Rice University aims towards strategic planning process
Rice University is undergoing a retooling of its strategic plan in order to maximize its impact as an academic institution.
“Planning for Rice University’s future is an important endeavor that we officially launched in January and will undergo with intensity over the next 12 months,” said President Reginald DesRoches, who is in his first year leading the university. “Once the process is complete, we will have a plan that will articulate Rice’s vision for the next 10 years. The plan will define how the university will focus its resources to realize Rice’s vision, outline metrics that will allow Rice to measure progress against our strategic goals and propose strategies to achieve those goals.”
The 15-member strategic planning committee is helmed by Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and a professor of finance and economics. Through April, more than 30 focus groups consisting of members of the faculty, staff, student body and Board of Trustees will be held to identify and discuss potential strategies. Additional groups will be convened around specific topics, including the Rice experience; research; infrastructure; and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Houston-based consulting firm Sterling will help facilitate the planning process.
“Undergoing a strategic planning process is an important exercise, especially with new leadership,” Dittmar said. “It solidifies strategic priorities and maps the university’s path over the next several years.”
“We have conducted three focus groups and already are learning what excites people and how people want to forge ahead,” she continued. “I look forward to learning more as we conduct several more focus groups and engage our community. The result will be a strong plan that will launch Rice to new heights.”
DesRoches’ vision for the future is expected to evolve over the course of the planning process based on feedback.
“Rice is an exceptional institution with brilliant faculty, ambitious students, strong leaders and an unmatched staff support system,” he said. “In addition to providing a top-notch education to our students, we contribute meaningful and impactful research and creative pursuits to the betterment of society. But I believe we can do even more, build on our strengths and, together, forge courageous new paths.”
The new strategic plan will springboard off the Vision for the Second Century (V2C) and Vision for the Second Century, Second Decade (V2C2), launched in 2004 and 2017, respectively. Many aspects of those plans will be incorporated into the new plan.