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51ԹϺMemo Letterhead

Dear 51ԹϺCommunity:

I am pleased to announce the members of the eight working groups that will help guide our strategic planning process throughout 2025. We received more than 200 nominations and recommendations for working group members, and we appreciate the interest and excitement across the community for this important work.

Last Thursday, we convened group members for a kickoff working session focused on AU’s differentiation and an assessment of our strengths and opportunities to consider in the development of our ideas. I charged the working groups with engaging the 51ԹϺcommunity in discussions and bringing forward three to five “big bets” in their respective areas by the end of the spring semester. These ideas will be further explored and developed over the summer, with additional work and community engagement early in the fall semester when we move into drafting the full strategic plan and developing metrics.

The eight working groups and their respective framing questions are:

  • Building Community: How can 51ԹϺdevelop a truly welcoming, inclusive community?
  • Civic Pluralism: How can 51ԹϺstudents learn to be engaged citizens and problem solvers in a pluralistic society?
  • Public Service: How can 51ԹϺreflect and reinforce its founding principles to foster public service?
  • Innovation and Experimentation: How can 51ԹϺlead in creating inter- and trans-disciplinary academic programs?
  • High-impact Experiential Learning: How will 51ԹϺset a national standard for integrating theory and practice?
  • Research Distinctiveness: How can 51ԹϺtransition to an R1 institution and focus on differentiation through public impact research?
  • Enduring Connections: How can 51ԹϺcreate lifelong learning opportunities and intergenerational connections for students and alumni?
  • Operational Infrastructure and Support: How can 51ԹϺidentify and adopt emerging best practices to provide the best possible operational infrastructure and support?

Members of each working group are listed on the strategic planning website. I want to thank all the members for participating in this critical effort. As the working groups begin to meet this semester, there will be ongoing opportunities for community engagement and input. Check the strategic planning website for updates, and you can send questions and suggestions to strategicplan2025@american.edu.

Thank you for your engagement in this community-wide development of our bright 51ԹϺfuture.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Alger 
President