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By Sharron Hannon
shannon@uga.edu
The University Council will be asked to approve an ambitious institutional strategic plan for the first decade of the 21st century at its Nov. 16 meeting.
The plan, which has already been endorsed by the Staff Council and the UGA  Foundation Board of Trustees, focuses on three strategic directions for the university over the next 10 years: building the new learning environment, research investment and competing in the global economy. The overall goal of the plan is for UGA to be ranked among the top 15 public universities in America by 2010, according to Don Eastman, vice president for strategic planning and public affairs.
Priority projects include building an endowment for faculty support; developing a larger and stronger set of residential programs for undergraduates; constructing research facilities in biosciences, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and other areas; providing Internet technology infrastructure and support; and supporting new programs in identified areas, including the environment, new media, integrated genomics, and public and international affairs.
The cost to implement the plan is estimated at $2.5 billion and potential sources of additional or redeployed funding have been identified, including fund raising of $500 million to $1 billion and internal redirection of up to $350 million.
The crafting of the plan began in March of 1999 when President Michael F. Adams appointed an institutional Strategic Planning Advisory Group, representing current and retired faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni. The group met nearly weekly through May of 2000. (Columns’ coverage of these meetings can be accessed from the strategic planning Web site by selecting “Other Resources” and then clicking on Columns.)
Throughout this period, UGA’s schools and colleges and 13 other units, such as the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, the University Libraries and the Athletic Association, were asked to prepare their own plans for the same 10-year period. The institutional advisory group reviewed, suggested revisions for and approved all of the unit plans, which can be viewed online along with the institutional plan.
Another facet of the planning process was identifying benchmarks to measure success in meeting the goals of the plan. Among the goals for 2010 are many more students living on
campus, a more diverse faculty and student body, higher graduation rates, 500,000 more square feet of research space, more graduate students, more international experiences for undergraduates, and more money raised through new private gifts and pledges.
“It’s been a very long process,” says William Davis, a faculty member in the School of Music who was a member of the institutional Strategic Planning Advisory Group and now chairs the University Council’s Strategic Planning Committee. “We’ve asked for input all along the way and have considered all suggestions received.
“The University Council Strategic Planning Committee has unanimously recommended the plan to the council,” he adds. “It’s my hope that the full University Council will now add their endorsement.” |
