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Strategic Plan Overview

Our new strategy, organized into themes of scholarship, learning, and community, defines where we as an institution will focus during the next five years. Inspired by the pillars outlined in President Burwell's inaugural address, the plan is a culmination of a robust strategic planning process and draws on an extensive analysis of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s current strengths, opportunities, and positioning relative to our peers; an examination of best practices and trends in higher education; and, most importantly, robust input and feedback from a wide range of Â鶹ÊÓƵ community members at all stages of development.

The strategic themes and their corresponding imperatives will guide our focused efforts as we blaze a trail to Â鶹ÊÓƵ2023.

Scholarship, Learning, and Community

Scholarship

As a research university on the rise, scholarship is central to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s future. Over the next five years, we will develop areas of strategic focus that draw on fields where Â鶹ÊÓƵ already excels, fields where Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s expertise crosses schools and disciplinary boundaries, and fields that hold promise for the future. In addition, we will establish centers and pursue endowed chairs to support the work of faculty across a range of disciplines.

Imperatives

  • Invest in areas of strategic focus that enhance understanding and have the power to make an extraordinary impact on our world. Fields include health, data science and analytics, security, and social equity.
  • Grow sponsored research and expand faculty-student research collaborations.

More on Scholarship

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Two students work in a lab.

Learning

Learning is at the core of Â鶹ÊÓƵ. As we prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities, we will continue to embrace the highest-quality teaching while exploring new frontiers of learning and scholarship. We will expand opportunities for lifelong learning experiences that are more flexible, personalized, and accessible. 

Imperatives

  • Provide a first-rate student experience that promotes access, thriving, retention and graduation
  • Excel in providing traditional and emerging forms of education to promote lifelong learning
  • Focus on learning for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students that prepares them to engage in the world

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Community

Â鶹ÊÓƵ is an institution deeply rooted in community—locally, nationally, and globally—and when our community grows stronger, so do we. Over the next five years, we will build and strengthen our ties to communities, internal and external.

Imperatives

  • Lead and model inclusive excellence
  • Work with the Washington, DC, region to be a responsive partner, ensuring that we are a part of, not apart from, our local community
  • Form and expand partnerships to leverage our strengths and extend our reach
  • Improve how Â鶹ÊÓƵ works to cultivate a work environment that enables our faculty and staff to thrive

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A group of students walk in front of the Jefferson Memorial in DC on their way to help with landscaping the park.