September 19, 2012
Hello everybody:
Our University's strategic planning process, which is underway now, is valuable not just for the road map to the future it will help provide, but for reminding us of what can be achieved when imagination, energy, and commitment join forces.
Over the past few months, WesternU's strategic planning goals and objectives were revised and consolidated into a prioritized list, which was sent to the college deans and to members of the University Operations Group to solicit collaborative proposals addressing them.
Twenty-five proposals focusing on one or more goal areas were submitted; a small group has been tasked with reviewing each of the proposals and rating them based on various planning criteria. The proposals, complete with the reviewers' ratings, will then come to senior administration for review.
This is the same process that was followed nearly seven years ago, during the last major round of strategic planning. The ideas considered then led directly to the development not only of our four newest colleges - three of which will graduate their inaugural classes next May - but also the Interprofessional Education program, the Patient Care Center, the Western Diabetes Institute, and an expanded sense of mission for the entire University.
The arc from that phase of our development naturally leads to here. The confidence generated by the success of our newest colleges, IPE, our patient care endeavors, and a broad range of new initiatives across WesternU inspires and informs our plans for the future.
Thanks to where we've been, we can better see where we are going. We know what's possible. The future is very much what we make it, and with our track record of accomplishment as a guide, we are pointed in the right direction.
We ask ourselves this question in all things: How do we care for people? If we keep that objective uppermost in our minds, our choices will be wise, our planning sound, and our future assured.
As always, I welcome your feedback on this topic and any others as we discuss WesternU's Benchmarks of Value, and our plans. Please e-mail me with your thoughts at ppumerantz@westernu.edu, and feel free to share this message with your family and friends.
