Magazine News

We begin the next evolution for Marquette

The Board of Trustees officially endorsed Marquette University’s strategic plan in May. That means the hard work of implementing the plan is now under way.

Marquette Magazine asked three members of the Strategic Plan Coordinating Committee what they see in the strategic plan that will help Marquette face critical challenges during the next decade.

Dr. Mary DiStanislao
Executive vice president

The plan will help Marquette take on the challenge of creating new knowledge to stay relevant in a crowded higher education landscape, says DiStanislao.

“The strategic planning process got us on our way because it crossed traditional boundaries between faculty and administrators. Working across silos will be important as we develop curricula and programs that will be relevant to students of the future.”

Tim Rippinger
Senior associate vice president in University Advancement

Evolving as an institution with relevance in the world is one of the top outcomes of the strategic plan identified by Rippinger.

“At a time when higher education is under increasing pressure to change from its traditional model, the strategic plan provides important ‘guideposts’ for Marquette to evolve in bold and innovative ways that are both relevant to the world and consistent with our mission. For instance, many of the objectives mention cross-disciplinary actions. The ‘guidepost’ there is for us to apply our individual and institutional talents to improve the world around us.”

Dr. Sandra Hunter
Associate professor of exercise science in the College of Health Sciences

Hunter points to the expressed commitment to move into the top quarter of national universities ranked by U.S. News & World Report and the investment in collaborative, focused areas of basic and applied research. She believes both will have long-term benefits.

“Marquette graduates will have an edge in the employment market, and Marquette University will be able to attract high-caliber graduate students who are drawn to the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research. All of the consequences of achieving those objectives will help Marquette become a destination university for the best students and faculty members.” — LCS

Learn more online
The strategic planning process seeks to address challenges and opportunities the university and higher education will face during the next five to seven years. Read the strategic plan online at marquette.edu/strategicplan.