University of Cincinnati:
Leading in the 21st Century
Academic
Planning
Town
Hall
Meeting
February 12, 2004
Input Sessions

More than 35 planned
so far

More than 20 held already
Reflections on Concerns and
Expectations
Concerns
Will
we really be inclusive in developing
the plan?
Will
Will
anything really change?
the plan be innovative and
realistic?
Concerns (cont’d.)

Do we really have the resources to
carry out the plan?

The process is too unwieldy.

Are we really able to think differently?
Expectations

To have a vision and a plan to realize
the vision

To focus and unify the university

To have a strong community focus
Expectations (cont’d.)

To attract the most academically talented
and a diverse student body

To be more nationally/internationally
known for academics

To have resource allocation tied to a plan
Some Caveats
Can’t be all things to all people in this
economic climate
 Must identify and leverage our
distinctive strengths
 Must keep students at the core of
anything we do
 Must find the resources to actualize
our vision

Some Obvious Tension

Providing increased access, opportunity for
under-represented groups, as we nurture and
build programs of academic national/international
distinction

The pull between our identity as individual
colleges vs. our identity as a university

Being a socially responsible institution solving
problems of our local and global community, while
we engage in highest quality of basic research
Some Tension (cont’d.)

Providing the needed liberal
education (both formal and informal)
and high quality and professional
programs

Building a diverse and model campus
community in the midst of a growing
need for any time/any place learning
Guiding Principles for
a Leading 21st Century University

A model for meeting needs of an
increasingly diverse student body

A model for any time/any place learning

A sense of community that embraces
students, faculty, staff, administrators, and
fosters diverse learners and learning
experiences
Guiding Principles for a Leading
21st Century University (cont’d.)
• Strong partnerships and linkages
with:
-internal units
-governmental entities
-businesses
-local community
-international community
-P-12 schools
-other higher education institutions
Big Ideas
• Students learn from real-world
experiences at UC
• Real world problems are solved at
UC and by our graduates
• Social justice and citizenship, locally
and globally, are fostered at UC and
by our graduates
Big Ideas (cont’d.)
•
Economic development in our local and
global communities is fostered at UC and
by our graduates
•
The challenges of health care are
addressed at UC and by our graduates
•
Understanding and appreciation for the
arts and humanities are advanced at UC
and by our graduates.
Big Ideas (cont’d.)
• The growing challenges of safety,
security are addressed at UC and by
our graduates
• UC is a key component of a
seamless PK-16 educational system
DISCUSSION
BREAK
GROUP FORMATION
DISCUSSION
BREAK
WRAP UP
&
HOUSEKEEPING
“You are
here”
Round #1
Local Input
Meetings
12/8
Town
Hall
1/29
Town
Hall
Group
Context
Forms
2/12
Town
Hall
Big
Ideas?
Round #2
Local Input
Meetings
2/24
Town
Hall
Consider
Input
3/8
Town
Hall
3/29
Town
Hall
Plan
v1.0
Plan
v2.0
4/8
Town
Hall
Respond
To
feedback
4/20
Town
Hall
Plan
v3.0
Vetting Process
Operations Group Meetings
May
2004
Plan
Unveiled/
Inauguration
All Big Ideas (Special Dance Remix)
• Students learn from real-world experiences at UC
• Real world problems are solved at UC and by our
•
•
•
•
•
•
graduates
Social justice and citizenship, locally and globally, are
fostered at UC and by our graduates
Economic development in our local and global
communities is fostered at UC and by our graduates
The challenges of health care are addressed at UC and
by our graduates
Understanding and appreciation for the arts and
humanities are advanced at UC and by our graduates.
The growing challenges of safety, security are
addressed at UC and by our graduates
UC is a key component of a seamless PK-16
educational system