Strategic Planning Update

Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Dear Highlanders,

 

Before winter break commences, I want to provide an update on the process to evolve the current strategic plan, NJIT 2025.

 

Thank you to all members of the NJIT community who already have submitted feedback through the online form or provided input at the President/Provost Town Hall meeting held on December 9. It is rewarding to see this level of community involvement as hundreds of students, employees, and community members have engaged in this process since my initial announcement last month.

 

The steering committee has been reviewing NJIT 2025 and drafting enhanced versions of the vision and mission statements. They would like to share their work thus far for your reflection and input:

 

Draft Vision (two versions)

  1. As a renowned polytechnic institution, educate diverse and innovative leaders, and pioneer transformative research to drive economic growth and societal impact through strategic partnerships.
  2. To be a transformative engine for social and economic prosperity through research and education focused on technology to create diverse leaders and innovators for the future.

 

Draft Mission

NJIT serves the state of New Jersey, the nation, and the world as a:

  • Public Polytechnic University—by providing supportive and enriching technologically-focused educational experiences to prepare a diverse community of students for positions as professionals, lifelong learners and global citizens.
  • Research Leader—by advancing knowledge through high-impact basic, applied and transdisciplinary scholarship, and developing technological solutions to societal issues.
  • Innovation Partner—by anticipating the needs of industry, government and civic organizations to drive growth, innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Inclusive Workplace—by engaging diverse colleagues whose differences build a stronger community dedicated to accomplishing our vision.
  • Community Catalyst—by applying our technological expertise through engagement with our community to benefit society.

You are encouraged to submit feedback on these drafts via the online form before January 31. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the Steering Committee members who already have put in hours of work to develop these initial drafts, including the co-chairs, Interim Provost and Senior Executive Vice President Atam Dhawan and Faculty Senate President Ellen Thomas, as well as some members of the NJIT Boards of Trustees and Overseers, deans, faculty, students, and President's Council representatives.  

 

In addition to providing feedback on the above draft vision and mission, you are invited to contribute ideas during upcoming listening sessions that will focus on developing visionary objectives under each of the six draft priorities:

  • Student prosperity/flourishing/success

  • Faculty ascension

  • Research, innovation, and entrepreneurship

  • Digital transformation

  • Fiscal sustainability

  • Engaged community

The listening sessions will be held in late-January to early-February; please watch your email for details. 

 

My goal is that this process will encompass broad participation and yield feedback that evolves our current strategic plan, and will prepare NJIT for a future that could not have been envisioned when NJIT 2025 was created before the pandemic. 

 

Cheers to an enjoyable winter break (as you ponder our mission and vision statements).
 

Sincerely,

 

Teik C. Lim

NJIT President