Dear TRU Community,
Continuing the university-wide move towards “one TRU” administrative services, the following departments will be amalgamated as of June 20:
- Central Marketing and Communications and Open Learning Marketing and Communications
- Institutional Planning and Analysis and Open Learning Planning, Budget and Effectiveness
The amalgamation of these units is the latest in a series of departmental amalgamations that have taken place in order to maximize efficiencies, effectiveness and value of pan-institutional services through a “one TRU” operational model. Past amalgamations of central and OL service units include IT, Finance and the Registrar.
The amalgamations will involve budgetary re-allocations, removal of service duplications and more streamlined processes. For some team members, office re-locations, new reporting structures and evolved roles and responsibilities will also be required. A “phased-in” change schedule specific to each service area will be planned and implemented, with a goal of completing all key initial changes by the end of the current fiscal year (i.e., Mar. 31, 2017).
Both areas are committed to honoring and maintaining established service standards, service commitments and service plan deliverables, throughout and following the transition. The long term goal, as always, will be continuous improvement in service quality and efficiency.
It is important to note that no staff will be unemployed, or positions downgraded, as a result of these amalgamations.
Open Learning is a highly valued area within my portfolio as provost and vice-president academic. As such, I have worked closely with Irwin DeVries, interim AVP-Open Learning, to ensure that Open Learning’s needs will continue to be fully supported within the new structure. I commend Irwin, as well as each department leader, for their collaborative and professional approach to managing these important transitions. I am confident that their dedicated efforts will ensure that the new structure will prove beneficial not only for TRU, but also for teams in each of the involved departments.
For more information, please visit the amalgamations Q & A on OneTRU or feel free to directly contact the heads of the newly consolidated departments. Contact Lucille Gnanasihamany, associate vice-president Marketing and Communications at lgnanasihamany@tru.ca or 778-471-8389. Contact Dorys Crespin-Mueller, director, Institutional Planning and Analysis, at dcrespin@tru.ca or 250-828-5493.
Warm regards,
Christine
Christine L. Bovis-Cnossen
Provost and Vice-President Academic
Thompson Rivers University
Tel: 250-377-6126
provost@tru.ca
