Dear OU Community,
Today, members of the university’s leadership team and I presented an update on the “Lead On, University” Strategic Plan refresh to our Board of Regents. This work, which began earlier this year and involves representation from faculty, staff, and students across our three campuses, is an important endeavor in guiding our university’s path forward. The refresh process also gives us a unique opportunity to build on the successes of our initial Strategic Plans, as well as reflect on the shared aspirations of our vibrant community and the current dynamic higher education landscape.
It is my pleasure to share a brief update with you, our University of Oklahoma community, as we work to finalize this refreshed plan and ensure a collective vision for our entire OU Family.
A Cross-Campus Effort
Over the past few months, our cross-campus working group – with faculty, staff, and student representation from the Norman, Tulsa, and Health Sciences campuses – has been hard at work evaluating the progress on our initial goals, identifying new opportunities, and determining how we can better integrate planning across our three campuses. I am thankful to each group member for their time and dedication. I also am grateful to those of you who shared your ideas about the future of our university. Your feedback and insights have been critical to the refresh process as our working group refined and updated the university’s goals and initiatives. Together, these efforts are helping ensure our plan is representative and responsive to the needs of each campus, and that it is forward-thinking as it charts a course for OU’s continued legacy of excellence and opportunity.
Preliminary Outcomes and Enhancements
The Strategic Plan refresh process has allowed us to fine-tune our strategies and tactics, ensuring they align with the evolving world of higher education and our university’s needs. While our existing Strategic Plan covers a broad range of institutional priorities, some of the new areas of focus in the updated plan will include “One OU,” which involves pursuing greater alignment, collaboration, and organizational efficiencies across OU’s three campuses; Strategic Enrollment, which maintains our emphasis on student retention and success while fostering new pathways and opportunities for growth; and Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, which centers on embracing AI and other innovations to expand and strengthen our academic and research frontiers.
Next Steps and Timeline
You can find more details about the refresh process on our Lead On website. The refresh process will continue over the next few months, with final updates to our current plan expected early next year. With your input, the renewal of the “Lead On, University” Strategic Plan will build on OU’s rich history, advance our commitment to changing lives, and further propel us into an even brighter future.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication.
Live On, University,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
