Rockhurst University Strategic Planning 2006-2007
An Invitation from the
President to Join in Creating a Shared Vision
There is a time in the liturgical calendar during
Advent when we are asked to live in the tension
between the “already” and the “not
yet.” This means we are called to be people
of joyful anticipation, awaiting the second coming,
while currently participating in building up the
kingdom of God. We, the Rockhurst University
community, find ourselves in a similar place and
time: called during AY 06-07 to responsibly address
immediate fiscal and education-related issues,
while simultaneously envisioning the shared future
we seek to create.
The pages that follow characterize a fourteen-month
planning process to help us discern elements of
a university strategy -- firmly grounded in our
mission and core Jesuit values -- that distinguishes
what we do and how we do it in ways that students,
donors and others find compelling and perceive
as valuable. I invite each member of the Rockhurst
University community to involve herself or himself
in this process. We began an essential part of
our university planning process in early August
with the first in a series of twelve Town
Meetings. Town Meetings are helping us [1]
shape our shared vision statement; [2] identify
Rockhurst University ’s strengths and necessary
resources; and [3] identify what stakeholders feel
should be the “defining characteristics” of
Rockhurst University ’s unique and distinctive
identity. These community conversations will carry
forward into Planning Phases III and IV, during
which broadly constituted planning work groups help
the University’s new Planning and Budgeting
Committee identify strategic goals and supporting
initiatives and develop the metrics and means for
measuring progress toward achieving our goals.
It is my hope that we present Rockhurst University’s
Strategic Plan 2007-2012 to the Board of Trustees
for approval in September 2007.
The process we employ to conduct university-level
strategic planning in AY 06-07 invites every member
of the Rockhurst community to participate and to
be heard. I cannot promise that every suggestion
or view will be represented in the final plan.
I can promise that each of you will have chances
to participate in the process and to be heard.
As people of joyful anticipation, let us join together
in building up the kingdom of God through our shared
ministry for Rockhurst University’s already
and the yet to come.
Sincerely,
Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S.
President |
