The University of Windsor announced yesterday it is embarking upon a strategic planning process that will help reshape the institution as it moves forward in a time of global change and opportunity. Input from the public will be critical to helping inform the institution’s short- and long-term goals over the next five years.

The University began preliminary planning on the strategy — Aspire: Together for Tomorrow — in spring 2021, and over the next several months it will share a series of opportunities for the community to engage in discussions and consultations to set a foundation for the institution’s mission, vision, and strategic direction.

University of Windsor president Robert Gordon said the plan will be one of the University’s most important navigational tools. The final plan will establish benchmarks to measure progress, establish public accountability reporting, and determine how resources and energies are directed.

The University’s current strategic plan is more than a decade old, and a new one is needed to provide a robust framework to enhance the University’s ability to address local and global challenges and opportunities These include:

• advancing research that will benefit a dynamic society with changing needs;
• engaging the community in thoughtful ways that make a difference;
• meeting the needs of an increasingly international population;
• transforming educational experiences to better enable students to embark on emerging careers and life-long learning;
• transitioning infrastructure and processes to embody sustainability; and
• acting on equity, diversity, and inclusion to empower not only the campus, but those in the institution’s many communities.

The University will engage and consult with on- and off-campus communities, collect data, and assess feedback through to next spring. The strategic plan will be developed in spring and summer, with the approval process taking place in fall 2022.

The University of Windsor is proud to be an anchor institution in the Windsor-Essex region, and a committed partner in the region and beyond.

It invites the community to follow the development of the plan, share insights, and participate in the coming consultations. More information and ongoing updates can be found by visiting engageuwindsor.ca.