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.

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. This work is indentified as part of phase 1 of transformation.  

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.

Aurora College and the GNWT release a 3-Year Academic Plan. This work is a milestone commitment for phase 1 of transformation. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.