The University of Iowa has created the Path Forward Steering Committee (PFSC) comprised by leadership from UI shared governance in order to advance the implementation of the UI Strategic Plan 2016–2021. The PFSC will replace the two existing Path Forward teams, the Operations Team and the Strategy Implementation Team, which were created in the spring of 2016.

“The previous Path Forward teams helped us build and begin implementation of a robust strategic plan,” says UI President J. Bruce Harreld. “This new steering committee will help us be more nimble and focused as we continue to work toward the goals we’ve set for ourselves.”

Sue Curry, interim executive vice president and provost, and Rod Lehnertz, senior vice president for finance and operations, will serve as PFSC co-chairs. Committee members are: 

• Bruce Harreld—UI president 
• Melissa Shivers—vice president for student life
• Lena Hill—interim chief diversity officer and associate vice president
• Alec Scranton—dean of the College of Engineering
• Pete Snyder—professor of internal medicine and president of UI Faculty Senate
• John Laverty—senior associate director of search and prospect development in the Office of Admissions and president of UI Staff Council
• Jacob Simpson—University of Iowa Student Government president
• Tejasvi Sharma—Graduate & Professional Student Government president

While the previous Path Forward teams were organized by their focus on short-term or long-term initiatives, the PFSC will organize and facilitate four work groups that each focus on different areas of the strategic plan:

• Student Success;
• Research and Discovery;
• Engagement; and
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Collaboration.

At the beginning of each calendar year, each work group will identify up to five critical tasks outlined in the strategic plan, develop an annual work plan with actionable objectives, and collaborate with campus partners to achieve those objectives. Work groups will be responsible for engaging with issue experts, coordinating with relevant campus groups, and reporting annually to the PFSC on progress.

Where appropriate, work groups will make recommendations to campus leadership or collaborate with campus units to directly implement changes or initiatives.

“We came together as a campus and declared where we wanted to be in five years,” says Curry. “We must continue working together to realize that shared vision. I am proud of the work we have already accomplished, and I am excited to see what innovative strategies we develop as we move forward.”