Strategic Advantages

Task Force

In the current political and economic environment it is clear that universities must have a strategic plan that provides the "roadmap" for disciplined allocation of resources over a long period of time to build the requisite infrastructure and other elements of program distinction. To achieve stature, the University must identify a carefully defined set of "strategic advantages" which provide the points of reference for positioning the institution uniquely in the world of higher education. Thus, unique facilities, outstanding faculty, environmental assets, potential partners, and other potential university resources must lead us to define a set of areas in which we will achieve high stature. The areas must be chosen such that MU is positioned well in the competitive environment. These identified strategic advantages will become key elements for the strategic plan, much like the mission statement, values, and other foundational MU principles.

Last Spring the Strategic Advantages Task Force was charged with identifying the key strategic advantages that have potential to position MU uniquely in the world of higher education. The recommendations from the Task Force are outlined here:

Strategic Advantages Task Force Final Report

Below you will find links to survey data, summaries, and documents which demonstrate the intersections of the identified strategic advantages with each other and with our signature programs:

• Task Force Charge and Timeline
• Preliminary Ideas from the Task Force
• Faculty Survey Reponses
• Student Survey Responses
• Staff Survey Responses
• Brian Foster's Take of the Faculty Input
• Comparison of Signature Programs with Identified Strategic Advantages