We owe a great deal to our predecessors for taking wise, bold, and sensible steps. The University has always been a place where today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow is better than today. We plan because we are obligated to making the University of Richmond the best it can be a leader in higher education where continuous improvement is the norm. Thus, despite our many competencies, we challenge ourselves to innovate and to improve, because we are committed to leaving behind a better university than we inherited. We also plan because the University of Richmond is not an island.
Higher education is a competitive marketplace for students, faculty, and administrative personnel.
I say this without pretense, but with a firm belief that we are special and we aim to be the very best. Though the University has steadily extended its reach and exposure, we sometimes forget that the University of Richmond is not well known. For the sake of our students, we must challenge ourselves to broaden our horizons. There are many ways to plan, and the process normally reflects a combination of the president s views on planning in conjunction with the present conditions facing the University. The Planning and Priorities Committee played a major role in leading an effort that articulated 68 specific goals and spread resources throughout the University.