The University of Windsor Strategic Mandate Agreement 4 (SMA4) Consultation and Development Process
On August 9th 2024, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities launched the SMA4 process with a memo to the colleges and universities communicating the mandate for the next round of agreements.
The SMA4 metrics are largely consistent with those used in SMA3:
- 6 metrics are carried over from SMA3.
- the current skills and competencies metric will not carry over into SMA4.
- two metrics are new or have a different focus, those being Investment and Innovation Related and Institution Specific.
The SMA4 process also includes a detailed assessment of STEM enrollment, identifying challenges related to maintaining and increasing enrollment. The Ministry is seeking details on actual STEM enrollments, projected future enrollments, cost estimates, and narratives detailing existing barriers which may prohibit future growth.
SMA4 Development
A Working Group was formed in fall 2024 with four key objectives:
- Recommend the corridor/acceptability threshold for the 6 metrics carried over from SMA3 to mitigate risk to performance-based funding.
- Identify program areas of strength with the strongest likelihood to remain within the corridor/acceptability threshold for the duration of SMA4.
- Identify the Investment and Innovation Related, and Institution Specific metrics, based on historic institutional data and future forecasting; identify metrics with the strongest likelihood of staying within the corridor for the duration of the SMA4 period, ensuring the allocation of the performance-based funding.
- Informed by the Deans of STEM faculties, assess current STEM enrolments, projected enrolments over the SMA4 period with existing barriers remaining, and the removal of existing barriers.
Working Group members
- Dr. Erika Kustra, Associate Vice-President, Academic
- John Dube, Director, Office of Institutional Analysis
- Kristen Morris, Director of the Office of Experiential Learning
- Anne Mullen, Academic Initiatives Officer
- Alicia St. Pierre, Senior Budget Analyst
- Tom Schnekenburger, Director, Research Partnerships and Entrepreneurship
Consultations
In October and November 2024, SMA4 Working Group members met with the Deans to identify program areas of strength. There were also dedicated meetings with the Deans of STEM faculties (Engineering, Human Kinetics, and Science) to develop the STEM enrolment submission.
Consultation was held with the Executive Leadership Team. A bilateral meeting was held with representatives from MCU in November 2024 to discuss the Working Group’s initial findings for proposed SMA4 content, seeking direction on the development of the draft. Meetings continue with members of the campus community to refine the proposal. Collaborative discussions with MCU are ongoing to support the refinement of a submission that will meet the corridor/acceptability threshold for the duration of the SMA4 period.
Timelines
The SMA4 is scheduled to be approved by the province as part of the budget 2025-2026 tabling, sometime in March to April of 2025. Prior to UWindsor submitting a final draft to MCU for approval, the proposed SMA4 will be reviewed with the Provost Council, and submitted to Senate and the Board of Governors in February.
FAQ's
Does SMA4 include all faculties?
No, the SMA4 includes the following faculties:
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Graduate Studies
- Faculty of Human Kinetics
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Science
- Odette School of Business
Does SMA4 include international students?
International students will be excluded from most metrics of SMA4 to ensure focus on domestic students and to mitigate the risk of metric volatility created by the federal government's international study permit application caps. The exception is that for accountability purposes, international students will continue to be included in the calculation of graduation rates. Institutions may decide to include international students in their institution specific metrics, subject to alignment with the ministry’s guidelines.
Where can I find previous Strategic Mandate Agreements?
Past SMAs may be found at the Strategic Management Agreement page.