TWU Strategic Planning Launch

Happy Spring!

While the crazy weather of the past weeks may not make it seem as though spring is approaching, the change this weekend to daylight savings times certainly makes it feel as though spring ought to be here. Spring always energizes me to try new things and to start anew.

In that spirit, let me provide an update on a new strategic planning initiative for TWU. This fulfills a promise of a strategic planning process that I made in my 90-Day Update. It’s exciting to make that promise become a reality.

Building on the excellent work conducted in the Visioning I and II processes, the intent of this new strategic planning process will be to clarify our core purpose and help the TWU community explore opportunities and options. Our aim is to create a multi-faceted and comprehensive plan that will provide TWU with strategic goals that are aligned with our purpose. This will help us maximize the use of resources and guide our choice of operational tactics so that we thrive in the future. 

I’ve asked David Rylander, Professor of Marketing, and Heather Speed, Senior Associate Vice President for Student Engagement, to chair the Strategic Priorities Steering Committee. They are joined initially by Cynthia Evetts, Chair of the Council of Chairs; Gary Ray, Vice President for Enrollment Services; and Robert Neely, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, in a Strategic Planning Design Team which is working with a consultant, Dr. Sharon A. Mc Dade, to design the strategic planning process and timeline.

The Design Team has identified essential aspects of TWU’s strategic planning process – and I support them enthusiastically:

• The process will look broadly to consider any and all options that could be relevant to the future of TWU – this is an open, generative process, i.e., "treating people as collaborators and idea generators."
• There will be multiple ways to contribute for all members of the TWU community.
• High participation will ensure all great ideas and all feedback will be voiced.
• Listening will be key with various times and mechanisms for TWU community members to share ideas and strategies regarding the future of our institution.
• Feedback loops embedded into the timeline will enable TWU community members to comment on the developing plan in a dynamic way to continually improve as we move forward. 
• Communications about the process will be shared on a regular basis.

The timeline for the process is still being developed but the outline includes several phases:

• Spring 2015 -- Organize the process, kick-off process with a retreat, listening sessions with the TWU community.
• Summer 2015 – Constitute committees, process listening session data, collect institutional data, identify emerging themes and priorities.
• Fall 2015 – Set vision for the next 25 years, refine themes and priorities, construct draft plan.
• Spring 2016 – Share draft plan with TWU community for input, incorporate feedback, present final plan to the TWU community.
• Fall 2016 – Develop operational plans by institutional units for short (3 years), medium (5 years) and long-term (7 years) and future (25 years) and tie into budgeting.

Invitations will be distributed soon for the initial retreat of the Strategic Priorities Steering Committee. If you are enthusiastic about participating in this process, we would love for you to let either Heather or David know. 

I’ll be back in touch with more information as the process unfolds. Thank you for your support and guidance during my initial months at TWU. Your ideas – and enthusiasm – contributed to the design of this process. I look forward to the exciting discussions that this strategic planning process will generate. Together we will create a rich future for Texas Woman’s University!

Best,

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D. 
Chancellor/President 
Texas Woman’s University
@TWUpres

"If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, that goes to his head. But if you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart." (Nelson Mandela)