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Managing campus expansion in an era of climate change

Through ten years of comprehensive climate action, the University of Winnipeg has made quantitative reductions in its greenhouse gas emissions while showing strong leadership and innovation in GHG emission tracking, policy development, management, and reporting.  Between 1990 and 2015, absolute campus wide emissions decreased by approximately 32% despite the fact that 38% of currently owned … Continue reading "Managing campus expansion in an era of climate change"

January 25, 2017

University of Victoria Service Excellence Program

   In January 2014, the president of the University of Victoria reported to the campus community the results of his extensive campus conversation consultations. The report identified challenges “in maintaining our high levels of collaboration, engagement, and collegiality” and recommended, “To address these challenges we must improve our internal communications and engagement processes” (University of … Continue reading "University of Victoria Service Excellence Program"

January 25, 2017

Queen’s New (Activity-Based) Budget Model

Queen’s New Budget Model has had a profoundly positive effect on the university.  Planning for the new model began in March 2012. Over  the following four months, the development of the actual model benefited from a very considerable amount of consultation, and a great deal of hard work by many people.  The first fiscal year for which … Continue reading "Queen’s New (Activity-Based) Budget Model"

January 24, 2017

Out of the Dark Ages into the Light – The Triple Bottom Line Work Environment

The Administrative Offices at the Examination Centre building is a perfect illustration of how a single project can address the triple bottom line of sustainability namely: the environment, the social (or human factor) and economic factors. What started out as a forced move for several administrative departments turned out to be a phenomenal opportunity to … Continue reading "Out of the Dark Ages into the Light – The Triple Bottom Line Work Environment"

January 12, 2017

McGill Supplies Manager Solution – A Cross Road where Inventory Management, Procurement Strategies and Compliance Meet

After the 2010 success in developing and implementing the McGill MarketPlace (MMP), a holistic and fully integrated e-Procurement system, McGill University has turned its focus toward equipping its internal stockrooms/stores/services providers (the Stores) with an inventory management solution integrated with MMP. Starting 2015, the implementation of the SciQuest Supplies Manager solution (which was included in … Continue reading "McGill Supplies Manager Solution – A Cross Road where Inventory Management, Procurement Strategies and Compliance Meet"

January 12, 2017

Improving finance service delivery through restructuring to a team-based approach in the Faculty of Medicine, UBC

Previously, the Faculty of Medicine decentralized primary responsibility for finance to units. Each unit had its own administrative staff responsible for budgeting and financial management, who reported directly to the academic head. This structure provided units with control and accountability, but lacked segregation of duties or consistency, and did not give departments access to a … Continue reading "Improving finance service delivery through restructuring to a team-based approach in the Faculty of Medicine, UBC"

June 13, 2016

Envision – Funding Sustainability: How energy management savings fund sustainable initiatives

In 1975 fuelled by rising energy prices and oil shortages the University of Alberta developed a highly successful energy management program. Building on its success, in 2009 the university recognized the potential to reimagine and broaden the impact this program and in 2011 the university launched the expanded next generation – Envision: Intelligent Energy Reduction. … Continue reading "Envision – Funding Sustainability: How energy management savings fund sustainable initiatives"

June 13, 2016

The Teaching and Learning Spaces Working Group: An innovative approach to classroom planning and resource management

Tue Teaching and Learning Spaces Working Group (TLSWG) process could be adapted or transferred to other postsecondary institutional settings. Specific features integral to success include: – Shared leadership by co-chairs from academic and operations sides of the institution – A single source of funding paired with a collaborative decision-making body composed of all stakeholders in … Continue reading "The Teaching and Learning Spaces Working Group: An innovative approach to classroom planning and resource management"

April 16, 2014

University Manager 2013 Spring

Revenue from Real Estate: Land as a Revenue Generator for Canadian Universities and Colleges | To Self-assess or not to Self-assess: When to Pay GST/HST on Imported Goods

Tags: Ancillary Services, Benchmarking, Facilities, Financial Management, Investing, Revenue Diversification, Risk Management, Sales Tax, Space Planning, Taxes, University Manager

April 17, 2013

University Manager 2013 Winter

Developing and Implementing a Real Estate Project Office in a University, “Neither closing the door, nor selling the store: Academic integrity, academic freedom and institutional autonomy in the context of donor agreements”, Emergency Planning at Canadian Universities: Will your ERP Hold Up?, Trends in Canadian University Finance

Tags: Academic, Academic Freedom, Benchmarking, Best Practices, Business Continuity, Communication, Emergency Management, Ethics, Facilities, Financial Management, Governance, New Builds, Organizational Models, Reports, Risk Management, Space Planning, Systems, University Manager

January 17, 2013