Strategic vision and goals
Strategic vision
In 2001, after many months of dialogue and discussion among administration, students, faculty, staff, alumni and other stakeholders, Wayne State adopted its first five-year comprehensive strategic plan. The shared vision that became our 2001-2006 Strategic Plan energized our campus and guided an unprecedented transformation of student life, research, teaching and community outreach.
We take great pride in our accomplishments under the 2001-2006 plan, particularly in this era of economic uncertainty in higher education. But the environment in which we teach, discover and serve continues to change, and the needs of the people who come to us are changing as well. To meet its many and myriad responsibilities, a great university must be prepared to respond wisely to change, so even before our first plan was completed we had begun work on a second.
The process of shaping the new plan followed the lead of its predecessor, so this finished product reflects input from across the university as well as from many friends and constituents beyond our campus. As the new plan developed, I was truly impressed by the level of commitment to Wayne State University’s future by everyone involved.
Our 2006-2011 Strategic Action Plan builds on the success of its predecessor, pointing the way to the next era in Wayne State University’s distinguished history, as we continue to refine the quality of our scholarship, teaching, scientific inquiry and community enrichment. Some recommendations in the 2006-2011 plan refine our present directions, while others break new ground. It is just as important to reaffirm our traditions as to explore different ways of doing things. In the main, the 2006-2011 strategic blueprint is built around goals that we feel will continue to strengthen the university in all phases of its operations.
We are confident that Wayne State University has and will continue to develop the human and intellectual capital to become the model urban, public research university for the 21st century.
Our vision
The vision of Wayne State University is to become the model public research university engaged in the urban community.
Our mission
As a nationally recognized urban, public research university, our mission is to create knowledge and prepare a diverse body of students to excel in an increasingly complex and global society.
Our core commitments
Strategic planning naturally reflects and supports our fundamental values. These values necessarily are refined over time, but their essential meaning and intent does not change. They provide a common sense of purpose for the university community, shaping our future while keeping us focused on the unique attributes and characteristics that make Wayne State special.
- Urban mission: Wayne State University is committed to serve the citizens of the surrounding community with:
- Opportunities through accessible, excellent education
- Economic initiatives that contribute to the city’s growth and revitalization
- Mutually advantageous relationships with business, government and cultural institutions
- Research that addresses the real-world problems faced by urban populations
- Global presence: We are committed to global education and international partnerships, both and abroad, that:
- Stress diversity and cross-cultural understanding
- Promote scholarship and research
- Provide an advantage to students competing in an interconnected world
- Innovative technology: We are committed to employing the latest technological tools and understanding to:
- Advance scholarly inquiry and scientific discovery
- Enhance the educational experience
- Create an interconnected university community
- Diversity: We are committed to promoting a diverse university community that promotes:
- Respect for different points of view
- Understanding issues from multiple perspectives
- Preparing students to work collaboratively and successfully with individuals from varied backgrounds
Our goals
Five specific goals result from our strategic vision for the university. These goals articulate our aspirations and provide a framework for the way in which our new plan will be translated into action over the next five years.
We have pledged
- to promote an exceptional learning experience;
- to improve the university’s stature as a nationally ranked research university;
- to nurture a strong and dynamic campus community;
- to sustain our role as an engaged university in an urban environment;
- and to diversify and broaden the university’s funding base.
We intend to make Wayne State University one of the nation’s most respected public research universities, and feel that these goals provide a way to make that happen. But national recognition is not an end in itself; what matters most is how our progress as shaped by these goals will position the university to benefit our students and ultimately our city, our state, our nation and the world.
