Reviewing, renewingWSU’s Strategic Plan

By Communications staff, Washington State University

From time to time, I will turn over the Perspectives column space to others, either inside or outside the university community, who have an important point of view to share about an issue that impacts Washington State University. This week, Robert Bates, provost
and executive vice president, is writing about an important university-wide effort – the review of our strategic plan.

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Washington State University has followed the path charted by the Strategic Plan for the last five years. It has guided our priorities, actions, and investments, and provided the framework for the plans developed by our academic and administrative areas. Although the plan has served us well, it is time to pause and reflect on both the successes of the past and the opportunities ahead of us.

The future for Washington State University has never been brighter. Our efforts in building research and graduate and professional education, our success in recruiting the most academically qualified and diverse freshmen class ever – including the growth of four year programs in Tri-Cities and Vancouver – are extraordinary.

The stage is set
 
However, we remain far from reaching the heights of our aspirations. We have merely set the stage for the next chapter in our progress toward prominence as a world class land-grant research institution. Our future will be guided by a strong compelling vision focused on selected areas of scholarly excellence and efforts to increase both the enrollment and the quality of our graduate and professional programs. We will enhance the overall undergraduate experience by providing an infrastructure for student engagement that takes advantage of our research university environment. We fully embrace our commitment to engagement, from regional economic development to the globalization of our institution.
 
Your input requested
 
Our land grant mission demands that we involve many stakeholders as we plan our future. In so doing, we are soliciting input from across the university and beyond in a review and renewal of our strategic plan. Over the next two months, you will have several opportunities to participate. The goal is to have the review completed and any revisions in place before the end of the fall semester.
 
To share your thoughts on the current strategic plan, as well as thoughts for our future, I invite you to respond to a short survey on the Office of the Provost web site. I will also host an open forum on this topic at each of the campuses over the next few weeks.
 
Planning committee slated

President Floyd will appoint a standing presidential level Strategic Planning Committee soon. This group will review input from the university community and will draft an update to the Strategic Plan. The committee will serve an on-going role for continuous review and update of the plan.

This is an exciting time at Washington State University. You can feel the sense of purpose, the vigor in our teaching and scholarship, the vitality of faculty, students, and staff at each of our locations, and the pride in our accomplishments. But our drive for excellence will require all of us if we are to move to the next level. Please join us in affirming our strategic goals and setting our course for the future.

 

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