| July 10, 2012

July 10, 2012

Strategic Direction Update

“Where do we go from here?”

Preparations are underway for the first UA Strategic Direction Initiative (SDI) statewide meeting of the new fiscal year to be held in Fairbanks on July 23. The group attending will begin identifying and addressing the issues and ideas that came from the 80 SDI listening sessions conducted in FY 2012.

“Then What?”

After the issues have been identified, UA faculty and staff will identify a collection of paths that can be taken to achieve the desired results. Resource requirements and cost benefits of each path will be addressed.

UA Faculty and staff will determine which paths are best to achieve desired results.

UA will implement and monitor the changes or innovations made, continue to assess achievements, and move toward ongoing improvements.

“Why are we doing this?”

- Universities are facing major challenges caused by budget cuts, competition, student mobility, e-learning and related changing technology.

- UA needs to address growing competition from private sector businesses and alternative delivery systems; provide more choices to students; and to better meet student needs and the needs of the market.

- With Alaska oil production declining and pressure to reduce state funding mounting, UA must be proactive in implementing changes needed to avoid a crisis situation.

- In this climate we need to demonstrate appropriate stewardship of state resources, document and improve how UA serves the people of Alaska and highlight the exciting changes and developments underway at the university.

“What is your role in SDI?”

It is everyone’s role to be a part of “Shaping Alaska’s future” and help make UA a better and stronger University in the 21^st century. Be proactive, ask questions of your department manager, your dean, or anyone in a leadership role and find out how you can get involved. To find out more about SDI, please click here!