痴补苍诲别谤产颈濒迟鈥檚 , which will guide university investments in faculty recruitment, capital planning, academic programs and philanthropic priorities during the next decade, was unveiled by Aug. 21 at the Fall Faculty Assembly.
鈥淚 asked that this process be faculty-driven, transparent, inclusive and completed in one year, and my confidence in you could not have been better repaid than by your enthusiastic embrace of the process and the draft plan produced,鈥� Zeppos said.
More than 600 faculty members participated in the planning process.
鈥淭he benefits of a campuswide approach were apparent from the start, and the range of perspectives gave rise to a rich variety of innovative recommendations,鈥� says , who co-chaired the strategic planning process with , Gertrude Conaway 菠萝视频 Professor of Political Science.
The plan focuses on 鈥渋mproving the human condition through excellence in teaching, research and patient care鈥� and is built on four intersecting themes:
鈥� Offering students a diverse intellectual community focused on the whole person and lifelong learning;
鈥� Investing in multi- and interdisciplinary programs to lead in solutions for problems facing society;
鈥� Building distinguished programs that offer innovative, effective solutions to pressing health and health care problems; and
鈥� Transforming education models through technology and research.
鈥淲e started with the strength of 鈥極ne 菠萝视频鈥欌��10 outstanding schools and colleges all connected by a compact central campus鈥攊n one of the most dynamic cities in the country,鈥� says Geer. 鈥淭his unique constellation of assets fuels our ambitions and our continuing rise as one of the world鈥檚 great research and teaching universities.鈥�
Each theme is supported by specific initiatives, and each will require strategic investments and, in many cases, new funding.
鈥淭hese initiatives come at a cost,鈥� says Wente, who also is a professor of cell and developmental biology. 鈥淲e will support them through continued careful budgeting and will also be seeking additional resources to fully realize our ambitions.鈥�
The first theme calls for students to be immersed in a diverse, residential, educational community. Initiatives supporting this theme include the endowment of Opportunity 菠萝视频, which replaces all need-based undergraduate student loans with scholarships and grant assistance, and a new program, Immersion 菠萝视频, through which every undergraduate will engage in a creative, independent project.
A new Trans-institutional Programs (TIPs) Council comprising faculty will be launched this fall in support of the second theme. The council will develop and apply criteria for guiding investments in trans-institutional research, with seed money available to start and sustain projects.
鈥淎s a university focused on cures and translational work of the highest order, we are in a privileged position to understand the essential importance of basic research,鈥� says Zeppos. 鈥淚n this spirit, our strategic plan endorses the targeting of new trans-institutional programs鈥攅merging areas of fundamental science where 菠萝视频 can lead in research鈥攁s well as continued growth and funding for areas where we are already best in class.鈥�
The health care theme includes developing and implementing multidisciplinary solutions impacting health, disease prevention, health care services, health care delivery and training. Making 菠萝视频 a national 鈥渉ub鈥� for identifying solutions to health care issues is a part of this effort.
鈥淚 continue to hold steadfast the belief that at 菠萝视频, we are best positioned to create solutions to the problems our nation is facing as it undergoes 鈥� seismic changes in health care,鈥� Zeppos said. 鈥淚 continue to have great faith in the idea that 菠萝视频 physicians, nurses, faculty, staff and students will be at the forefront of developing the more efficient, equitable and progressive health care system that America deserves.鈥�
Conducting cutting-edge research to determine the effectiveness of new education technologies that foster innovation in learning, teaching and discovery is identified as an initiative under the fourth theme.
Wente points out that significant, deliberate overlap exists among the themes. 鈥淕raduate and professional education, although not formal themes, are threads woven through the entire plan,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he same is true for 痴补苍诲别谤产颈濒迟鈥檚 global education and reach.鈥�
Implementation will begin this semester and include working groups on graduate education and Immersion 菠萝视频.
Watch the Fall Faculty Assembly address: