Jan. 30, 2013 Volume 45 Number 9
Publication Mail Registration No. 40062527
GAZETTE A M E M O R I A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W F O U N D L A N D P U B L I C AT I O N
‘A true peoples’ university’ Public Engagement Framework officially launched By Rebecca Cohoe
as a leader in university public engagement,
knowledge, opinions and experiences, all of
and builds on the dedication and expertise of
which contributed to the final document.”
Memorial University has always been a publicly-
our engaged students, faculty and staff with
engaged university. Since the early days of the
enhanced
said
range of issues, from big-picture concepts, to the
institution, dedicated students, faculty and staff
President Gary Kachanoski. “We fulfill a special
day-to-day practice of public engagement. The
have taken former premier Joseph R. Smallwood’s
obligation to the people of this province, and this
framework offers a long-term vision, values, goals
declaration that, “Memorial must become a true
framework provides the blueprint that will help
and tangible objectives for Memorial students,
peoples’ university,” to heart in their projects and
us cultivate conditions for the public to better
faculty and staff to work towards individually and
activities. Now, Memorial is pleased to announce
engage with us, for the mutual benefit of all.”
from an administrative and strategic perspective.
the next chapter in a long tradition of public
During
support
the
and
opportunities,”
consultation
process
for
The resulting document addresses a broad
the
The framework will also guide the activities
engagement with the official launch of the Public
development of the framework, participants
of the Office of Public Engagement as it works
Engagement Framework.
from Memorial and the public exhibited a healthy
with internal and external groups to develop
Developed through a provincewide consulta-
appetite for debate. From questions about what
programs, projects and initiatives to support
tion process, the framework underscores public
constitutes public engagement to ideas about its
public engagement at Memorial.
engagement as a core priority, aligning Memo-
role in Memorial’s academic mandate, very few
To celebrate the official launch of the frame-
rial’s existing public engagement activities and
stones had been left unturned at the end of the
work, everyone is invited to participate in Engage
celebrating public engagement successes across
process.
Memorial, a week-long celebration of public
the university. To read about just some of these successes, please see related stories on pages 6-7. “The framework emphasizes Memorial’s role
“We spoke with almost a thousand people,
engagement at Memorial, running Feb. 12-15. For
all said and done,” said Dr. Rob Greenwood,
a full listing of all the Engage Memorial events,
executive director of the Office of Public
please see page 8.
Engagement at Memorial. “They shared their