February 8,2007

To the Campus Community,

I invite you to attend the USF Strategic Planning Town Hall Meeting hosted by President Judy Genshaft and Trustee Lee Arnold on Friday, Feb. 16, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. in Davis 130. Here is the link to the strategic plan: http://www.ods.usf.edu/plans/strategic/. You will note that the section on governance which existed in previous drafts is no longer part of the strategic planning discussion.

This meeting is our opportunity to ask questions and discuss our role in the emerging USF System Strategic Plan. I urge you to participate in this session and share your thoughts. I am hopeful for hearty discussion and I’m counting on you to address questions that will advance our understanding.

I support your full participation in the meeting; a university is a place for civil conversation on all topics. However, I understand that a few individuals may feel uncomfortable speaking in a public forum. It is important to me that you participate, and there are several opportunities available to you.

I have spoken with our campus leaders, Michael Williams of USPS Council, Jim Stull of A&P Council and Gary Patterson, PhD, of the Faculty Senate. These officers represent your plans and concerns to me each month and can represent your voice here as well.

Members of USF St. Petersburg’s Campus Board also are planning to attend. They are coming to listen to your questions and comments in light of the interests of our campus and our people.

After town hall meetings across the system and input from all campuses, the USF Strategic Plan will be presented to the USF Board of Trustees for consideration. Once the plan is approved by the BOT, we will re-invigorate our internal strategic planning process to create a compact plan for 2007-2012 that is parallel to the system-wide plan and establishes our goals and strategic initiatives for the future.

I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Karen A. White