University Journal

Vision for the 21st Century: A Plan for Excellence

Strategic Planning at California State University, Fresno

The implementation phase of the university's strategic plan Vision for the 21st Century:

A Plan for Excellence was launched in the fall of 1998 following a two-year broadly-based campus planning process. The first reports of progress were received by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee in January 1999. These reports, referred to as Milestones Reports identify achievements we have made toward the implementation of plan goals. The Milestones Reports will be reviewed by the Steering Committee during the spring 1999 semester. Updates on progress toward meeting plan goals will be provided to the campus community in subsequent issues of the University Journal throughout the semester. We have made very solid progress as we continue our efforts to build the university we aspire to be in the 21st century.

In 1993, a vision of what California State University, Fresno should be like in the 21st century was developed in the university's strategic plan, Plan for the '90s, with the endorsement of the Academic Senate and the university administration.
In the fall of 1996, a broad-based university planning process was initiated which led to the establishment of a steering committee and nine task forces whose charge it was to review and evaluate the directions outlined in the Plan for the '90s.
Task force members met from December 1996 through March 1997 in order to review the plan, evaluate current and future priorities, and develop strategic goals in each of the task forces' areas of implementation.
A campuswide "charrette" process was held on May 7, 1997, to refine the goals identified by the task forces and narrow them down to those which met with widespread support as major goals for the future of the university. Over 200 faculty, staff, administrators, and community representatives participated in this event.
The strategic goals developed by the Steering Committee, task force members, and universitywide participants were endorsed by the Academic Senate in December 1997 and implementation planning for the campus strategic plan Vision for the 21st Century: A Plan for Excellence was launched in January 1998.
In March 1998, following 18 months of intensive planning by several hundred staff, faculty, administrators, and community representatives, the Steering Committee published the first phase of the university's ongoing plan the major goals to be achieved. A matrix of strategic plan goals, a general timeline, and assignment of responsibility to individuals and/or groups was established and disseminated to the campus community.
In May 1998, the Steering Committee reviewed reports which outlined implementation plans designed to achieve the university's goals. These reports were prepared by senior administrators responsible for oversight of goals related to their areas.
In the fall of 1998, the university community launched the implementation phase of the Plan for Excellence across all divisions of the university.
In September 1998, following a review of proposals, the Steering Committee allocated $460,000 of Plan for Excellence funding to support plan goals in six priority areas:
(1) Research and Scholarly Activities
(2) Recruitment and Retention of Faculty
(3) New College for Innovative Instruction
(4) Smittcamp Family Honors College
(5) Student Recruitment and Staff Development
(6) Marketing and Communication
In January 1999, the Steering Committee received progress reports on action taken to implement the plan's goals. These reports referred to as Milestones Reports identify efforts taken or currently under way to achieve the university's strategic goals.
Beginning in February 1999, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee will review the reports of progress on implementation of plan goals and provide updates to the campus community throughout the spring semester.

The Plan for Excellence is available on the home page of the university's web site at hyperlink http://www.csufresno.edu. Printed copies are available in the Office of the President.

Strategic Planning Steering Committee Members, 1998-99

Nancy Bleile, Chair, Joint Labor Council

Chandra Brahma, Chapter President, California Faculty Association

JoAnn Collins, Project Administrator, Administrative Services

Luis Costa, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities

David Emerzian, President, Associated Students Inc.

Fred Evans, Dean, The Sid Craig School of Business

Michael Gorman, Dean, Henry Madden Library

James Kus, Chair, Academic Senate

Sandra A. MacNevin, Executive Assistant to the President

J. Michael Ortiz, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, ad interim

Jeannine Raymond, Director, Human Resources