A committee of Ministers and corresponding committee of Deputy Ministers provide expert advice to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and the Associate Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary Education Renewal on key transformation issues.

A 10-year NWT Post-Secondary Education Strategic Framework 2019-2029 was released in August 2019 after a territory-wide visioning exercise that included a public speaker series.  The Framework includes a vision and goals that will inform the continued development of the overall post-secondary education system in the NWT, as well as shape the ongoing operations of the polytechnic university.

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 (SIS), a GNWT investment in Aurora College, collects and provides accurate and accessible data ensuring the Aurora College Team can meet the demands of a modern post-secondary institution both during and after its transformation into a polytechnic university.

A new policy and processes are in place to review and make decisions around programming. These will continue to evolve as other related transformation work is completed.

Engagement with Indigenous governments will be incorporated into the planning and execution of work related to the transformation of Aurora College. The importance of having a post-secondary institution that reflects the values and interests of Northern residents and communities cannot be overstated.

Feedback on a discussion paper shared with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and the public will help to inform the proposed arm's length governance model for Aurora College and the polytechnic university.

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.

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

One of the four pillars in the 2020-2023 Aurora Strategic Plan is Learning Centred.  The College Team are committed to providing learners with programs and services that are adaptive and can be tailored to help students meet their academic and personal goals. Work to strengthen Aurora College as a learning-centred institution will result in tangible improvement to the student experience and improved student outcomes.

An Implementation Plan that lays all of the tasks required to transform Aurora College into a polytechnic university, ensuring that the right changes are made in the right order and at the right time.

The 2020-2021 Corporate Plan for Aurora College is released using a new model.  The model will continue to develop over the next few years and will move the College's corporate planning closer to that of a polytechnic university.

A quarterly report will be generated and distributed starting in January 2021. The information will monitor and report on the progress of the Aurora College Transformation Implementation Plan ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the transformation process.  The information will mirror that on the ACT website and feature success across the Aurora College community.

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 gap analysis will be conducted on current policies and used to inform the amendment of current policies and the development of new policies throughout the transformation process.

The institution supports students through the strategic use of technology and social media -- both in the recruitment and retention of students.

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.

In the development of Academic Plans, the use of technology for program delivery will be considered to maximize opportunities in more communities.

A comprehensive Recruitment, Marketing and Communication Strategy is completed and is aligned with, and supports, the institution's vision, 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, 3-Year Academic Plan, and the Strategic Enrolment Management plan.

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.

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. Implementation of the changes can then begin.

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 

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.

Once processes are reviewed and examined, changes can be made to better ensure the safety of students and staff when they are at a College facility.

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 Bachelor of Education Program is undergoing a review using the revised program review process. 

Application standards will ensure that every student entering a program has been assessed to ensure they have the prerequisites required to succeed in their chosen program. The transformational aspect of this project has been completed and it will be operationalized through the implementation of the Strategic Enrolment Management Plan.

As part of the Aurora College re-organization, a new Administration Division will be established, bringing together college services such as finance, information systems and communications.

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.

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.

The Board of Governors' recruitment process is 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.

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.

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.

The Facilities Plan will include how the institution will address which programs should be delivered at which Community Learning Centre, strengthen connections to Aurora College campuses and to the secondary school system.

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.

A facilities plan will provide a comprehensive picture 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. It will describe facility types and budgets, and include a description of the way facilities across the NWT will be developed and expanded to meet the evolving needs of the polytechnic. This document will inform the 10-year Capital Plan.

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.

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 and an important step in the overall transformation. It will inform both how the institution operates and decisions around new facilities.

Regular reviews of strategic partnerships will ensure that the institution remains relevant and sustainable.

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.

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.

Building on what is currently in place, policies and procedures are enhanced to ensure that Aurora College can meet the quality assurance and legislative requirements to support an effective, efficient and sustainable polytechnic university.

The first 5-Year polytechnic university strategic plan will be established by the Board of Governors.