Launch of UniForum data collection project

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McMaster is beginning a new annual program to help better understand how it provides services in support of the academic mission and how it compares with other institutions around the world.

The project, called Uniforum, involves the collection of data about the organization and distribution of non-academic services across campus. McMaster is one of 44 universities around the world participating in the work.

“McMaster is a large, complex institution that has grown rapidly and whose systems have evolved over time,” says Roger Couldrey, Vice-President Administration, and a member of the executive steering committee overseeing the project. “Across the campus, colleagues are doing a great job working together to support our mission of being a top teaching, learning and research university. This project gives us the opportunity to further understand how we are organized to support the mission and how we compare to others.”

Among those participating are the Russell Group of universities in the United Kingdom, the Group of Eight in Australia and in Canada, the University of British Columbia and York University. Australia-based Cubane Consulting is supporting the initiative and there is a McMaster project team on campus to facilitate the work.

As part of the process, some managers and supervisors will be asked to use an intuitive website to identify how their team’s time is spent on various support services and functions.

Data is also collected about external groups that provide services and activities to support the academic mission.

“This data collection will begin to shape a clearer picture of how to provide support services and whether there is an opportunity to be more effective and efficient,” Couldrey says.

Managers and others identified as respondents in the data entry phase will be invited to training soon. The data collection phase begins June 26 and continues through July 21. The University will provide updates and reports as the project continues.

For more information please visit the website: McMaster.ca/uniforum/

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