A Note from President Christopher C. Dahl
In the work of the Strategic Planning Group, Geneseo seeks a planning process that focuses pointedly on a straightforward statement of our mission and a few overarching goals that guide the activities of all units within the institution's process that seeks to bring together all aspects of our operations as a public liberal arts college. By focusing on a succinct mission and a manageable number of broad institutional goals (that is to say, by being truly strategic in our planning), we can most effectively direct our myriad efforts, allocate our resources, and assess our progress in improving what we do. That is why, for example, our mission and goals are so important to the new strategic budget process. The new Mission Statement and the proposed Overarching Goals build coherently on the progress made under A Quest for Excellence even as they define new areas for creativity and growth. Above all they seek to define, articulate, and implement our vital role as a leading public liberal arts college. Drawing from the best in the liberal arts tradition, but doing so in the context of a public institution, Geneseo has the opportunity to become a model for other excellent institutions and build upon our national rankings and reputation to establish a broader, more diverse constituency of students, alumni, friends, partners, and supporters. As we claim national recognition, moreover, we commit ourselves to systematic institutional assessment and improvement.
This is an exciting process. True strategic planning of the sort we are called upon to do starts with community-wide discussion of our mission and goals:
- What is our essence as a public liberal arts college?
- How does the institution most effectively express its aspirations to its own community and external constituents?
- How does the College expect to realize its aspirations and what roles do individual members and units play along the way?