M E M O R A N D U M

TO: Wanda B. Hill

Vice President for Administration & Treasurer

Wayne M. Sheley

Vice President for Academic Affairs

FROM: Jerry Farley

President

DATE: April 5, 2000

The Resource Planning Committee has worked exceptionally hard to respond to the task given them this fall attached is a copy of the charge to the Committee and their recommendations. This work is the first step in the revision of the Strategic Plan of Washburn University. The time, talent, and wisdom of the Committee and their co-chairs are deeply appreciated.

The Committee's broadly based campus representation, which was elected by the College and the Schools, allows weight and depth to be given to these serious suggestions. The informed, detached Committee perspective adds substance to the recommendations. The recommendations are thoughtful, courageous, and innovative, and add a university-wide perspective unfettered by parochial concerns.

The first charge to the committee was to review the university's strategic plan, and determine those programs that Washburn should identify and emphasize as hallmark programs that will define the future of the university. Beyond the strategic focus, the Committee addressed their second charge, which was to identify what would be needed to emphasize the hallmark programs. These tactical recommendations proposing structural changes are important and deserve careful and thoughtful consideration.

The report provides an excellent springboard for the next step in the review. It is now time to incorporate this work into a broad campus-wide process, which will eventually include the Board of Regents. I ask that you visit directly with each Dean about this report. In this process, I trust you and the Deans will take extra effort to seek appropriate faculty input. The objective of this next step is to incorporate the perspective of those most directly affected by these recommendations. The goal is the implementation of a plan that will result in dramatic improvements in how we at Washburn University will fulfill our mission. Please provide a response by April 30, 2000 in order for the university to act on those aspects that might be implemented immediately, and to identify those areas that will require consideration through the faculty governance process and/or a more detailed review by the Deans and their faculties.

Thank you.

JBF