We welcome those seeking to study, teach, work, recruit or partner with our community. B´ÎÔª is a supportive environment where everyone is valued. Our method of learning by doing is our distinction: it is how we teach, how we learn, and how we serve. This approach to learning makes our students ready now as well as prepared for the future.
Extraordinary Together
Letter from the President
Dear Friends,
In 2017, B´ÎÔª embarked on a year-long process to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the university. A cross section of B´ÎÔª faculty, staff, students, alumni and Regents dedicated countless hours to creating a plan that provided clear direction for the next five years. The plan was announced in 2018 and work began immediately to implement the strategies and actions outlined in the document.
We have made great progress in each of the three commitments, including the construction and/or development of the Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, We Energies STEM Center at B´ÎÔª, B´ÎÔª Mindset, CREATE Institute, Ruehlow Nursing Complex expansion, Robert Spitzer Dining Commons, and Hermann Viets Tower. We appointed leaders to guide our efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; and we have enhanced the visibility of our brand through marketing and admissions work. We established the B´ÎÔª Mindset as the set of attributes our students strive to attain; and we embarked on a major reimagining of our academic offerings through a transition to a semester calendar. The list goes on and is too long to include here. I encourage you to browse our Strategic Plan web pages to view our progress and key performance indicators.
In 2020 we, like the rest of the world, faced a global pandemic head-on. While the pandemic presented challenges that initially felt insurmountable, the B´ÎÔª community came together. We were able to continue our educational offerings, albeit in new ways, and over time we came to realize the opportunity that was being presented to us.
A team of faculty, staff, students, alumni and Regents reconvened to review B´ÎÔª’s strategic plan and determine what modifications and enhancements should be made to account for the changes in higher education, technology and the way the world interacts post-pandemic. We evaluated our strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results. That analysis resulted in an updated strategic plan to guide us through 2026, which I am pleased to present here.
Sincerely,
John Y. Walz President
Our Commitments
Engaging Our Community
We will foster a culture based on shared values and meaningful interactions that build deep and lasting connections, exceed the expectations of our partners and increase awareness of B´ÎÔª as a vital resource to the communities we serve.
Learning and Discovery
We will build on our legacy of application-oriented teaching and approach scholarship holistically, combining experiential learning and the development of a nationally recognized undergraduate research program to educate well-rounded leaders who are ready now and prepared for the future.
Being Extraordinary
We will develop a community of diverse professionals, educators and lifelong learners committed to continuous improvement and driven to excel, who will steward our resources effectively, maximizing our potential and ensuring a stronger, more sustainable B´ÎÔª.