Dear Colleagues,
To meet this pivotal moment for higher education, we need an organizational framework that mirrors where we are — the challenges, demands, and opportunities specific to this period.
And so I’m pleased to announce that UNCG is embarking on a refresh of our strategic plan — Giant Steps 2.0 — that will continue throughout 2024. This update will build on the strong foundation of the existing plan, providing us a chance to align our core institutional blueprint with the fast-changing higher education landscape. This is yet another step in our efforts to seize our great potential and reimagine UNCG.
Specifically, the updated plan will better reflect how we are evaluated by our governing bodies and — importantly — by those at the heart of our mission: the North Carolinians who depend on us. Working together, we will show students, families, communities, and other stakeholders that we are fulfilling their needs efficiently and effectively.
The first step is to form a Strategic Plan Advisory Committee. Its role will be to advise Provost Storrs and me on the updated plan’s development. Committee members will engage community stakeholders this spring to hear ideas and gather insight into the current landscape, including the UNC System’s strategic plan and our own funding model, performance metrics, budget, and enrollment.
After offering ideas to leadership and gathering feedback, the committee will draft a plan over the summer. Next fall, students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders will provide feedback on that draft. The committee will submit the final plan to me for implementation beginning in January 2025.
This endeavor will demand the time and talent of many faculty and staff. Wade Maki, the Chancellor’s Fellow for Strategic Planning, will chair the committee. Its membership will be announced soon.
Count on transparency and clarity throughout the process — and a constant focus on moving UNCG forward thoughtfully, productively, and sustainably. I encourage you to seize on forthcoming opportunities to engage. After all, the outcomes of the process will only be as good as its inputs. As I recently said to our faculty, we need your talents and ideas. The intellect, experience, and passion that all of you bring to the table, positions UNCG to lead higher education into a new era and a strategic plan refresh is a vital step.
Thanks in advance for your support and engagement. Stay tuned for more details.
Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.
Chancellor