So I asked ChatGPT: “Why is TCU’s strategic plan exactly what is needed for this moment?”
And here’s the response: “In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, TCU's LEAD ON: Values in Action strategic plan is a timely and necessary initiative. By focusing on student-centered growth, enhancing research and creative activities, investing in athletics and deepening community engagement, TCU is positioning itself to meet current challenges and seize future opportunities. This plan not only reinforces the university's commitment to its core values but also ensures that TCU remains a dynamic and influential institution in higher education.” Not bad for AI, but not the whole picture. LEAD ON: Values in Action is “timely and necessary,” but the true “why now?” encompasses so much more.
The 2017 Lead On: Vision in Action strategic plan was transformative. Today, TCU has its largest, most diverse and most successful student body in our history. TCU has the most research, scholarly and creative activity in our history. TCU athletics have had more success than any time in our history. TCU’s hometown of Fort Worth is bigger and growing faster than any time in our history. Not to mention that TCU launched an impactful medical school, played in the College Football Playoff National Championship game, and completed our most ambitious fundraising campaign to date. So, with all of this tremendous success, why should TCU change anything?
The higher education landscape is ever-evolving. U.S. high school enrollment is declining. The ROI of a college degree has never been more scrutinized. The growth of Fort Worth and North Texas has led other higher ed institutions to expand educational and research opportunities for the region. Meanwhile, legal cases are transforming college athletics with many programs watching expenses exceed revenue, with the gap widening.
But in these challenges, there is also opportunity. Texas high school enrollment is expected to increase by 9% through 2029. Fort Worth is one of only a few large cities without a Tier 1 research university. The changes in college athletics have the potential to offer greater parity. Facing these challenges and embracing these opportunities, President Daniel W. Pullin, a core strategy team and more than 10,000+ Horned Frogs shaped the next transformative TCU strategic plan.
TCU’s LEAD ON: Values in Action is designed to lean into this evolving landscape and propel the institution for the next decade and beyond:
- Attracting additional student scholars from across Texas, the U.S. and the world, while maintaining the feel of a small school community, connection and support and embracing our cool town (Fort Worth) and our big-time athletics programs.
- Increasing research, scholarship and creative activity enhances student experience, strengthens the ROI of a TCU degree for graduates, and elevates TCU’s faculty as thought leaders.
- Committing to participating at the highest level of college athletics and providing an unparalleled student-athlete experience gives us a competitive edge in a dynamic athletics world and affirms athletics importance to our institution.
- Building and leveraging strong connections, relationships and partnerships across Texas, the U.S., and the world is foundational to our success and enabled by TCU’s unique position in Fort Worth and expanding national footprint.
So, once again, “Why is TCU’s strategic plan exactly what is needed for this moment?” Because this new plan is what the TCU community determined the moment required. By most measures, we are at the pinnacle of our success, but that doesn’t limit our future. The world is challenging our success, but we can LEAD ON and dismiss these challenges. Lead On: Vision in Action built the foundation, and now putting our “Values in Action” will build sustained excellence for our future. Maybe the AI summary wasn’t so far off after all.