As co-chairs of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, we have the inspiring opportunity this semester to listen in as more than 30 faculty, staff, student, and alumni groups discuss proposed vision elements and focus areas for the University’s next strategic plan. The sessions held so far have been robust in attendance (nearly 800), insights, and thought-provoking questions. Our colleagues on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee join us in expressing thanks to all participants in this initial stage of the planning process.

While there are several more conversations to come, we frequently hear similar views expressed from group to group, particularly the understanding that a focused plan is essential to the University’s progress and that issues and opportunities addressed in planning should be limited in number. The campus discussions have consistently identified three proposed focus areas as essential:

During the break between semesters, the Steering Committee will further explore these emerging focus areas, outlining charges and research questions for Strategy Groups that will be appointed to develop goals, objectives, and progress measures in each area. Once focus areas and Strategy Group charges are established by the Steering Committee, co-chairs will be named for each Strategy Group – one a Steering Committee member and the other someone new the planning process.

At the beginning of the spring semester, faculty, staff, students, and alumni will be invited to apply online to serve as volunteers in the next stage of the process. Co-chairs will have the opportunity to draw from this volunteer pool as they build Strategy Groups of eight to 12 members, and all volunteers will be invited to participate in focus groups related to their area of interest. The University Retreat in August will also provide opportunities to discuss and respond to initial reports from the Strategy Groups.

Campus discussions this semester have affirmed core elements of our current campus vision statement while pressing for new language that is more bold and inspiring. The word “leadership” came up in group after group as an important element for an updated vision statement, while the phrase “the best of our size” was noted in many conversations as an outdated, inadequate descriptor. Many groups also identified “community” and “students” as words currently missing in vision language that are important to include.

Once all feedback from fall semester meetings is analyzed, the Steering Committee will propose draft vision language that reflects these very useful conversations and aligns with the emerging focus areas for planning. We greatly appreciate the thoughtful responses shared by faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the first stage of the planning process and look forward to continued participation from the UMBC community next semester.