Making it happen

The late George Keller, a dear friend of Roanoke College, once related, "Strategic decision making is what nearly all colleges and universities will need to practice in the years ahead."

Dr. Keller was prophetic when he wrote those words in 1983. They are words the College has heeded.

At Roanoke, this strategic planning process is ongoing-even after meetings of many minds have produced a carefully crafted document. It is a document that demands regular refinement and review.

As the 2010-2016 strategic plan came to a close, we reflected on the goals set and achieved in that timeframe. Gratefully-and purposefully-there are many; several of which have been highlighted in a two-part series that began in Issue 2, 2017 of Roanoke magazine and concludes in the new issue of the magazine.

There is no resting on these laurels. The College's 2018-2023 Strategic Plan is nearing completion, expected to emerge this fall after months of conversations within College administration, Resources and Planning Council, and senior academic staff; discussions with the Board of Trustees and Dean's Council; and meetings with faculty and staff.  Now we turn to the readers of this magazine.

Think of one word that best describes what you want Roanoke College to become over the next decade. Enriching?  Timeless? Spiritual? Diverse? I invite you to click here and share that word. The responses will become part of the Roanoke College record. 

The success of Roanoke College's future rests not only in the thoughts and ideas of a select few, but in the collective view of the College community, inside and out. In that, I see a future full of promise. Roanoke has a special way of imagining what might be, and then making it happen.  

Go Maroons!

—Michael C. Maxey, president of Roanoke College