Identifying GW’s Institutional Priorities
During the spring 2024 semester, the university held a series of community-wide, future-focused conversations. These discussions aimed to deepen our understanding of the future that GW is preparing for, including topics such as the future of the workforce, higher education, and knowledge. These conversations highlighted four recurring themes among the constituencies:
- Advancing Impactful Knowledge Production Through Interdisciplinary Excellence
- Reimagining Skill Development for the Future
- Redefining Authentic Leadership for Modern Challenges
- Turning Ideas into Action as a Premier Global Convener
Institutional Priorities:
In the fall of 2024, the GW Innovation Committee gathered additional input from the GW community through various means, including opportunities to submit idea briefs, community town halls, and informal dialogues about strategic opportunities aligned with these themes. This process resulted in three clear institutional priorities that will drive GW’s future success. This effort aimed to bring the themes to life and set them within a framework that prioritizes research, educational, and operational excellence.
Generate Scholarship with Impact:
This priority builds on thematic core elements one and four, establishing a distinctive role for GW in addressing some of society's pressing challenges, including climate change, artificial intelligence, and the preservation of democracy. GW boasts a remarkable legacy of disciplinary scholarship that produces real-world impact. Now, in our third century, our traditional strengths in policy, politics, international affairs, and law can combine with emerging strengths in science, health, and engineering, enabling us to tackle these issues in innovative and creative ways. Additionally, our unique location in Washington, D.C., positions us to be a premier convener for critical conversations that enhance the impact of basic research by applying it to develop sound policy and legislation.
Prepare Students to Be Strong and Resilient Leaders:
This priority embraces thematic core elements one, two, and three. We will leverage the expertise of GW’s faculty and staff to ensure that GW students graduate at rates equal to the nation’s top universities. This means a fully inclusive environment that provides every student with the access, support, and opportunity they need to pursue a rich interdisciplinary education that leverages the unique opportunities inherent in our location and connections, equipping them with essential skills as well as the practical and social experiences needed for success.
Strengthen Our Foundation for Excellence:
To achieve this ambitious agenda, GW must improve how we operate as a university. We will strengthen our community by building and maintaining a culture of excellence that focuses on impact and results, providing opportunities for members of our community to inform decision-making and cultivating an organizational culture characterized by collaboration, openness, and innovation.
