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Invitation to Community Forum

October 17, 2011

Presentation of plan slated for Nov. 1 in Evanston and Nov. 2 in Chicago.

So where is Northwestern headed?

That question, and a number of related ones, will be answered Nov. 1 and 2 at meetings on the Evanston and Chicago campuses to present the University’s strategic plan. The culmination of nearly two years of work involving more than 140 members of the University community, the plan sets a direction for Northwestern University in the next decade.

On the Evanston campus, the plan will be presented at a meeting to be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in the Allen Center McCormick Foundation Auditorium, Room 164. On the Chicago campus, the plan presentation meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2 in Wieboldt Hall Room 147. A reception will follow each meeting. The meetings are open to all members of the Northwestern community.

“Under the leadership of Provost Dan Linzer, the strategic planning task forces did a terrific job of envisioning Northwestern’s future,” said President Morton Schapiro. “Then, the input from our faculty, administrative staff, students, trustees, alumni and others helped refine and shape that vision.”

At the meetings, President Schapiro and Provost Linzer will provide an overview of the plan and highlight the key goals that it establishes. Copies of the plan, which is now being finalized, will be distributed to all faculty and staff and will be available at the meetings and other locations on campuses. The plan also will be available online shortly before the meetings.

In the 1990s, Northwestern developed a strategic plan, “The Highest Order of Excellence,” and a follow-up plan that served as the framework for the University’s significant improvements of the past decade. That plan also was the launching pad for Campaign Northwestern, the $1.5 billion fundraising campaign that was completed successfully in 2003.

“I’m excited about our new strategic plan, and Dan and I look forward to sharing it with the community and putting it into action,” President Schapiro said.