The NDSU Strategic Planning Committee continues its work to define the institution’s outstanding programs as the campus prepares for the future. The group’s second meeting was April 15.
The group’s goal is to provide criteria to identify academic and research programs that are at or near nationally, if not internationally, recognized status. These programs will be tabbed for future enhancement funding, when it becomes available. The committee includes 20 members from across campus and six ex-officio members who serve in an advisory capacity.
Marie Hvidsten, rural leadership specialist and Rural Leadership North Dakota program director with the NDSU Extension Service, serves as committee facilitator. During the two-hour session, she led the group through a list of strategic planning themes identified at an earlier meeting and the group developed some draft ideas.
Those ideas and themes included:
• Excellence in faculty and quality of students, with a goal of a faculty and students that resemble the faculty and students at the top 20 research universities in the country.
• Funding, economic development and marketing
• Infrastructure, buildings and uniqueness, with a goal to have the characteristics of a top 20 research institution
• Collaborations and partnerships
• Recognition of programs and excellence in teaching
• Attributes of various centers and programs
“The committee made good progress in narrowing down the data generated from the first meeting,” said Hvidsten. “We will continue the prioritizing process at our next meeting in May.”
Hvidsten said the committee will meet again May 13 and a final report on the suggested criteria will be forwarded to President Bresciani by May 18. During the summer, the criteria will be provided to administrators of NDSU’s academic and research areas for the solicitation of a “Top 10” set of executive briefing proposals for potential funding, if investment resources become available.