Strategic Priorities

UM-Flint’s five strategic priorities translate our mission, vision, and values into a focused agenda for institutional action. As a comprehensive urban university in the University of Michigan tradition of “Leaders & Best”, UM-Flint is committed to academic excellence, student success, integrity, access and opportunity, engaged citizenship, and fostering an inclusive and supportive community. These priorities reflect our responsibility to provide rigorous and relevant academic programs, personalized support for diverse learners, meaningful opportunities for innovation and engaged learning, and strong partnerships that advance local and global communities. Together, they guide the university’s efforts to grow enrollment, strengthen student outcomes, invest in people and resources, improve operations, expand campus life, and deepen community impact—positioning UM-Flint as a destination where students shape their futures, become leaders in their fields and professions, and enrich the communities they serve.

1. Grow enrollment, enhance student success, and enrich the student experience

Optimizing the student experience will require a coordinated, institution-wide approach across the five major divisions of UM-Flint: Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Business & Finance, and University Advancement. Academic Affairs will advance rigorous, relevant academic programs and expand high-impact learning experiences that support timely degree completion and career readiness. Student Affairs will strengthen belonging, well-being, and engagement to help students persist and thrive. Enrollment Management will utilize data-informed outreach to enhance recruitment, guide financial aid strategy, offer student-centered onboarding, and provide coordinated student success support serving as a launchpad to post graduation success. Business & Finance will align institutional resources, facilities, technology, and operations to create an accessible, efficient, and student-centered environment. University Advancement will elevate the institution’s value, deepen alumni and donor engagement, secure philanthropic support for scholarships, experiential learning, mentoring, and career pathways and seek additional government support. Together, these divisions will focus on the following objectives to create a seamless student journey that attracts students, supports their success through graduation, and prepares them to shape their future and enrich their communities.

Objective 1.1: Increase enrollment, expand educational access, promote student success, and grow degree completion as contributions to the state of Michigan’s “Sixty by 30” goal of having 60% of working-age Michiganders earn a postsecondary skill certificate or college degree by the year 2030.
Objective 1.2: Leverage experiential learning opportunities to help students develop the adaptability and resilience necessary to successfully navigate rapidly-evolving employment opportunities and challenges and to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Objective 1.3: Create a seamless, student-centered educational journey with curricular and co-curricular opportunities that help every student to exercise their curiosity and realize their full potential as engaged members and leaders of their communities.

To translate these objectives into measurable progress, UM-Flint will pursue the following enrollment, student success, and student experience goals through coordinated action, sustained investment, and shared accountability across divisions. High-impact engaged learning opportunities will be offered in flexible, accessible formats to ensure equitable participation for all students and will incorporate student reflection on and articulation of the value of these experiences. Progress will be monitored regularly using clearly defined metrics, enabling the university to assess outcomes, refine strategies, and remain focused on enrollment growth, degree completion, student persistence, engaged learning, and post-graduation success.

Goal 1.1: UM-Flint will annually increase the institutional graduation rate to achieve an overall increase of 8% by 2031 compared to 2024-2025.
Goal 1.2: By 2031, UM-Flint will grow enrollment to 9,000 students.
Goal 1.3: By 2031, UM-Flint will increase first-year retention of all new students to 80%.
Goal 1.4: By 2031, UM-Flint will ensure that high-impact engaged learning is embedded across all academic programs and that at least 75% of students complete two or more experiential learning opportunities prior to graduation.
Goal 1.5: By Fall 2031, UM-Flint will implement a unified student success system, equipping all students with an individualized, proactive academic and career pathway from enrollment to graduation.

2. Diversify and increase revenue to invest in human, technological, research, and physical resources

UM-Flint will become more entrepreneurial in diversifying and increasing revenue streams from public and private sources through fundraising and development activities, will pursue state and federal earmark opportunities aligned with institutional needs and priorities, will grow external research funding to support advancement toward Carnegie R2 status and beyond, and will build mutually beneficial corporate and community partnerships. The university will strengthen its research enterprise by investing in faculty, student, and staff capacity; interdisciplinary scholarship; sponsored programs infrastructure; and partnerships that translate discovery into impact for the region and beyond. UM-Flint will also develop innovative courses, programs, and experiential learning opportunities that prepare students to shape their futures, contribute to a knowledge-driven economy, and enrich their communities.

Objective 2.1: Diversify and increase revenue streams to better balance affordability with excellence, ensuring that students continue to receive a high-quality education while the university remains financially strong, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of our local and global communities.
Objective 2.2: Invest in personalized student support, experiential learning, research, and sustainable, mutually beneficial campus-community initiatives that generate knowledge, foster innovation, prepare students to shape their futures, contribute to a knowledge-driven economy, and enrich their communities.
Objective 2.3: Advance UM-Flint’s pursuit of preeminence by strengthening high-quality, continually improving academic programs; recruiting, retaining, and empowering excellent faculty and staff; and investing in the professional development, resources, and workplace conditions that fuel innovation, excellence, student success, and community impact.

To translate these objectives into measurable progress, UM-Flint will pursue the following goals through strategic investment in people, technology, research, and opportunities that strengthen student learning and institutional capacity. Engaged learning will include opportunities such as research, scholarship, creative activities, internships, and community-engaged projects that allow students to apply their learning and develop skills and experiences that will prepare them for their futures. Progress will be monitored regularly using clearly defined metrics to assess outcomes, guide investment, and ensure that university resources advance student success, research growth, innovation, and institutional excellence.

Goal 2.1: UM-Flint will ensure that at least 10% more undergraduate students and 10% more graduate students participate in curricular or co-curricular engaged learning practices each year relative to the prior year.
Goal 2.2: By 2031, UM-Flint will increase annual combined revenue from sponsored projects and philanthropy to $12 million and annual research expenditures to $5 million.
Goal 2.3: UM-Flint will create and launch an institution-wide AI literacy initiative that prepares employees and students to use artificial intelligence effectively, ethically, securely, and responsibly. By 2031, at least 80% of employees and 80% of graduating students will complete AI literacy training and demonstrate proficiency through a common assessment, applied project, or approved credential.

3. Advance operational efficiency and effectiveness

UM-Flint will advance operational efficiency and effectiveness by becoming more nimble, flexible, and responsive. The university will strategically use technology, engage in process innovation, and utilize intentional change management to improve workflows, optimize coordination, enhance workforce productivity, and strengthen decision-making. Leaders, employees, and teams will build the capacity to adopt and sustain change through clear communication, training, engagement, and ongoing support—while keeping people in control, encouraging sound judgment, and strengthening the human skills of relationship management, resilience, agility, and adaptability. Efficiency gains will enhance, rather than diminish, effectiveness, quality, employee experience, and mission impact.

Objective 3.1: Foster a culture of continuous improvement that elevates institutional processes, strengthens the quality and effectiveness of university operations, and advances our shared pursuit of preeminence.
Objective 3.2: Improve institutional effectiveness to enhance service delivery and increase capacity for high-impact work.
Objective 3.3: Strengthen organizational capacity to equip employees to adapt, collaborate, and sustain change in support of institutional excellence.

To translate these objectives into measurable advancements in operational efficiency and effectiveness, UM-Flint will pursue the following shared goals through coordinated action, thoughtful technology adoption, employee development, and shared accountability. Improvements will be implemented through a human-centered approach that engages affected employees, supports sound professional judgment, and evaluates whether changes strengthen service quality, workforce capacity, student success, and institutional effectiveness. Progress will be monitored regularly using clearly defined metrics, enabling the university to assess outcomes, refine strategies, and sustain meaningful operational improvements.

Goal 3.1: Between 2026 and 2031, UM-Flint will strategically improve and streamline key institutional processes using appropriate technologies while supporting employee skill development to increase employee capacity for student support, collaboration, and high-impact work.
Goal 3.2: By 2028, UM-Flint will implement a student-centered course scheduling model that improves access to required courses, reduces time to degree, promotes intellectual exploration, increases degree completion, and supports student attainment of their personal and academic goals.

4. Launch intercollegiate athletics

Intercollegiate athletics has long been a valuable element of the traditional university experience. At UM-Flint, a thoughtfully designed athletics program will strengthen the connection between students, alumni, faculty, staff, the broader Flint community, and beyond. It will serve as a visible symbol of school spirit, create opportunities for students to develop leadership and teamwork, add valuable co-curricular opportunities that complement a variety of academic programs, and attract students seeking a vibrant campus environment. In doing so, it will enhance enrollment growth and student persistence – two key drivers of institutional sustainability.

Objective 4.1: Cultivate a broad base of campus, community, alumni, corporate, and philanthropic support for intercollegiate athletics to strengthen student success, enrich campus life, build school spirit, increase regional visibility, and deepen the university’s civic and economic partnership with Flint and Genesee County.
Objective 4.2: Seek membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) to establish a values-driven intercollegiate athletics program that advances student success, inclusive opportunity, competitive excellence, campus pride, and community connection.
Objective 4.3: Leverage intercollegiate athletics as an integrated curricular and co-curricular platform that expands student access and opportunity, experiential learning, leadership development, student employment opportunities, career preparation, and community engagement for students across UM-Flint.

To translate these intercollegiate athletics objectives into measurable progress, UM-Flint will pursue the following goals through a phased, inclusive, and financially sustainable approach grounded in student success and broad campus and community engagement. The university will align institutional and philanthropic resources, staffing, facilities, partnerships, and academic and co-curricular opportunities to build an athletics program that enriches the student experience, expands experiential learning, strengthens campus pride, and deepens connections across Flint and Genesee County. Progress will be monitored regularly to ensure that the program advances institutional priorities and delivers meaningful opportunities for student-athletes and the broader student body.

Goal 4.1: By Fall 2031, UM-Flint will establish a sustainable intercollegiate athletics program, secure necessary institutional and philanthropic resources, develop appropriate staffing and facilities plans, and launch at least 6 teams that enhance student engagement, campus life, recruitment, and community pride.
Goal 4.2: By Fall 2031, UM-Flint will integrate intercollegiate athletics into the UM-Flint student experience by involving at least 100 student athletes as intercollegiate competitors and engaging at least 150 additional students in athletics-connected employment, internships, coursework, research, leadership development, community engagement, or other experiential-learning opportunities involving at least six academic or administrative units.

5. Partner with our communities for shared growth and impact

UM-Flint’s partnerships will drive shared growth and meaningful impact by connecting students, faculty, and staff with government representatives and regional organizations to expand community-engaged learning, service-learning courses, volunteerism, and build sustained collaborations. These efforts will strengthen civic responsibility, address evolving community priorities, and position the university for future recognition through the Carnegie Community Engagement elective classification. The university will also contribute to regional economic vitality through enhanced workforce development, educational partnerships—including K–12 collaborations—and initiatives that advance health and social well-being. Together, these outcomes will strengthen UM-Flint’s institutional reputation, as reflected in increased media visibility, strong community partner satisfaction, improved rankings and recognitions, and positive stakeholder perceptions, reinforcing the university’s role as a trusted cornerstone institution committed to mutual progress and lasting community impact.

Objective 5.1: Strengthen government relations and reciprocal community partnerships to build trust, advance shared priorities, and create lasting mutual benefit.
Objective 5.2: Expand community-engaged learning, research, and service to enrich student learning, advance faculty and staff scholarship and innovation, deepen community engagement, and strengthen community impact.
Objective 5.3: Advance UM-Flint’s role as an engaged cornerstone institution to strengthen communities, expand educational and economic opportunity, and enhance the university’s impact and reputation.

To translate these objectives into measurable progress, UM-Flint will pursue the following goals through sustained, reciprocal partnerships that align university and community expertise and resources to establish and pursue co-created priorities. The university and its community partners will work together to identify needs, shape initiatives, and assess outcomes to ensure that partnerships create meaningful benefits for the university and the communities it serves. Progress will be monitored regularly using clearly defined metrics to assess community and institutional impact, strengthen successful partnerships, and guide future opportunities for collaboration and shared growth.

Goal 5.1: By June 2029, establish a sustainable network of employers and community partners that regularly provides input to curriculum planning and enhances experiential learning, faculty engagement, and student career development.
Goal 5.2: By 2027, UM-Flint will co-create a shared community impact framework to identify regional priorities, measure mutual outcomes, and ensure reciprocal benefits.
Goal 5.3: By 2031, UM-Flint will expand its impact in Flint and Genesee County by increasing the number of community-engaged service, research, scholarship, and applied projects co-designed with community partners, each of which includes clear metrics to assess impact, sustainability, and mutual benefit.