M E M O R A N D U M

							May 11, 2010

To:		Members of the Board of Trustees

From:		Carl T. Hayden, Chairman

Subject:	Strategic Plan 2010 & Beyond

	I recommend that the Board of Trustees adopt the following resolution:

Whereas at the request of the Board of Trustees and under the leadership, of Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, the State University commenced efforts to develop a strategic plan to guide the future mission and programs of the State University; and 

Whereas in Phase I of the strategic planning process, during 2009 Chancellor Zimpher undertook a 64-campus tour of the State University, and met with faculty, staff, students, alumni groups, affiliate organizations, and community and business leaders  during her visits; and

Whereas to begin Phase II, SUNY formed a Strategic Planning Steering Committee comprised of campus presidents, staff, students and community members, and then between October 2009 and March 2010 conducted eight Statewide conversations at regional locations; and

Whereas campus presidents and State University affiliates nominated two hundred people (�Group of 200 Delegates�) to participate in the regional conversations, and the Group of 200 Delegates included a cross section of key State University stakeholders (faculty, system administrators, staff, students, alumni, foundation staff, community leaders and others linked to State University campuses); and  

Whereas teams of distinguished experts from within and outside of the State University comprised working groups that reviewed ideas and suggestions from the Statewide conversations, feedback from meetings of the Steering Committee and input from campus presidents, and completed reports that provided a high-level summary of the State University�s strengths, capabilities and key challenges and recommended initiatives to provide transformative solutions to meet these challenges; and 

Whereas  at the conclusion of this effort, the State University completed and promulgated on April 5, 2010 a blueprint for the State University�s future entitled �The Power of SUNY, Strategic Plan 2010 & Beyond�  (�Strategic Plan�; copy on file in the Office of the Secretary); and 

Whereas the Strategic Plan describes the State University�s  mission, core values, and six interdependent areas of opportunity and challenge (�Six Big Ideas�), and outlines programs for each Big Idea to take advantage of the opportunities and meet the challenges; and

Whereas the Six Big Ideas are:  SUNY and the Entrepreneurial Century, SUNY and the Seamless Education Pipeline, SUNY and a Healthier New York, SUNY and an Energy Smart New York, SUNY and the Vibrant Community, and SUNY and the World; and,

Whereas the Strategic Plan recognizes that in a knowledge economy, institutions of higher education can--and must be--pivotal in generating growth and revitalizing communities, and provides that from 2010 forward, SUNY�s priority is the economic revitalization of the State of New York and a better quality of life of all its citizens; now, therefore, be it 

Resolved that the Board of Trustees endorses the Strategic Plan and supports the implementation of the Strategic Plan, the Six Big Ideas and the programs outlined therein; and, be it further 

Resolved that the Chancellor be, and hereby is, authorized to implement the Strategic plan and to develop metrics by which progress in achieving the goals and programs of the Strategic Plan may be measured; and, be it further

Resolved that the Chancellor shall report annually in April to the Board of Trustees the State University�s progress in meeting the goals and implementing the programs of the Strategic Plan; and, be it further

Resolved that the Board of Trustees commends Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher for her efforts in the development of the Strategic Plan. 



-2-
Board Resolution		May 11, 2010