At other institutions, a strategic planning initiative is often taken as an exercise in frustration. If you google “strategic planning memes,” you get a long list of images which captures the challenges: a disconnect between the plan and the institution’s mission; the need to integrate an overwhelming amount of data; the lack of implementation detail; a sense of the futility of the exercise, and an overwhelming sense of fatigue.

Not so, for us!

Throughout all of last year, we have been in the listening phase. And there has been such enthusiasm for defining who we are and who we want to be as OurUD — from the town halls, conversations around key leadership positions, the development of the campus culture and engagement framework, the community engagement certification work, the pulse surveys and the upcoming opportunities to talk about the results, the Summer AI series, the character development convening, and the research innovation initiatives — all have led to an affirmation of our mission in the form of the Delaware Declarations.

With these in hand, it is time for us to turn the Declarations into action through the establishment of clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and a shared direction for UD through 2032. The goal is to have a strategic plan rough draft distributed for feedback during winter session, with plan finalization and approval in the spring, along with the development of an implementation plan in the summer ready to launch next fall.

The building phase of the plan begins this week with a kickoff planning meeting on Thursday, Sep. 17, at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom, co-led by Attain Partners. We will provide an overview of the process, what to expect during the coming months, and the many ways to participate, as well as time to ask questions. This will be recorded and available on the strategic planning site for those who are not able to attend.

Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in being involved. We received interest from 237 individuals, and using a random number generator, selected a mix of 135 faculty, students and staff to serve on specific declaration working groups (15 seats per declaration), and 102 individuals invited to serve on integrative focus groups that will work on ideas across declaration working groups. In addition, there will be ample opportunity for all members of the community to review emerging recommendations and provide input throughout the process. We want and need your voice.

The strategic planning site is a dynamic page that provides information about the structure, process, working and focus groups, timeline, and intended deliverables. This page will be updated all along the way, so pay attention to the New Updates section along with the date updated field to track these additions.

Here is the latest from around the beat:

Mark your calendars, Dr. Laurie Schreiner will join us on campus October 1 to share results from this spring’s faculty and staff pulse surveys, the first in an ongoing annual effort conducted in partnership with Dr. Schreiner. This year’s results will establish a baseline for tracking our progress over time. Dr. Schreiner will lead campus discussion on Thursday, October 1, at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.; locations and additional details are forthcoming. She will also present findings at the Board of Trustees retreat on September 30

Our next Community Read In will be on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.at the President’s House, 47 Kent Way. All are welcome. I’ll provide refreshments, snacks, comfy seating — indoors and outdoors — and you bring yourself, a book and a commitment to an uninterrupted 30 minutes. We’ll take the first 15 minutes to get settled, read for 30 minutes, and then take time to share what they’ve read.

If you are craving ice cream (believe me, I always am!), swing by UDairy Creamery’s grand re-opening on Friday, September 25, and check out the new expanded patio area and additional seating. Between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. there will be giveaways, raffle items and free mini-cones!

Yours in UD,