CU to lead universities in global learning
Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson along with Provost Phil DiStefano presented the final draft of the Flagship 2030 Strategic Plan to the CU community Monday night at an open-forum held at Old Main Chapel.
“The vision of the plan is that by year 2030 the University of Colorado at Boulder will become a leading model of the ‘new flagship university’ in the United States,” Peterson said.
The main goal of the project is to redefine learning and discovery in a global context and set new standards in education and scholarship that will benefit Colorado and the world.
The Flagship 2030 Strategic Plan presents what should be done but not how turning CU into a flagship university will be done. At no point during the discussion was the term “flagship university” defined.
However, the audience could gather from the presentation that a “flagship university” refers to the standard for the public universities of the new century.
The vision for Flagship 2030 reflects the viewpoint of hundreds of people, including faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and leaders in the business industry and government.
“We want people of the whole state to feel like they’re involved along with those on campus,” Peterson said.
Input was obtained from fourteen Colorado communities, representing all regions of the state, on how CU can best serve the needs of Colorado.
Six local leaders from each community answered the questions, “What will Colorado be like in the year 2030?” and “How can CU-Boulder best serve the state?” The representatives interviewed from each state included the mayor, the school superintendent, the publisher of a local newspaper and an active high school parent leader.
Provost DiStefano presented the core areas of the Flagship 2030 approach, which include teaching, scholarship, creative works, and research.
“These areas are so important, we absolutely have to work on them to stay competitive,” DiStefano said.
Three of the goals were briefly summarized: Hire an additional 300 faculty members over the next 10 years, increase the number of graduate students to 20 percent (5,000 to 6,000) of the overall student population and enhance diversity and build a more welcoming environment.
Chancellor Peterson also spelled out what is necessary for CU to fulfill its potential as Colorado’s flagship university.
If all goes to the chancellor’s plan, in the year 2030 CU Boulder will be a place that is intellectually inspiring, is a dynamic global force, exemplifies diversity, promotes Colorado, prepares students and is an agile institution, he said.
“We want to be viewed as a national and international university,” Peterson said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sarah Ruybalid at sarah.ruybalid@thecampuspress.com
