UUP Binghamton

Nancy Zimpher, SUNY’s relatively new chancellor, has created a four phase strategic planning process, http://www.suny.edu/strategicplan/. The first, the “Chancellor’s 64-Campus Tour,” has been completed. The second, “Statewide Conversations,” has begun and runs through February 15, 2010. Phases III and IV, “Launch the Strategic Plan” and “Implementation and Accountability,” will follow with the last phase running until 2020.

“Statewide Conversations” will begin the week of October 21, 2009 at Hudson Community College and end the week of February 15, 2010 at Upstate Medical University, http://www.suny.edu/strategicplan/schedule.cfm. The chancellor’s ambitious plan provides for a full day of presentations and conversations with many constituents at each stop. In addition, she has encouraged everyone to submit information to her, http://www.suny.edu/chancellor/shareyourideas.cfm, so she can obtain the most complete view of where SUNY should move.

Other information regarding her plan, including the committee’s members and the planning structure, is available at the website noted above.

We applaud her attempts to first understand the complexity of SUNY with its diverse mission and then her ambitious plans to focus SUNY’s efforts in support of New York State’s economic goals. She has committed to involving UUP and its members in a significant way. We applaud that as well.

UUP encourages you to spend a few minutes exploring her website and submitting your feelings regarding the path SUNY should take over the next ten years.