Implementation of the Office of Education and the Office of Research

This spring we will see the implementation of two CNAS offices: the Office of Education and the Office of Research. We have also been working on several strategic initiatives.

Office of Education

The Office of Education will play a key role in supporting a coordinated approach to enrollment planning, recruitment, and program administrative offerings. This office will have responsibility for both graduate and undergraduate students. 

We are excited to announce the appointment of Jim Bohun as Director, Office of Education. Jim has been with the university for more than 20 years, most recently as the Enrollment Management Service Partner for the College of Health Sciences. Prior to that, Jim was Assistant Dean, Academic & Student Programs in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences (ALES) where he played an integral role in developing and implementing undergraduate and graduate services. Please join me in welcoming Jim to the CNAS team. I look forward to working with Jim to implement and manage effective operational systems and structures within the Office of Education. 

With leadership from working-group sponsor Fred West, Dean in the Faculty of Science, key milestones and initiatives for developing the Office of Education are as follows:

• In April, we will continue process mapping for functions that will move to the Office of Education. This will provide the groundwork for the framework of functions and the subsequent process that will reside in the college for undergraduate and graduate services, including: course scheduling/timetabling, academic integrity/discipline, and student systems/applications. We are also working to identify graduate administrative functions that could be supported at the college through discussion of the graduate working group and consultation with FGSR.
• In May and June, we anticipate student service-focused positions to be drafted and posted on the U of A Careers website. Staff are strongly encouraged to review these opportunities.
• In July, administrative processing in the Office of Education will commence.

Office of Research

In addition to the Office of Education, work is being done to outline the Office of Research through the research working group, led by Stan Blade, Dean in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. Work for the Office of Research is also being done in consultation with the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Senior Research Partners.

We anticipate hiring and appointing a Director of Research in the coming months. We are also identifying functions to support innovation and entrepreneurship that could be supported at the college and these discussions are being facilitated through the innovation and entrepreneurship working group led by Simaan AbouRizk, Dean in the Faculty of Engineering. Other strategic initiatives include EDI, safety, Indigenous initiatives, and work-integrated learning.

Academic Leaders and Partners

Academic leaders at the college will include an associate dean responsible for each of the Office of Education and the Office of Research. We are working to outline those roles for planned appointments for July 2022. Importantly, academic leaders will play a role in strategic leadership beyond the functional mandate of the above offices. More information will be circulated within a month on the process for individuals to express their interest in these positions.

As you know, the partnership network in CNAS connects our faculties and college with the U of A’s administrative expertise and resources. I am pleased to introduce you to our portfolio leads and their teams who are embedded at both the college and faculty levels. Contacts for development, communications and marketing, finance, human resources, IT, research, and student services can be found on the CNAS partnership network website.