Strategic Framework

Charting Our Future

Boston University Strategic Framework

Throughout the history of Boston University, driven by our values and a legacy of excellence, we have always sought to bring together rigorous academic thinkers, ideas, and disciplines to meet the needs of society.

Today, we are preparing for a future that will require agility and adaptability. We are positioning the University to embrace new opportunities and overcome emergent challenges, so we can fulfill our bold vision to shape the next era of learning, discovery, and impact.

Putting the framework into action

We have established a strategic framework founded upon shared goals and guiding principles. This will enable our work to expand and evolve as we generate our best ideas, gather input, and leverage collaboration across campus and with our external partners. It prioritizes excellence and innovation for our students and strengthens systems, supports, and experiences to serve their success, as well as advances our interdisciplinary research and creative work. As a community, we will pursue activities that benefit the institution and those we serve.

Thanks to the hard work of our community, we have been steadily laying the foundation for this strategic framework for some time. Schools, colleges, and units have been engaged in strategic planning that serves their individual priorities as well as those of the broader University, aligning their distinctive academic strengths, research agendas, and student-centered initiatives with the University’s shared aspirations.

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Convergence will light our path.

Driven by a compelling scientific or societal problem, convergent research requires collaboration, communication, and integration across disciplines.

We are pushing convergence far beyond the sciences. We are building a culture where ideas and collaboration flow freely across disciplines, perspectives, realities, and communities—fueling scholarship that breaks new ground, shaping a student experience that prepares future leaders, and expanding our impact locally and across the world.

  • Convergent Research

    We will integrate diverse fields to illuminate new expertise and solve complex problems.

  • Convergent Living & Learning

    We will enhance the academic journey for people to live and learn throughout their lives.

  • Convergent Impact

    We will collaborate boldly with partners at the local, domestic, and global scale to transform people’s lives.

  • Convergent Experiences

    We will invite people to explore the relationship between learning, human connection, and identity across our campuses, our city, and the world.

  • Convergent Community

    We will continue to nurture a culture that leads with curiosity, compassion, and connection to neighborhoods and communities around the world.
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Intellectual & Academic Destination

We will be globally known for our unwavering commitment to excellence in research, scholarship, arts, and humanities; and we will provide a singular and transformative education.

See what’s already underway:

…and more to come in collaboration with our community.

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Globally & Externally Engaged

We will expand our impact by strengthening our collaboration with organizations, nonprofits, elected officials, and federal and state agencies, as well as embarking on projects with new partners, donors, alumni, and industry leaders.

See what’s already underway:
  • Boston’s University Working closely with neighbors and colleagues across Boston and the commonwealth.
  • Domestic & Global Hubs Elevating BU’s global reach, research, and connections to students and alumni around the world.
  • Boston University/Boston Medical Center Partnership Strengthening our partnership to improve health outcomes for underserved populations.
  • Industry Partnerships Fueling a pipeline of research and industry-ready talent that can solve our society’s most pressing problems.
  • Enhancing Domestic & Global Alumni Engagement Advancing, convening, and engaging BU’s 400,000+ alumni across the country and around the world.
  • You Are Why Campaign Celebrating the impactful stories of BU’s research, education, and engagement in service of society.

…and more to come in collaboration with our community.

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World-Class Community of Talent

By investing in student success, supporting faculty and staff, and prioritizing the people who make up this community, we can expand on our legacy of world-class talent and foster leadership growth and development.

See what’s already underway:
  • New Office of the Chief People Person Implementing a new role in the president’s office serving faculty and staff success.
  • Staff Awards Program Recognizing staff who embody the University’s values in their work and inspire others.
  • Chart Your Career Revising the annual review process to foster greater communication and career conversations between staff and managers.
  • Faculty Development Engaging with faculty to maximize the impact of teaching, advance learning, and empower students to pursue their goals.

…and more to come in collaboration with our community.

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Furthering Operational Excellence

Operational Excellence (Op-Ex) projects foster greater coordination across the University, to strengthen the performance and alignment of the systems and functions that underpin the University’s success.

These efforts will rely on data-driven insights, deep expertise, and teamwork—drawing on the perspectives of campus leaders, partners throughout campus, those closest to the work, as well as insights from external experts and peer institutions.

As we strive to unite efforts, resources, and systems—from the spaces we inhabit to the tools we use to the way we work—our commitment is to adapt, modernize, automate, innovate, and scale our work in service of our students, colleagues, and community.

See what’s already underway:
  • AI-Powered Tools for Navigation, Answers & Processes Supporting students’ questions related to admissions, employment, campus services, financial support, and more.
  • Aligning Brand Strategy University-Wide Unifying brand messaging and communications through a clarified brand strategy and greater collaboration across schools and departments.
  • New Budget Planning Process Creating a more nimble and resilient financial framework to best position the University for the future.
  • Student Administration Foundations Updating our systems to support course prerequisites and automated graduation clearance.
  • Class & Classroom Scheduling Optimizing scheduling to improve student experiences and classroom utilization.
Let’s work together.

Suggest your ideas for Operational Excellence projects. Cross-campus teams will be formed to explore more complex, University-wide efforts.

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Our Vision

Boston University will be the global destination of discovery, education, and human connection—an epicenter where disciplines, communities, and realities merge and visionary thinkers unite to create transformative experiences and solutions for the world’s greatest challenges.

 

Convergence will light our path.

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Strategic Pillars

Our History & Values