Turner describes strategic planning, changes to come

UMVice President for University Outreach and Extension Ron Turner updated the Board of Curators on the University's strategic planning and said changes would begin to be implemented next year based on the initiative. The curators heard the report at their meeting May 29 in Kansas City.

The steering committee, which consists of UM President Pacheco, vice presidents and chancellors, has been meeting in 1998 to develop a new strategic plan to take the University beyond the more limited five-year financial plan approved in 1992. Turner said the committee will continue its analysis through fall and make decisions based on the strategic plan in 1999.

" I want to emphasize that the critical success factors are subject to redefinition, reevaluation, and modification as the strategic planning process continues to develop." - Ron Turner

Turner said the committee had identified eight "critical success factors" upon which the university would base its decision making. They are:

• Success of its undergraduate, graduate, and professional students as measured by retention and graduation rates, professional development, job placement, and acceptance to graduate or professional school;

• Quality of learning, research and community outreach, as measured by relevance and demand for programs, use of innovative teaching techniques and ability to recruit high-quality students;

• Progress in improving and increasing faculty research and scholarship through increased support from state, federal and industry sources;

• Ability to meet the state's needs, through expanded partnerships and collaborative agreements with business, industry, cultural institutions and government;

• Maintenance of the University's financial health, through securing of greater support from both public and private sources;

• Enrollment management;

• Maintenance of a high quality, productive and diverse faculty and staff; and

• Systemwide leadership and management to develop a shared vision of the University's future.

"I want to emphasize that the critical success factors are subject to redefinition, reevaluation and modification as the strategic planning process continues to develop," Turner said. He said the committee will now begin to gather information to identify the institution's strengths and weaknesses in these categories.

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