Despite Delays, Plan for Pitt 2025 Forges Ahead

In January, work began on a strategic planning process to develop the Plan for Pitt 2025. Led by an 18-member steering committee that included stakeholders such as faculty and staff members from across units and regional campuses, the process aims to build on the legacy of the original strategic plan to define what success looks like.

The initial timeline had included presenting the Plan for Pitt 2025 in conjunction with the September 2020 Board of Trustees meeting; that timeline has been extended to provide the opportunity to consider implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has shown us the importance of resilience and of care in minimizing avoidable tragedy in our community,” said Vivian Curran, Distinguished Professor of Law and co-chair of the Plan for Pitt 2025 steering committee. “It also is highlighting some of the irreplaceable aspects of in-person teaching, learning and communicating.”

Initial feedback

The early stages of the planning process featured workshops, surveys and email feedback. More than 740 participants—including current students, faculty and staff—took part in the process via in-person information gathering sessions conducted at all five campuses. Additionally, the committee received nearly 900 survey responses, as well as 80 emails.

Read notes from the sessions on the Plan for Pitt 2025 website.

Approximately 85 members of the University community were then selected to serve on committees that considered each of the Plan for Pitt goals. Committees were charged with reviewing feedback from the information sessions and revising goals if necessary, as well as suggesting initiatives to support objectives and metrics that could be used to assess progress and outcomes.

The goals were revised for clarity and focus, but the overall intent of each goal remained intact; there were no recommendations to eliminate any goals or add new ones. Goal committees will submit objectives, initiatives, metrics and other recommendations to the steering committee at the end of May.

“As we continue to focus on the importance of community, the global nature of society in the 21st century will stay with us as we develop strategies for meeting our goals and responsibilities in the next years,” said Curran.

Next steps

Beginning in June, the steering committee will engage the chancellor’s senior leadership team for input in drafting a strategic plan. They hope to share the draft Plan for Pitt 2025 with the Pitt community this fall and finalize it for the Board of Trustees in February 2021.

There will be extensive opportunities for the Pitt community to provide feedback on the draft strategic plan in the fall through surveys, focus groups and small discussion groups. Updates and events will be posted to planforpitt.pitt.edu and the University Events Calendar. Immediate feedback can be shared via email at planforpitt [at] pitt.edu.