DRAFT Strategic Plan for the Department of Physics

Vision Statement

• Academic Excellence
• Hire and retain excellent faculty & attract better students
• Strive for all programs that are nationally/internationally recognized for excellence

• Top-10 Status
• Take advantage of our existing strengths and available opportunities
• Maintain strength in core areas
• Strive for centers of excellence
• Innovative programs in education
• Recognition of excellence
• Exciting Physics
• Move into areas of physics that will be important in the future

Opportunities and strengths

• –Highly productive faculty
• –14^th Nationally (US News) w/many strong programs
• –Several NAS members - Many world leaders in their field
• –We are attracting excellent new faculty
• –Strong research funding
• –Excellent staff
• –Strong Centers (CSR, MRSEC), plus LPS, LPR and IPST

Problems and challenges

• –Fiscal problems
• –Not getting top grad students -Low number of UG majors
• –Poor facilities (Physics Building) + we are spread out
• –Lack of outside/alumni support
• –Some programs are not thriving

Goals

• Strong and innovative Department
• Financial
• Orderly and planned evolution from the 1960’s to 2010 – but opportunistic!
• Picture of the groups in 10 years
• Discuss plan faculty re-start and realignment
• Allow for new opportunities
• Improved facilities – both short term and long (new building)
• Computers for grad students
• New teaching lab (student response system)
• Advancement (fundraising)

Process

• Priorities

• Planning
• Enhancement
• Interaction with other units

Specific Plans

• Priorities Report
• Other plans

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