TRU Bold: a unique plan charting the future
KAMLOOPS — Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has approved a new five-year academic and open learning plan known as TRU Bold. This unique plan sets priorities for teaching, learning, research and program development through to 2030.
Guided by extensive input from across the institution and its communities, TRU Bold is the first integrated academic plan in the university’s history that combines academic and open learning priorities with research goals and graduate program development. The plan reflects TRU’s mission of accessible education and its commitment to the region, including long-standing partnerships with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and T’exelc.
The academic plan was recently approved by both TRU’s Senate and Board of Governors.
“TRU Bold provides a clear framework for growth. This plan will define how we will navigate change while staying true to our mission of providing accessible, high-quality education to students in our region, B.C. and Canada, and the world,” said Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Gillian Balfour.
“TRU Bold will drive action through program development, research investment and enhanced student opportunities. Whether studying on campus, online or in applied settings, students will have access to learning designed to prepare them for a rapidly changing world.”
The plan is anchored by five institutional goals:
- Expanding “halo programs” in health and healing, environment, and technology;
- Embedding research-informed, high-impact teaching;
- Advancing open education and digital transformation;
- Increasing flexible pathways to learning and;
- Developing new graduate programs tied to TRU’s research priorities.
“Halo programs” are TRU’s distinctive academic strengths that align with research priorities and regional needs, guiding investment, innovation and reputation across the university. Each of the plan’s goals outlines key actions and measurable outcomes, including enhanced support for teaching and learning, new interdisciplinary graduate programs, expanded access to online learning and closer integration between teaching and research.
The plan also aligns with TRU’s institutional learning outcomes and affirms its commitment to Indigenization and the decolonization of pedagogy.
The plan will also help TRU build a research culture that is responsive to pressing challenges in health, the environment and technology, said Vice-President Research Dr. Shannon Wagner.
“Every student can be a researcher, and every student deserves access to flexible, high-quality learning,” she said. “TRU Bold defines how we will bring that vision to life — through partnerships, inquiry, and a commitment to solving real-world challenges.”
TRU Bold will respond to a changing post-secondary landscape, including demographic shifts, global uncertainty, and new technologies such as generative AI. It outlines how TRU will strengthen its academic reputation, improve student success, and ensure long-term institutional resilience.