The University of Winnipeg is in the final stages of completing its first-ever Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) Plan—a comprehensive, student-focused strategy to strengthen how the University recruits, admits, supports, and retains students.
The process is being led by the SEM Steering Committee, which includes faculty, staff, and administrators from throughout the University. The committee is chaired by Dr. Pavlina Radia, Provost and Vice-President, Academic. “This plan is about truly understanding what success looks like to our diverse student demographics, not just what we assume it to be,” said Dr. Radia. “The plan outlines a strategic and holistic approach to enrolment, retention, and overall student experience. It’s about building a future where every student can thrive—and where we continue to be a vital partner in the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of our province.”
By taking a holistic view of the student journey, the plan supports a more seamless university experience—from the moment students first encounter UWinnipeg to the day they graduate. It provides a coordinated approach to recruitment and admissions, improves access to advising and support services, and ensures that academic programming meets evolving student and labour market needs.
The SEM planning process began in May 2024. Initial work focused on gathering data, including student demographics, enrolment trends, and retention statistics. As the process advanced, a steering committee and three subcommittees engaged with stakeholders throughout the university to develop goals, strategies, and measures of success.
“The dialogue between administration, faculty, and staff throughout the development of the SEM plan has fostered a team approach to student success and really brought to light our collective responsibility to see our students thrive,” said Dr. Danielle Defries, Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Health and a member of the Steering Committee. “Not only is that very fulfilling and rewarding, but it also benefits the entire UWinnipeg community.”
Community-wide engagement sessions were open to all faculty, staff, and students. In the most recent session, approximately 100 attendees provided feedback in online discussion groups.
“I felt the SEM process was transparent, with clear communication of goals, timelines, and decision-making criteria at each stage,” said Dr. Marcella Cassiano, Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and one of the session’s participants. “By actively inviting feedback from faculty—through open forums and iterative review sessions—the process not only enhanced trust and inclusivity but also ensured that diverse perspectives were integrated into final strategies.”
The SEM Plan is expected to be finalized in fall 2025. As well as guiding long-term institutional planning and student success initiatives, it will have many practical applications for day-to-day academic life at UWinnipeg. “We can make data-driven decisions and take effective actions to recruit, enrol, and retain our students,” said Colin Russell, University Registrar. “We can align the time slots, learning spaces, and formats of our course offerings to facilitate students’ progression through their programs, and provide timely supports at each stage from orientation to graduation.”
“In the end, strategic enrolment management is about ensuring that student success is at the heart of our decision-making,” said Dr. Radia. “It’s both a roadmap and a reflection of our community’s shared commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and student success.”
