Dean Ferrillo Sends Strategic Planning Charge

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is built on a tradition of excellence. In embarking on a new strategic planning process, the dental school will move to even higher levels of national and international prominence as a leader in dental education.  To facilitate the development of the School of Dentistry's strategic plan, I have appointed a Writing Group, chaired by Dr. Alan H. Gluskin, professor and chair of the Department of Endodontics, and comprised of a representative group of faculty and staff.

The Academy for Academic Leadership, an Atlanta, Georgia-based consultancy with extensive experience in higher education and dental education, will assist the Writing Group.  The Dean's Cabinet will provide oversight to the planning process through periodic meetings with the Writing Group, reviewing and commenting on consultant reports, and reading and advising the Writing Group on drafts of the plan.  Drawing on the Writing Group's recommendations, the Dean's Cabinet will have responsibility for crafting the implementation plan.    

Building on the School of Dentistry's distinctive character and historic strengths, the Writing Group is charged with creating a bold and dynamic strategic plan to advance the school to a new level of greatness that is uniquely the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.      

Strategic planning is a communicative, consensus building process.  The Writing Group will seek input from faculty, students, staff, University administrators, alumni, patients, and all major stakeholders as it develops the strategic plan.  The Writing Group will utilize informed respondents and expert panels for advice as it develops strategies. In addition, the Writing Group will develop communication conduits to ensure that the School of Dentistry community is informed about the plan and has ample opportunities for input.  The Dean's Cabinet will receive regular updates from the Writing Group and provide direction as needed. 

A final draft of the strategic plan will be submitted to the Dean by June 30, 2007.  The plan will include a vision, shared images of future success, and mission, shared purposes, that align with the vision and mission of the University.  The plan will define the School of Dentistry's values, those shared beliefs that inform and shape its culture.  The plan will include strategic directions and goals.  The Writing Group will also make recommendations to the Dean's Cabinet for action steps to implement the strategic plan, linking strategies to people, policies, and resources. 

The window for the strategic plan is the next five to seven years.  The plan will be a living document.  The School of Dentistry's leadership will use the plan for decision making about allocation of resources, new projects, infrastructure needs, recruitment and retention of faculty and staff, and operational matters.  The plan will be public, accessible to all stakeholders and interested parties as a model of educational distinction.   Translated into action steps, the implementation plan will be disseminated throughout the School.  The plan will show the telling signs of use: discussion and debate at all levels of the School, achievement of outcomes, and adjustments based on a changing environment.  The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry will monitor progress on a regular basis as it moves forward to achieve unparalleled excellence.