A Destination Campus: A Time of Transition, a Time of Possibilities
As the University of Lethbridge adjusts to its relatively new mandate as a ‘Comprehensive Academic and Research Institution’, the institution is attempting to develop and promote a unique destination campus. Over the next 10 years, based on comments heard during the interviews, the University may be described to prospective students, parents, researchers, clients, and partners as a medium-sized comprehensive university of 10,000 to 12,000 students in a city of about 85,000 – 100,000 residents with:
- Recognized liberal education undergraduate programs spanning five faculties preparing leaders to contribute to community development and address complex interrelated issues in the workplace
- Nationally-renowned graduate and research programs in niche areas including neuroscience, water resources, molecular biology, and demography
- An inclusive community of learners, supported by a student-centric university system focused on facilitating student success with a full series of learning support services
- Small class sizes and face-to-face instruction provided by dedicated professors who communicate with students in and out of class and provide individualized attention at need
- An environment that facilitates interaction between graduate students, principle researchers, undergraduate students, and faculty and staff
- The best 1st year experience in Alberta
- A welcoming and supportive environment for FNMI students
- State-of-the art facilities providing top quality classroom, laboratory, studio, and performance experiences
- An outward-looking faculty and student body engaged in the community through coop, volunteer, and international programs
- A beautiful campus in a natural Southern Alberta prairie and coulee environment
- A smaller, intimate environment where young undergraduate students have the opportunity to experience independence on a campus offering a vibrant and safe residential student experience
- Numerous opportunities for relaxation, sport and recreation, cultural expression, and socialization
Implication for the Master Plan
The Master Plan must translate these vision elements into concrete actionable physical options. Many involve the concept of building community on campus and providing the means for students, faculty, staff, and community members to interact formally, but most importantly, informally on a regular basis virtually anywhere on campus, as a matter of course.
