How We Got Here
UND Leads was developed throughout 2022 with the help of broad campus and community input.
We worked in a spirit of collaboration and connectedness and embraced an enthusiasm for inquiry, positive risk-taking, and innovation to build a plan that will help propel the university and state forward.
The Making of UND LEADS
The UND Strategic Planning process was led by co-chairs Dr. Lynette Krenelka, Executive Director of the Teaching Transformation and Development Academy, and Dr. Jim Mochoruk, Professor of History and Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor (retired). Members of the Strategic Planning Committee and the seven working groups are all recognized on the final page of the UND Strategic Plan.
The process drew on broad participation from across campus and the community. The work was informed by thoughtful feedback from University Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government. We extend sincere appreciation to the more than 700 individuals who participated in one of our Strategic Planning events, the 900+ survey respondents, and the nearly 500 participants who took part in 50 targeted focus groups. All information collected during this process has been archived and is available by contacting ryan.zerr@UND.edu.
After 11 months of collaboration and dialogue, UND LEADS – TODAY, TOMORROW, and FOREVER emerged as the shared result of hard work by thousands of people who care deeply about UND’s future. The plan reflects a collective vision in which every member of the UND community sees themselves as an active participant—developing their own goals and contributing to UND’s continued success.
We all share in UND’s success and are all responsible for carrying out UND’s mission to provide exceptional educational experiences that enrich the lives of North Dakotans and the global community through excelling in teaching, innovative research, and meaningful engagement.
Leaders are not defined by their titles, but by the characteristics they embody and the unique perspectives they share. We each have the capacity to lead, and it will take all of us leading in unique ways to achieve the goals of this plan.
UND LEADS does not have an end point. Its five core values—Learning, Equity, Affinity, Discovery, and Service—represent enduring core values that will guide the University for years to come. The strategies and priorities for each pillar may evolve, but our commitment to these underlying principles will remain constant.
This plan focuses on the ultimate outcome of an exemplary public research university fulfilled by UND’s collective vision to inspire a sense of wonder, a love of discovery, and a commitment to serve.
UND LEADS provides no single formula for specific work to be done. Instead, it offers a shared framework for action. Every college and division is encouraged to see its work as part of a larger whole—developing initiatives that align with the aspirational vision for UND and help move the institution forward.
The plan was launched in early 2023. The implementation of UND LEADS is being led by Dr. Ryan Zerr, Associate Vice President for Strategy & Implementation, with assistance from an Implementation Committee which is co-chaired by Dr. Zerr and the outgoing chair of Staff Senate.