6:50 p.m., March 26, 2008--The University's Strategic Planning Committee has issued a letter to the University community. The letter is printed here.

March 26, 2008

Dear University of Delaware Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of the Strategic Planning Committee, we are pleased to let you know that our committee has finished its report and has delivered it to President Harker. It will be published on the University's Web site on April 8th.

We encourage you to take a close look at the report. It recommends a handful of strategic initiatives that will move the University of Delaware forward on the path to national and international prominence. It is not meant to be the final word on our goals and aspirations, but rather a plan for how we can marshal our collective energies and achieve the greatest impact and recognition.

This planning process started last fall with conversations about the future direction of the University of Delaware. Our committee benefited greatly from the suggestions that you provided us in more than 100 meetings and 600 e-mail messages. To make the Strategic Plan we are offering a reality, we will all need to continue these conversations together and act on the recommendations.

On Saturday, May 10th, President Harker will host a University of Delaware Forum on campus, and he will take that occasion to deliver his State of the University speech and to respond to the Strategic Plan. The forum will also feature panels and plenary talks related to elements of the Strategic Plan.

We thank you once again for your participation and input, and look forward to working with you in the next steps of this exciting process.

Debra Hess Norris and Mark Barteau
Co-chairs of the UD Strategic Planning Committee