When we first set out to develop Rowing, Not Drifting 2030, UNC’s ten-year strategic plan, I was inspired by the collective interest and enthusiasm displayed by our community members. There was a great deal of excitement around setting the vision for the university’s future — knowing that the decade ahead could be a transformative period for our institution.
When Phase 1 of the strategic plan began in 2020, we could not have predicted all of the challenges that we were about to address as we collectively entered a pandemic. Even through turbulent times, our community, including alumni and friends, rallied together to continue the important work of making progress toward longer-term goals, while maintaining a focus on providing an engaging and enriching educational experience for our students. Guided by the five vision elements — Students First, Empower Inclusivity, Enhance & Invest, Innovate & Create, and Connect & Celebrate — we remained committed to “rowing” together in support of the key actions and tactics identified.
As we turn our energy and focus to Phase 2, we will continue to build on the foundational work that was accomplished over the past two years. And while there are new key actions and tactics that were developed with feedback from the university community, we continue to align our efforts with the core vision we articulated at the outset of our planning process. All of this work is in service to and benefits from a collaborative effort with our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community. For UNC to become the institution that Colorado looks to as the future of higher education, it will take a collective effort from many partners. I thank everyone for their contributions to this point and look forward to our continued collaboration on advancing our strategic initiatives in the months and years ahead.
In this edition of UNC Magazine, you will read about some of our efforts in support of Rowing, Not Drifting 2030, including the university’s innovative pursuit to create a College of Osteopathic Medicine in response to the growing healthcare needs within Northern Colorado and through an emphasis on prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion — spotlighted in a feature story on UNC meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students.
The beginning of the fall semester is one of my favorite times of the year as the campus and Greeley community comes together. There’s much to do and see here, as the feature “Hometown Hot Spots” shows, and I hope to see many of you over the coming months as you return to cheer the Bears on at an athletic event, explore local businesses or attend one of our many outstanding theatrical performances.
Rowing, Not Drifting,
Andy Feinstein, President
The Rowing, Not Drifting 2030 Strategic Plan can be found online at:
