Updated Strategic PlanNing Themes

January 2013

These broad themes are intended to guide the creation of the university’s strategic plan, along with external data and internal input that will help identify specific goals and priorities. The strategic planning themes were updated by the Planning Leadership in January 2013 to reflect input from numerous discussions with faculty, staff and students, as well as feedback from hundreds of alumni emails. Input from the university community identified the importance of embracing ideas such as collaboration, diversity and continuous improvement, which are reflected in a new theme, "Enhancement of Organizational Effectiveness."

The first version of the strategic planning themes, shared with the Marquette community in August 2012, can be viewed here.

Pursuit of Academic Excellence for Human Well-being: Marquette’s fundamental characteristic is its commitment to innovative academic excellence. Marquette is further distinguished by its history of offering a professional education informed by the humanities and sciences. These academic strengths will be the primary focus of our planning and will be directed toward serving the wellbeing of the world, a tradition established by the earliest leaders of Jesuit higher education. This pursuit of excellence combines with our historic commitment to educational access.

Research in Action: Marquette is increasingly recognized for the collaborative research and scholarship undertaken by our faculty and students. Research at Marquette has a strong sense of purpose and action, whether it is through the extension of knowledge beyond existing boundaries, the development of solutions to the world’s most pressing problems or the search for answers to life’s deepest questions.

Social Responsibility and Community Engagement: Marquette’s students, faculty, staff and alumni live out a deep commitment to serving others and promoting solidarity and the common good. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, Marquette has a special responsibility to contribute to needed solutions for urgent problems. Given the knowledge and expertise of our faculty and staff, Marquette must broaden opportunities for strategic partnerships throughout the world and particularly in Milwaukee.

Formation of the Mind and the Heart: Just as the earliest Jesuits embraced the values of humanism, the Marquette community is committed to developing each individual’s full potential across the entire range of human experience. In an increasingly diverse environment, we will continue to draw on our special gift for intellectual, emotional and spiritual transformation.

Enhancement of Organizational Effectiveness: Marquette prepares students to work effectively in a world of complex organizations, teams, and institutions, by encouraging them to acquire and practice crucial communication skills, cultural sensitivity, global awareness, and leadership experience, both inside and outside the classroom. The university similarly seeks to make itself a learning organization that embraces diversity and asks its employees to commit to a culture of respectful collaboration, personal wellness and continuous improvement, in order to grow Marquette's reputation as one of the country’s premier employers in higher education.

Sustainability of Valuable Resources: As recent Jesuit documents remind us, globalization, technology, and environmental concerns have “challenged our traditional boundaries and have enhanced our awareness that we bear a common responsibility” for the welfare of the university and the entire world. Marquette will reflect a commitment to responsible stewardship of human, financial, physical and environmental resources.

Office of the President

Strategic planning

About strategic planning

The Marquette community has committed to creating a comprehensive, university-wide strategic plan to submit to the University Board of Trustees in May 2013. When completed, the strategic plan will provide a blueprint to guide the university's priorities and decision-making for the next five to seven years. This strategic planning website is established as a vehicle for the campus community to learn about the strategic planning process and provide feedback.