Taking Giant Steps:

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Strategic Plan

University Level Goals

We are striving to meet several core, macro-level goals within each of the areas of transformation.These represent the most easily quantified, global outcomes associated with research universities.

Student Transformation

Student transformation begins at the point of enrollment, where access to all qualified students is critical.

Earning a bachelor’s degree indicates that students have successfully completed the steps that pave the way toward transformation. Ensuring that all students have the opportunity for success is critical.

Knowledge Transformation

External funding to support research and creative activity is one broad indicator of work that contributes to knowledge transformation.

Regional Transformation

Quality of life in our region is linked, in part, to having sufficiently developed workforces in critical areas.


Targeted Initiatives

Enrolling and graduating students, securing external funding, and contributing to critical workforces represent but a few of the outcomes that we at UNCG hope to achieve. Within the intersection of each area of transformation and each of the thematic areas of focus are additional directions for the future. Initiatives supporting each of these nine goals are being implemented throughout the University by a variety of individuals from across the campus. Our talented faculty, staff, and students are providing leadership for these collaborative, boundary-spanning steps forward.

Student Transformation

Health and Wellness

Students will gain understanding of and appreciation for health and wellness as it applies to their personal and professional lives.

Vibrant Communities

Students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to be active contributors to their communities.

Global Connections

Students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to engage effectively in and contribute productively to the global community.

Knowledge Transformation

Health and Wellness

UNCG will enhance understanding of health and wellness, health disparities, and the health professions.

Vibrant Communities

UNCG will enhance understanding of the elements and processes that both comprise and compromise vibrant communities.

Global Connections

UNCG will enhance understanding of global issues and of challenges related to globalization.

Regional Transformation

Health and Wellness

UNCG will be an active partner in promoting health and wellness in the broader community.

Vibrant Communities

UNCG will be an active partner in contributing to the vibrancy of the larger community.

Global Connections

UNCG will be an active partner in promoting an environment in which global connections grow and thrive.

Initiatives Toward Giant Steps

Student transformation initiatives currently focus on experiential learning, co-curricular and extracurricular offerings, and enrolling and graduating students.

Knowledge transformation initiatives currently focus on research and creative activity and translation of research to practice.

Regional transformation initiatives currently focus on engagement of faculty and staff in addressing regional challenges and opportunities for professional development and credentialing.


Areas of Distinction

The UNC System’s strategic plan, Higher Expectations, calls for campuses to identify and highlight their areas of academic distinction.   UNCG has identified two areas of distinction that emerge directly from our own strategic plan.

Health and Wellness

UNCG has numerous outstanding academic programs focused on health and wellness.  These programs span across undergraduate and graduate education and are located primarily in the School of Health and Human Sciences, the School of Nursing, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Education.  These programs garner impressive national rankings, include faculty who are recognized through awards and honors and generate significant external funding, and result in students who are highly sought after upon graduation.

Our continued commitment to this area will be demonstrated by increases in external funding related to health and wellness, faculty receiving scholarly recognition, pass rates of licensure exams, and program rankings.  Currently under development, a millennial district dedicated to public-private partnerships related to health and wellness will be a focal point of our distinction in this area.

Visual and Performing Arts

UNCG has the largest College of Visual and Performing Arts in North Carolina, and our Weatherspoon Art Museum has been referred to as a “hidden gem”.  Our Art, Dance, Music, Theater, and Arts Administration programs receive national accolades and produce highly successful graduates; Weatherspoon Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and houses over 6,000 works from the 20th century to the present.

Our continued commitment to this area will be demonstrated by increases in targeted job placements of alumni earning graduate degrees from the Schools of Art, Dance, Music and Theaterannual attendance at the Weatherspoon Art Museum; and the number of artworks held in the Weatherspoon collection. Currently under development, a millennial district dedicated to the visual and performing arts will be a focal point of our distinction in this area.