The University of Arkansas (U of A) is making significant progress with its “150 Forward” strategic planning process as it enters its second phase in February. After spending 10 weeks designing the process, analyzing data, and identifying strategic priority areas, the university leaders brought the campus community into the planning process to set goals and quantifiable objectives for the next several years.
In February, the university held two town halls to update students, faculty, and staff on the strategic planning process and gather feedback on achieving research excellence and advancing student success, two of the university’s strategic priorities. The third strategic priority, enhancing the university’s status as an employer of choice will be the focus of a March 17 town hall, available via stream.
Chancellor Charles Robinson expressed his satisfaction with the thoughtful questions and suggestions received during the first two town halls, indicating that the feedback received would inform goals and objectives that would take the university to greater heights.
Additionally, in February, the university held the first two workshops involving EAB, a higher education research firm that supports the strategic planning process. The workshops covered best practices in developing an employee value proposition and achieving research excellence.
Provost Terry Martin expressed his satisfaction with the involvement of faculty, staff, and students in the strategic planning process, as well as the partnership with EAB, which works with hundreds of schools and brings invaluable insight into what has worked elsewhere?
March and April will see several events intended to further advance the strategic the planning process, including a town hall on enhancing the university’s status as an employer of choice and an update on goals and objectives during the Chancellor Robinson’s April 20 investiture ceremony. The third and final phase of the the strategic planning process will commence in May, when colleges, schools, and campus units will begin developing strategies and tactics to achieve goals and meet data-based objectives.
To learn more about the process and how to participate in upcoming events, visit the 150 Forward the strategic planning page on the chancellor’s website.
The U of A provides an internationally competitive education in over 200 academic programs and contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through teaching, entrepreneurship, job development, discovery through research, and creative activity, and professional training. The university is classified by the Carnegie Foundation is among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the the highest level of research activity, and U.S. News & World Report ranks it among the top public universities in the nation.
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