It’s an exciting time to be a part of Westfield State University. The 2017-2018 academic year will serve as the University’s strategic planning year.
Strategic planning is a critical activity for every purposeful entity. An effective strategic planning process requires deep deliberation, a far-reaching scan of the environment, multiple opportunities for engagement, and honest conversations about an organization’s past, present, and future.
Ultimately, the plan should be fiscally sound and based on a realistically attainable and progressive vision. The plan’s included strategies should position the University to deliver the highest-quality education to our students and ensure Westfield State University will be recognized as a model public comprehensive institution committed to student success.
To achieve such a plan will require the work of our full community, including our alumni and friends of the University. A variety of opportunities will be created to meaningfully engage the campus and other important stakeholders. I ask that you, as valued alumni and friends, participate earnestly and completely in the discussions and opportunities for engagement throughout the process.
Your voice is an essential one as alumni embody both our past and future.
The cross-disciplinary Strategic Planning Steering Committee was established in the spring and has begun its work with the expectation that it will complete the planning process within one year’s time. Within that year, and following the kick-off this month, there will be two other touch points mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) in the planning process. At both points, progress on the plan will be shared with the DHE and publicly.
Within the next academic year, implementation will be underway with well-defined priorities and objectives through 2023.
I look forward to this upcoming comprehensive and inclusive process that will establish a plan to bridge the many strengths of our past to the bright promise of our future. We welcome your perspective and voice throughout the process.
