The five-year strategic plan includes goals to become a top-25 university by 2027.
Courtesy of USF
By Molly Ryan
A new strategic plan seeks to bring the University of South Florida to “new heights,” according to USF Interim President Rhea Law.
On Jan. 27, the Office of the President announced that the State University System of Florida Board of Governors (BOG) unanimously approved USF’s five-year strategic plan, “In Pursuit of Excellence.”
The 51-page plan serves as a “roadmap to advance [USF’s] mission over the next five years” and will position the university as a “powerful engine of prosperity for the future,” according to Law.
In December of 2020, former USF President Steve Currall kickstarted the development of a 10-year plan geared toward becoming a top-25 research university. While the plan, titled “A Blueprint for a Bold Future: Where Academic Excellence and Opportunity Converge,” was approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2021, it has since been redeveloped.
With the new plan finalized, the Law administration has since proven more ambitious by aiming to rank within the top 25 of all public universities in the country by 2027.
“Our plan will further strengthen USF’s position within the ranks of the top public universities in the nation while serving our students and addressing critical challenges within our communities,” Law said in the announcement. “We are confident it will guide our institution to new heights.”
The plan outlines five major goals that the university aims to implement over the next five years: “Student success at USF and beyond,” “faculty excellence in research and innovation,” “partnership and engagement with local, national and global impact,” “a diverse and inclusive community for learning” and “a strong, sustainable and adaptable financial base.”
Taking effect in July, the plan hopes to capture USF’s momentum as America’s fastest rising university and solidify its position as a top-25 public university, as well as a membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU): A coalition of 66 universities that are “on the leading edge of innovation, scholarship and solutions that contribute to scientific progress, economic development, security and well-being,” according to the AAU’s website.
The strategic plan details the university’s strengths across all three campuses, its aspirations to welcome new programs while building upon existing ones.
Also aiming to maximize USF’s current $6 billion annual economic impact, the plan aims to do so through strengthening community partnerships and utilizing its proximity to a rapidly developing Tampa Bay region to support Florida’s goal of becoming a top-10 global economy by 2030.
According to the announcement, the BOG’s approval is the “culmination of an extensive process that included outreach to many stakeholder groups, including faculty, students, staff, alumni, business and community leaders throughout the Tampa Bay region and Florida.”
“I am pleased to see that USF’s strategic plan for the next five years sets a course to continue their trajectory of excellence, and commitment to the success of their students, faculty, staff and the entire Tampa Bay region,” said BOG Chair Brian Lamb in the announcement. “The plan raises the bar on performance and accountability goals and aligns closely with our strategic vision for the State University System.”
In the months leading up to the plan’s implementation, USF leadership will work with deans, academic and administrative leaders to ensure its success.
To learn more about USF’s strategic plan, visit usf.edu/strategic-plan/
