Power of SUNY

Phase 2 Statewide Conversations

To begin Phase II of the Strategic Plan, SUNY formed a Strategic Planning Steering Committee comprised of campus presidents, staff, students and community members. This Committee vets and prioritizes themes and objectives for SUNY's statewide conversations and frames strategic actions necessary to realize the full dimensions of the plan. The Steering Committee regularly provided updates to the Strategic Planning Task Force of the SUNY Board of Trustees.

During Phase II of the Strategic Plan, SUNY conducted eight statewide conversations at regional locations selected to maximize outreach and participation. Sessions were held in New York City, Albany, Buffalo, Delhi, Stony Brook, Plattsburgh and Syracuse. Campus presidents and SUNY affiliates nominated two hundred people to participate in these conversations. These individuals represented a cross section of key SUNY stakeholders and include faculty, system administrators, staff, students, alumni, foundation staff, community leaders and others linked to our campuses. These SUNY representatives were expected to participate in at least five of the eight statewide conversations.

Each day-long conversation had a structured dialogue, organized in a way for participants to consider, evaluate, and prioritize the challenges and opportunities facing SUNY. The meetings' format included a guest speaker, opportunities for full group Q&A, a break-out session for small groups to work on the development and prioritization of themes and goals, and an open forum session. Portions of the statewide meetings were webcast. During Phase II, Chancellor Zimpher continued to meet with SUNY campus presidents, the SUNY Board of Trustees and other key stakeholder groups to seek their collective input and brief them on our progress.

In addition, teams of distinguished experts from within and outside of SUNY comprised the working groups.  Each working group was assigned a theme or infrastructure issue.  These working groups reviewed ideas and suggestions from the stateside conversations, feedback from meetings of the Steering Committee and input from the SUNY campus presidents.  In the spring of 2010, the working groups completed reports that provided a high-level summary of SUNY’s strengths, capabilities and key challenges it faces, and recommend initiatives by which SUNY can provide transformative solutions to meet these challenges.