Current Reports

The Highest Order of Excellence, 2005-2010 (196K) is Northwestern University's strategic plan that provides a flexible set of strategies and a framework for leveraging strengths, addressing areas of weakness, and developing those aspects of our teaching and research programs that give us distinction. The document describes broad, flexible ideas aimed at moving the University toward an overarching interdisciplinary vision. The vision is broken down into three parts: Faculty and the Environment for Creative Work; Students and the Environment for Learning; The Enabling Infrastructure.

The Abstract from the self-study on interdisciplinary teaching and research conducted for the Higher Learning Commission accreditation review (124K) provides background information for readers of the Highest Order of Excellence Planning Framework. It focuses on key questions about the meaning and significance of interdisciplinarity at Northwestern.

Older Reports

Administrative Infrastructure Planning Committee Report (2004) (108K, NetID Authentication required) outlines the recommendations of a working group representing key administrative perspectives across the University charged with assessing Northwestern's administrative infrastructure resources and prioritizing where investments can/should be made to best support the faculty and students in their educational and research missions.

Report to the Community: Implementation of The Highest Order of Excellence, 1998-2002 (412K) describes Northwestern University's original strategic plan outlining goals for 1998 to 2002, and providing the foundation for the current planning framework.

The Highest Order of Excellence I, 1997-2003 (157K) is the original planning framework that lays the foundation for Highest Order of Excellence II. It focuses on Northwestern's collaborative traditions as an institutional advantage.

One Northwestern

One Northwestern is a comprehensive initiative to integrate Northwestern's resources and talents in the biomedical and life sciences to strengthen the University's role as a leader and innovator in an increasingly multi-disciplinary environment.

Provost Daniel Linzer said, "One Northwestern will promote new interactions and science across both campuses and the hospitals, leveraging collective strengths to produce one of the most important life sciences transformations in Northwestern history. This is a major step forward that builds on the significant investments during the last 25 years that have contributed to the growth and stature of our biomedical and life sciences enterprise."