March 18, 2008

Strategic plan working groups complete and present white papers

After three months of meetings, forums and focus groups, the strategic plan working groups turned in their white papers on Feb. 26.

The eight groups followed up with a public presentation of their efforts on March 3.

The presentations and the white papers can be found on the strategic plan Web site at www.purdue.edu/strategic_plan/2007-13/whitepapers.html.

"The groups did a phenomenal job meeting with constituents, gathering information and pulling  all of the ideas together in their white papers," says Rab Mukerjea, director of strategic planning and assessment.

The working groups talked to more than 2,000 people in interviews, meetings, focus groups and public forums. The economic development group also held several regional focus groups, spanning the state from Fort Wayne to Evansville.

A blog on the strategic plan Web site provided another way for the groups to gather input. The site has received more than 38,000 hits since its debut in mid-December. More than 700 comments have been posted.

"We encourage people to look at the white papers and continue to provide their comments and observations through the blog," Mukerjea says. "The input will be valuable as the Strategic Plan Steering Committee develops a draft plan."

The blog is available at www.purdue.edu/strategic_plan/comments.

The 18-member Strategic Planning Steering Committee will synthesize the white papers to develop a draft of the strategic plan. The draft is expected to be ready for review and discussion by early spring.

President France A. Córdova will finalize the draft plan in late spring before it goes to the Board of Trustees for review. Final approval is expected at or after the Trustees' June meeting.