit a formal request to the Minister of Education, once key transformational changes are complete. This is a critical milestone identified for phase 2 of transformation 

The Academic Advisory Council, which is a phase 2 critical milestone, will be comprised of the Executive Leadership Team, program heads and school chairs, faculty, staff and student representatives and will ensure all programs are aligned with the overall vision, strategic direction and areas of specialization developed through the transformation into a polytechnic university. This work will be led by the Aurora College Board of Governors. 

Building on the Polytechnic University Facilities Master Plan, a comprehensive plan for community learning centres will be developed.  This will include an analysis of different models of community program delivery, which includes the 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.

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.

A new comprehensive Recruitment, Marketing and Communication Strategy is completed and is aligned with the institution's 5-Year Academic Plan, 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and the Strategic Enrolment Management plan.  This plan will support the final stages of transformation to a polytechnic university.

Aurora College will work to have programs re-introduced by fall 2024. 

The 5-Year Academic Plan for the polytechnic university will be released and guide programming decisions. This is a phase 2 critical milestone, led by Aurora College. 

Establishment of an Academic Senate is identified as a phase 3 critical milestone.