Strategic Plan

Updates on the UNCW Strategic Planning Process

January 9, 2023 

Please take a few moments to watch a video update about UNCW’s next strategic plan (posted on the Strategic Plan site homepage). 

The Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee is making great progress and requests your continued participation in this important process. Check out the feedback and workgroup buttons to the right.

Oct. 13, 2022

Office of University Relations sent the message below to students, faculty and staff on behalf of the Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee.   

Members of the UNCW community are invited to participate in one of three interactive, drop-in workshops to give their input for the next university strategic plan to help shape UNCW’s future. 

The workshops are opportunities to respond to “big questions” about UNCW’s mission, vision, institutional values and strategic priorities. The Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee is interested in hearing constituents’ thoughts about what type of institution we should be in the next 10 years.  

Participants can mark responses on posters and engage with committee members in discussion about the university’s strategic plan. A Qualtrics survey will be available for feedback from those individuals unable to attend any of these sessions. The survey will also be available on the strategic plan website. 

Dates, Times and Locations: 

  • Tuesday, Oct.18: Education Building Room 162, 9-11:30 a.m. 
  • Wednesday, Oct.19: Hoggard Hall Room 116, 1:30-4 p.m. 
  • Thursday, Oct. 20: McNeill Hall Room 1051, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Note for campus visitors: please see the university’s visitor parking information when planning to attend a session. 

Questions or concerns: 
Steering Committee Co-Chairs  
Provost Jamie Winebrake winebrakej@uncw.edu 
Faculty Senate President Nathan Grove groven@uncw.edu 
Staff Senate Chair Susan Smith smithsg@uncw.edu 
Strategic Planning Facilitator, Associate Provost Andy Mauk mauka@uncw.edu 

Sept. 8, 2022

The 2022-23 Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee held its first meeting of the academic year. Chancellor Aswani K. Volety met with the committee to review expectations and responsibilities. The SDPSC also held initial discussions about using the June 2022 "Strengths, Opportunities, and Challenges" report (see below) to begin shaping potential priority areas for feedback during campus and community townhalls and fora.

Strategic Planning Process Update

June 13, 2022

During the spring 2022 semester, the 2021-22 SDPSC continued its work by holding a series of internal workshops, discussions, and meetings to review data collected from a feedback survey sent broadly to campus stakeholders as part of the chancellor search process. Dr. Aswani K. Volety was named Chancellor, effective July 1, 2022.

Through these workshops, the committee affirmed the findings from the Search Committee Constituent Input Report, while also refining the data into a summary report for Chancellor Volety. 

Share Your Input about UNCW’s Strategic Design and Planning

May 2, 2022

Many thanks to the Seahawks who were able to attend UNCW’s Strategic Design and Planning webinar on April 27. If you missed the webinar, the recording and a copy of the presentation are available online.  

Input Requested by May 18
We value your thoughts about the strengths, opportunities and challenges the committee presented. Please share your input via this anonymous survey managed by Institutional Research and Planning. The opportunity to offer feedback through the survey will be available throughout our strategic planning process; however, the committee requests your input for immediate review by Wednesday, May 18, so they can incorporate into work over the summer. 

Thank you, 
Committee Co-Chairs 

Dr. Nathan Grove, Faculty Senate President & Professor, Chemistry  
Susan Smith, Former Staff Senate Chair, Member Services & Operations Coordinator, Campus Recreation  
Dr. James Winebrake, Provost & Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs

UNCW Engaged in Strategic Design and Planning Process

In spring 2021, UNCW launched an inclusive strategic design and planning process to build on the success of the current Strategic Plan, which was extended through 2022. The extension provides the university with time to plan for the next phase of UNCW’s future while also navigating the effects of the global pandemic.

The Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee

Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli announced formation of the Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee. The SDPSC comprises faculty, staff and students from across UNCW to represent a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives. The committee co-chairs are:  

See a full list of the Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee.

Committee Activities 

  • Review key literature and participate in trainings, workshops and discussions related to design thinking and strategic planning principles. 
  • Develop timeline and framework for strategic design and planning work through the 2021-22 academic year.  
  • Facilitate the collection of information from key campus stakeholders, including hosting campus fora and/or public discussions. 
  • Participate in regular meetings. 
  • Represent their respective constituencies through transparent communication. 
  • Translate input from constituents into overarching problem-solving and strategic priorities for campus. 
  • Identify campus constituents to comprise various workgroups related to problem-identification and strategic priorities. 
  • Collect information from workgroups to design strategic actions, goals, targets, and objectives.  
  • Craft and review draft reports that will ultimately lead to the final plan. 
  • Solicit endorsement from campus governing bodies. 

See more information about the SDPSC's activities.

Campus and Community Involvement Needed

When members of the SDPSC reach out to you for your input and support, please assist them in this important work. Your voice matters throughout this process. Have questions? Please contact one of the co-chairs.