The strategic plan has once again been delayed to ensure "sufficient time for formal and informal discussions," according to Provost Steve Goldstein '78. This extended time frame provides even more of an opportunity for students to be intimately involved in the planning process moving forward.

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee, which is led by the provost, bears the burden of directing the formulation of the strategic plan. University President Frederick Lawrence began the planning process in October 2011 to "set the institution's 10- to 20-year trajectory and lay out a five-year framework for moving forward."

It is disappointing that the committee only has two undergraduates as members, Student Union President Todd Kirkland '13 and Imani Williams '13. Moreover, neither of the members has made organized, active efforts to engage and involve the student body in the process. Both should make every effort to reach out and include other students, understanding that their job is to represent the views and opinions of the undergraduate community. Additionally, Williams has not been in attendance for most meetings, further depriving the administration of a student perspective as well as eliminating the student body's voice.

The shortage of students on the committee inevitably puts the administration at a loss, and denies students both a voice and the transparency necessary for open governing.
A liberal arts research institution such as ours should primarily focus on the education of its students. Therefore the University must always try its best to understand the educational experience from a student's perspective.

What makes for a content, educated student body? Which types of classes provide the best educational experiences? How can the administration promote the most effective classroom environments, while eliminating the unsuccessful ones? These are just a few questions that require students to be in the room for the discussions and drafting of a strategic plan. They shouldn't just be on the sidelines as part of feedback sessions.

To be sure, the administration has solicited student opinions in the form of town halls and feedback sessions. Repeatedly, however, few students have shown up to those meetings. Whether this is a failure on the part of administrators, student leadership or the general student populous is unclear. Nevertheless, it is a problem.

Last year, former Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 made a concerted effort to meet with all student constituencies and updated the student body regularly and candidly on his initiatives and discussions with administrators. We have not felt the same vigor from Kirkland, whose State of the Union last month was poorly attended.

Kirkland is a member of the SPSC and he should stay true to his campaign promise of transparency with regard to the strategic plan. We think a regular update from him after each SPSC meeting would be appropriate.

Despite our frustration at the continuous delay of the strategic plan-it now only has a vague deadline of "in sufficient time to begin implementation in the 2013-14 academic year"-we hope that the administration continues to listen to students, recognizing their unique perspectives on the operations of this institution.

Further, we hope for more fervor and transparency from our own student leaders in both engaging the administration and in gauging the temperature of their constituents.
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