A draft of the strategic plan for the University will be presented to two community forums later this month by the Office of Administration and Planning, the university announced in a statement Wednesday.
“We’re involved in a very participatory strategic planning effort,” said Marilyn McCoy, vice president for administration and planning. “We’re having this meeting to get reactions. This is an open forum to react to ideas that have been put forth to date.”
The community forums will ask the question, “Where should Northwestern be headed?”
Seven committees comprised of 125 students, faculty and staff put together the current drafts following meetings last between February and June.
McCoy’s office is keeping the contents of strategic planning drafts a secret for now.
“We really want people to understand that it’s a draft. The thinking is that at this stage, we’re inviting the community to engage with us and react to us,” McCoy said.
In its completed form, the strategic plan will provide a framework, fostering a “common vision of excellence” and “inspiring innovation,” according to the strategic plan’s website.
The plan will also mark the priorities of the capital campaign — the university’s multi-year fundraising push. A previous campaign that lasted from 1998 to 2003 raised more than $1.5 billion.
The strategic plan is set to be finalized by the beginning of 2011.
The forums will take place Oct. 25 on the Chicago campus and Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. on the Evanston campus, in the Allen Center Tribune Auditorium.