Haas sets strategic goals for university

President Thomas J. Haas issued a report today citing how the university’s nimble and efficient past has set a stable course that positions the university well in the national conversation about higher education and in meeting Michigan’s economic needs.
 
The president outlined the past year’s accomplishments and set an agenda for this year’s goals as part of his annual reopening of the academic year. When stating the strategic goals, Haas urged the campus community to embrace a reputation as the state’s “most innovative, creative and entrepreneurial university.”

Goals included the following:
• Ensuring academic programs are accessible for today’s students;
• Improving facilities and opening new learning environments;
• Becoming aggressive in student recruitment and retention;
• Broadening the donor base and capitalizing on the new “Laker for a Lifetime” campaign.

“The ground is shifting significantly in the national conversation about higher education and its value in today’s society,” Haas wrote. “In spite of the many financial and cultural pressures we are experiencing, Grand Valley will continue to be smart and nimble enough to serve our students and ensure a stable future in which we will thrive."


In the report, Haas cited campus highlights from the past year that range from prestigious students scholarships to athletic championships to noteworthy faculty. He also discussed Grand Valley’s economic impact in West Michigan and the state. For example, the Small Business Training and Development Center, housed at Grand Valley, reached out to thousands of business owners throughout Michigan and opened a downtown Detroit office.

“When the Business Leaders for Michigan stated the areas in which higher education should be measured, we were already meeting more than half of the goals for 2015,” Haas wrote.