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Strategic Plan Refresh

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About the Refresh

During the 2019-20 academic year, we began a strategic planning journey, Lead On, University, to build on our past success, chart OU’s pathways for the future, and elevate the University to a new level of excellence.

Since launching the strategic plan, OU has made tremendous progress toward our pillars of excellence and the strategies and tactics prioritized for the university.  

This plan, however, is not a static document nor will it follow a linear path. Instead, this plan is defined as a dynamic, ongoing process where we stretch ourselves in pursuit of our goals and embrace the journey ready to be agile and responsive to the needs of the University community and the communities in which we serve. 

Why a refresh?

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Fall 2024 will mark the halfway point, four years into our eight-year strategic plan, Lead On, University. 

This milestone provides us the opportunity to engage the University community in a refresh of our strategic plan. A refresh will allow the University to continue to build on our momentum, celebrate our recent successes, engage and listen to University constituents, apply those insights and our lessons learned, adapt and update our plans, and align our resources to continue our trajectory of transformation. 

Following the refresh, the updated Lead On, University Strategic Plan will be integrated and aligned across OU Norman, OU Health Sciences, and OU Tulsa. The updated plan will be added to the Lead On, University website once finalized in early spring 2025. 

Timeline

The refresh process for OU Norman’s Lead On Strategic Plan will incorporate the OU Health Sciences' Strategic Plan and the development of a new 5-year Strategic Plan for OU-Tulsa. This multi-phased process will begin in late May 2024 and wrap up by January 2025. 

Spring 2024

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  • President Harroz announces the Strategic Plan Refresh process and invites the University community to share their big ideas for the future.
  • An Executive Steering Committee chaired by President Harroz will guide the overall strategic planning refresh process and establish the Cross-campus Working Group composed of faculty, staff, and student representatives from the Norman, Health Sciences Center, and Tulsa campuses. 
  • OU Tulsa’s strategic planning efforts will begin with key campus stakeholders.
  • OU Health Sciences leadership will be engaged in OU Norman’s plan refresh and OU Tulsa’s planning efforts to ensure alignment and to identify opportunities for collaboration and support across campuses.

Summer 2024

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  • The University Strategy Office and university leadership will collect and analyze institutional and market trend data, conduct peer assessments, and prepare to support the Cross-campus Working Group during the fall semester.
  • President Harroz and University leadership will begin to engage with key university constituencies to collect insights and ideas for OU’s strategic plan refresh.

Fall 2024

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  • The Cross-campus working group will analyze data and review the ideas and feedback from the University community and key stakeholders to refine and update the goals and initiatives for each Pillar.
  • OU Tulsa’s strategic planning efforts continue with key campus and community stakeholders.
  • The Cross-campus Working Group and OU Tulsa’s leadership will provide President Harroz with final recommendations in November.
  • A draft refreshed strategic plan and financial proforma for OU Norman and OU Tulsa will be shared with the Board of Regents for review and approval. 

January 2025 and Beyond

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  • The updated Lead On, University Plan will be shared with the university community following approval by the Board of Regents.
  • Divisions, colleges, and unit-level strategic plans will be updated and refreshed to align with the updated Lead On, University Plan.

Get Involved

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We value the insights and perspectives of every member of our community – faculty, staff, and students alike. Your ideas can spark innovation, drive efficiencies, and lead to high-impact initiatives that propel OU forward to new heights. Whether you have ideas related to new programs and offerings, partnerships, operational improvements, or any other aspect of university life, we want to hear from you. 

We will have additional opportunities for alumni, community members, and other key constituencies to share their ideas later this year.

University Strategy
660 Parrington Oval
Norman, OK 73019
Updated 11/13/2024 by University Strategy: leadon@ou.edu