UA to Seek Regents' Approval of 5-Year Strategic Plan

The University of Arizona this week will ask the Arizona Board of Regents to approve its five-year strategic plan, which sets goals for education and research excellence, work force impact, productivity and efficiency.

Under the fiscal year 2012-16 plan, enrollment will grow, as will research expenditures, and the UA will award more degrees, retain more of its freshmen and graduate more of its students within six years.

These goals are being set amid declining state financial support for higher education and a growing Arizona population that's facing economic and health care challenges. In the past two years, state appropriations to the UA have been cut by nearly one-quarter, from approximately $440 million to $340 million.

Progress, the plan states, will depend on the Arizona Legislature providing adequate funding for student enrollment growth and maintenance of program quality and breadth.  read more »