The University of Toledo’s strategic planning committee has been meeting during the past two months and collected more than 3,600 survey responses from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to chart a course for the institution’s next several years.
Based on the input, a sub-committee has been formed to explore updated mission, vision and values statements that specify a clear institutional purpose, identity and direction.
“The mission, vision and values form the guideposts of an institution’s navigational system,” said Dr. Mark Merrick, dean of the College of Health and Human Services and member of the committee. “The vision is the destination, the strategic plan is the map and the mission and values are the compass. To decide where we want to go as a University, it is important for us to affirm our core commitments and articulate our distinct strengths.”
The strategic planning committee has scheduled a series of town hall sessions to hear from University stakeholders about UToledo’s future direction. Sessions will be held in person on Main Campus and Health Science Campus and virtually during the coming weeks. Separate one-hour sessions have been set up for different stakeholder groups.
Merrick along with committee co-chairs Dr. Jason Huntley, associate professor of microbiology, and Dr. Anne Fulkerson, assistant vice provost for institutional research, will lead each session. Other representatives from the strategic planning committee also will attend.
The sessions will begin with a brief overview of the strategic planning process, after which participants will be asked to discuss the following questions:
• What impact should UToledo have, on whom and where?
• What core areas of focus would allow us to have this impact?
• What fundamental values will help us to have this impact?
• What are the most important things we should accomplish in the next 12 months?
• What else should be considered in developing our strategic plan?
Strategic planning discussion sessions
Students:
Tuesday, Jan. 25, at noon
Main Campus, Stranahan Hall Room 131
Grab and go lunches will be provided.
Tuesday, Feb. 1, at noon
Health Science Campus, Health Education Building Room 105
Grab and go lunches will be provided.
Faculty:
Wednesday, Jan. 26, at noon
Health Science Campus, Health Education Building Room 105
Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 4 p.m.
Main Campus, Stranahan Hall Room 131
Staff:
Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m.
Health Science Campus, Health Education Building Room 105
TBD***
** The Main Campus session with staff was moved to a virtual setting due to a forecasted winter storm.
*** The Main Campus session with staff originally scheduled for Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. is postponed and will be rescheduled.
Alumni:
Monday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.
Virtual via Webex
UTMC:
Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.
Virtual via Webex
UToledo Physicians:
Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m.
Virtual via Webex
All Voices:
Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon
Virtual via Webex
Community:
Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.**
Virtual via Webex
** The community session originally scheduled for Feb. 2 was moved to Feb. 17.
Individuals who want to provide their opinions but cannot attend the sessions are encouraged to submit their ideas via email at strategicplanning@utoledo.edu.
Drafts of the mission, vision and values statements will be shared at a second round of town hall events in March to gather feedback and continue to develop a final refined version.
Additional details about the strategic planning process can be found on the strategic plan website.
