Dear Faculty and Staff,
For much of this academic year, strategic planning groups from across DePaul have been working together to make recommendations for the future of our university. Charged with bringing the
Designing DePaul strategic plan to life, the university steering committee and subcommittees are advancing specific initiatives to strengthen what we do best while staying grounded in our Catholic, Vincentian mission — and adapting to meet new challenges.
Central to this work is a continued commitment to the liberal arts, which remain foundational to a DePaul education and preparing students to think critically, engage deeply, and lead with purpose.
We are making meaningful strides to chart a clear, deliberate path forward, and I will have a full progress report to share with you following the Board of Trustees meeting at the end of May. In the meantime, I wanted to share an update on the work of the strategic planning committees.
Strategic planning committees
We began establishing the steering committee and subcommittees through our shared governance practices at the beginning of this academic year. These groups are meeting regularly and will guide implementation, track progress, and keep our community connected to the work ahead. Their efforts bring together faculty, staff, and students from across our colleges and units, ensuring a range of perspectives informs each initiative.
The subcommittees are working in close partnership with the University Steering Committee, chaired by Provost Salma Ghanem and Executive Vice President Sherri Sidler, which provides oversight, guidance, and alignment across all efforts.
The Designing DePaul subcommittees are advancing work in the following areas:
Academic Distinction
The Academic Distinction Subcommittee aims to make a DePaul education stand out among our competitors. The group is reviewing existing plans and initiating new strategies to elevate DePaul’s reputation, distinction, and fiscal strength.
Academic Programs of National Interest
Considering upcoming changes to federal loans, this subcommittee is exploring how DePaul programs that are socially critical but understaffed nationally — such as teaching, nursing, social work, and public health — can be made more affordable for students to pursue.
Graduate Program Financial Aid, Recruitment, Marketing, and Branding
This work aims to identify the most effective ways to attract and enroll domestic graduate students.
Loop Campus Redesign
This subcommittee is exploring a range of approaches to how DePaul’s Loop presence can best support student success and academic programs that will better position our university for the long term.
Student Advising, Retention, and Career Outcomes
This subcommittee centers around holistic student success with the goal of increasing retention and improving career outcomes.
Staying informed
More information about the strategic planning committees, including their membership, is available on the
Designing DePaul section of the Office of the President website. Each subcommittee’s working documents are also posted online so that you can see what is under consideration and how these efforts are evolving.
All this work represents the conversations we have been engaging in as a university community since we launched Designing DePaul in January 2023. Through Designing DePaul, we are investing in our people, strengthening our programs, and modernizing our infrastructure. At its center is our highest calling: student success. Preparing our students to adapt, engage, and lead with purpose will guide every decision we make.
Thank you for the many ways you are contributing to this work. I will continue to keep you informed as our initiatives continue to make progress.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Manuel
President