STRATEGIC PLANNING OVERVIEW

On July 1, 2018, NWC launched a comprehensive, multi-year, strategic plan - In Business for Students – Strategic Plan 2018-20218 . Actionable key performance indicators (KPI) were established using the balanced scorecard method with annual benchmarks of achievement and accountability. All aspects of NWC’S mandate were taken into account in the development of this strategic plan to ensure alignment with government priorities identified in the Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan (SGP)9 and other guiding documents from the Ministries of Advanced Education and Immigration and Career Training. The NWC Board was prepared to commence planning for a new three-year strategic plan (20212024) during the final year of the 2018-2021 plan for implementation in the fall of 2021. Given the current State of Emergency in the Province of Saskatchewan, the Board decided to extend the current 2018-2021 for one additional year with revised KPIs for 2021/22, which took into consideration the direct and potential future impacts of the pandemic. In addition, the Board revised performance indicators (where necessary) for the 2020/21 academic year which also reflected the potential impacts of the pandemic. The Board has approved the additional 2021/22 strategic plan directions and priorities along with associated KPIs8. The Board will begin the process of establishing a new strategic plan during the 2021/22 academic year for implementation in the fall of 2022.

The additional year added to the 2018-2021 Plan will continue to focus on four themes: i) Building an Employable Labour Force. ii) Fostering Student Success. iii) Developing NWC into a College of Choice. iv) Cultivating a High-Performance Organization. The matrices are focusing on the areas where the greatest achieved impact for the betterment of our students and the institution. In addition to above, two key priorities as per our amended Strategic Plan for the College remain: i) The construction of a community-based new campus in the Battlefords. ii) The continued implementation of and focus on a robust economic diversification strategy to reduce dependency on provincial government operating funds and to address the programming needs of business and industry. Like all well-developed strategic plans, our key performance indicators (KPI) work in alignment to support success. The construction of a new campus is not based simply “bricks and mortar”. The new campus will enable the College to be a catalyst for social improvements and economic growth in the Battlefords and our region by providing space for innovative program delivery, additional programming, and capitalization on untapped revenue streams. In addition, in collaboration and partnership with various community entities and organizations, the College will be able to provide additional services to our students and community members in one central location in the Battlefords. This will include, and not be limited to providing supports to our Indigenous students and through the establishment of safe learning environments supported by gathering places and

8North West College, 2018-2022 Strategic Plan - Balanced Scorecard (2021) – See Appendix E

9 Government of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan – The Next Decade of Growth 2020-2030, https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/103260/formats/114516/download

local elders in residence. Our current facility limits the ability for the College to provide such services despite the fact NWC serves the most Indigenous students annually in the College system. As exemplified below, several of our indicators work to support these new initiatives and, in some cases, are dependent on their growth and success. The new campus in turn, will be a key contributing factor in the College achieving its goal of becoming less reliant on government funding as we navigate towards financial sustainability. At the time of this submission, and in addition to our adjusted strategic plan, the following have influenced NWC’s strategic priorities, goals and identified measures: i) North West College 2018-2022 Strategic Plan10 – Balanced Scorecard. ii) Performance framework included in our 2021-22 budget letter11 . iii) Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan – The Decade of Growth 2020-2030 (SGP)12 . iv) Advanced Education’s Plan for 2021-2213 . v) Immigration and Career Training, Plan for 2021-2214 . NWC will align directly with the goals, strategies, and actions in each of our two Ministry’s 2021/22 plans, which in turn align to the Government goals: i) A strong economy. ii) Strong Communities, and. iii) Strong Families. In addition, NWC has identified/aligned to the following actions from SGP: i) Developing Saskatchewan’s labour force. ii) Growing our population by keeping more young people in Saskatchewan and increasing immigration to the province. iii) Growing Indigenous participation in the economy through the growth of Saskatchewan’s natural resource industries and labour market development. iv) Delivering on the purpose of growth by ensuring growth builds a better quality of life for Saskatchewan’s families and communities. v) Supporting the transformation of Saskatchewan’s economy through technology and the growth of Saskatchewan’s technology sector. vi) Growing Saskatchewan’s agricultural economy. vii) Growing Saskatchewan's oil, gas, and natural resource economy.

10 North West College, 2018-2022 Strategic Plan - Balanced Scorecard (2021) – See Appendix E

11 Ministry of Advanced Education, 2021-22 Ministry of Advanced Education budget letters to the postsecondary institutions: North West College (2021) https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/87029/formats/101392/download

12 Government of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan – The Next Decade of Growth 20202030, https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/103260/formats/114516/download

13 Ministry of Advanced Education, Plan for 2021-22, https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/112414/formats/126400/download

14 Ministry of the Immigration and Career Training, Plan for 2021-22, https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/112414/formats/126409/download