The UMBC community will open a new chapter in campus strategic planning during the 2013-14 academic year. This process begins as we approach 2016 and UMBC’s 50th anniversary, creating a unique opportunity to reflect on accomplishments while developing a strategic plan to advance excellence at UMBC and support future development of the campus.
Guiding Principles
It is vital to have active participation by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners whose future will be shaped by the plan. The first step in engaging our campus community in planning occurred this past year. A year of “planning to plan” involved shared governance groups and additional groups of students, faculty, staff, and alumni leaders in developing Guiding Principles for Planning and a structure and timeline for planning activities to take place during the 2013-2015 academic years.
The guiding principles call for a process that is:
- Rooted in reflection on UMBC’s vision and values
- Broadly inclusive, engaging participation of stakeholders, including shared governance groups
- Communicated effectively to the campus
- Rich in analysis of the campus’s performance, as well as internal and external opportunities and challenges
- Open to dialogue about systemic strengths and weaknesses
- Clear about how decisions will be made
- Specific in setting priorities and flexible enough to accommodate emergent opportunities
- Connected with State and University System of Maryland priorities
- Open to new and divergent perspectives
- Aligned with financial planning and fundraising
Central Role for Campus Community
The design of the planning process places the campus community at the center of strategy conversations. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni will be encouraged to participate as members of strategy groups and advisory groups. Planning leadership groups – including the Council of Deans and Vice Presidents and a Strategic Planning Steering Committee will serve as “agents of responsibility,” charged with carrying out planning activities in alignment with the Guiding Principles. They will work closely throughout the fall semester with senates and other advisory groups to define the focus areas for the planning process and continue to engage the campus in the work as it evolves over a two-year period.
Steering Committee Members
A 20-member Strategic Planning Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Provost, will convene for the first time this month. We appreciate the commitment of faculty, staff, students and alumni who have agree to serve.
Opportunities for Involvement
We look forward to robust, thoughtful participation from across the campus throughout this process. We will continue to keep you informed of opportunities to be involved, and provide up-to-date information about planning activities on this site.
