The Ohio University administration recently announced that it plans to fund OU's $30 million strategic plan with money OU already has. The funding plan, formerly known as the Five Year Academic Action Plan, will focus on important areas like academics, retention and recruitment. It also has been renamed the Five Year Vision Ohio Implementation Plan to reinforce its link to Vision Ohio.
Vision Ohio, with its sweeping generalizations and lofty goals, has not been a success. In fact, it has become synonymous with a waste of time and money, failed public relations campaigns and mass confusion as to what it actually means (try finding someone on campus who can explain it coherently). It is a shame that so much time has gone down the garbage disposal. It also is a shame that so much money has been thrown in the wrong directions. But maybe, with specific goals and good financial strategy, the plan could actually become something productive.
Unlike some recent administrative decisions, this plan shows that the people in charge have put a lot of thought and effort into it. By focusing on priorities, specifically on priorities that can generate money, OU is demonstrating solid fiscal responsibility. Additionally, the goal of centralization of some academic support services also makes great sense, and it is good to see that OU is heading in that direction. Perhaps Vision Ohio, blind for so long, will finally see the light.
17 Archives
G
