With an eye to charting its future course, the university has initiated its Mary Baldwin 2035 strategic planning process, calling on the entire community to contribute to shaping the vision for the next decade and beyond.
A series of listening sessions will kick off the initiative over the next three months, open to faculty, staff, students, alumni, Trustees, and community members. These sessions, with a blend of in-person and virtual formats, aim to gather a diverse array of ideas and perspectives to inform the institution’s trajectory.
The general listening sessions are scheduled for Jan. 29 (Francis Auditorium, Staunton Campus), Jan. 31 (Virtual — Zoom), and Feb. 9 (Room 155, Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences). Additional topic-specific virtual sessions are set for Feb. 20, 22, 27, and 29.
Feedback gleaned from these sessions, along with other pertinent data, will be utilized to construct a comprehensive survey distributed across the campus after spring break. Students, faculty, staff will have additional opportunities to share feedback and ideas, facilitated through school or college meetings, student groups, Board meetings, or regular department/division gatherings.
The strategic planning process unfolds across five distinct phases:
- Phase 1 (January – March 2024): Gathering Input and Information
- Phase 2 (April – May 2024): Analyzing Data, Developing Categories and Themes
- Phase 3 (June – July 2024): Developing Plan Draft
- Phase 4 (August – early September 2024): Feedback and Revisions
- Phase 5 (September – December 2024): Approval and Prepare for Implementation
Once the plan is drafted, it will undergo review by the campus and formal adoption by the Board of Trustees. Implementation teams will then collaborate to bring the plan and vision to fruition.
The university’s Strategic Planning Committee (SPC), with representation from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and Trustees, will play a crucial role in refining ideas, facilitating listening sessions, and actively engaging their respective departments, divisions, or colleges throughout the process.
Questions? If you have any questions or would like to share your ideas, please reach out to Cameron Shirley, chief of staff/assistant vice president of strategic initiatives.