The University of the Fraser Valley

Finding the future together

Client location

Abbotsford, BC

Partner since

2014-01-01

Industry

Higher Education

Creating a new process for strategic work in a changed world.

The University of the Fraser Valley was moving through one of its most significant re-visioning exercises since its establishment in 1974, when the world paused and shifted dramatically as the 2020 coronavirus pandemic hit.

Located on the traditional territories of the Stó:lō people, in a lush agricultural region of British Columbia, Canada, the University of the Fraser Valley is a network of campuses that serves a diverse set of communities. Community-centered strategic planning, facilitation, and engagement was absolutely key to the University’s future—and now it had to be done entirely virtually.

Seeking for a way to meaningfully navigate the work ahead of them, the leadership team approached Domain7 to turn this challenge into an opportunity. Alongside our facilitation team came Civil Space—Domain7’s community engagement platform designed to support large-scale conversations and outreach entirely digitally. It was the perfect match.

Co-creating the process

As our strategists and facilitators listened to the UFV team, it was clear that they already covered a lot of ground: renewing their mission, vision and values and articulating three, anchoring goal statements to guide the institution. It was now time to apply these visionary goal statements, creating tangible action that would kickstart inter-departmental planning for the years ahead.

Before we articulated any next steps, it was important to thoroughly engage UFV’s community and identify the key themes that meant the most to them. Using design thinking and co-creation, our team designed a process to intentionally engage a meaningful spectrum of the University’s community members. Starting with a series of five real-time, remote workshops, the process began with co-creating a set of institutional strategic imperatives: potential actions that UFV could take in order to achieve their stated goals.

"Navigating so many stakeholder perspectives in a digital environment seemed daunting at first, but the process Domain7 designed and led helped us move through it in a way that was consistent with our commitment to meaningful and authentic consultation. Domain7's professional approach to work closely with us throughout each step resulted in a tailored process that reflected our institutional values and culture."

James Manidgo Provost and Vice-President Academic

“As they say in my community of Bunibonibee Cree Nation, ‘yekoteh manima’: or, ‘this is the how.’”

Participant in community engagement process

Stages of engagement

In the next stage, we wanted to reach a wider cross-section of the community. Town halls—flawed at the best of times in terms of gathering diverse views—were not even an option during a pandemic. What was needed was a solution that could engage a large number of people on their own time, online: a perfect challenge for the Civil Space platform.

From late July through to the end of September, UFV ran an online engagement powered by Civil Space, asking the community which of the potential strategic imperatives were resonating most with them. We shared the University’s overarching goals, and asked participants to identify up to four of the most effective actions the organization could take to reach each goal. Participants could also add additional actions that they felt were not captured in those listed.

Kevan and Charlotte laugh together during a workshop

“We saw UFV’s leadership embrace a process that was co-creative at the core, and brought the community in as co-shapers of the future vision. In seasons that can shape an institution’s future, truly participatory planning like this is what creates healthier communities for the long-run.”

Kevan Gilbert Facilitation Practice Lead

Direction for the path ahead

Over 400 community members engaged in the process, contributing a wealth of insight and helping answer the question of where the University’s resources would be best directed in the coming years. UFV’s leadership team was able to see which choices were resonating strongly, and where disagreement was stirring. The engagement helped expose blind spots, and also uncovered areas where the community’s collective energy, momentum, and enthusiasm was growing. With an emerging sense of where to go, and an engaged community truly digging into the details, UFV is ready to continue collaboratively shaping their future vision and plan.

“UFV courageously stepped into the challenging context of Covid-19 and took the opportunity to engage in new and innovative ways with their community. To see this organization propel themselves forward in a time when it’s easy to remain stagnant is an inspiring example of what is possible when our commitment is to pursuing opportunity in the face of challenge.”

Charlotte Taverner-Whelpton Engagement Strategist

Just the beginning

The work of community-centered design is never truly over, nor is it linear. But in the rich diversity and overall themes of the community’s Civil Space responses, one participant offered a poignant observation that captures the value of the deeply collaborative process the University has embarked on. They wrote: “As they say in my community of Bunibonibee Cree Nation, ‘yekoteh manima’: or, ‘this is the how.’”

Expanding Our Organizational Metaphors

Episode 17: The Way We Co-Design, Part 2: The Co-Design Workshop (A Guided Audio Activity)

Finding the future together

Creating a new process for strategic work in a changed world.

Co-creating the process

Stages of engagement

Direction for the path ahead

Just the beginning

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