USD's Strategic Directions planning process is a hallmark of Dr. Mary E. Lyons' presidency. She strongly believes in the importance of establishing broad, far-reaching directions to sustain a variety of planning initiatives rather than defining narrowly focused goals that may lose their relevance as circumstances change.
President Lyons launched the first cycle of this multi-year planning process in October of 2003. The Steering Committee used input from campus and community constituents to refresh the mission statement, restate the core values, craft a vision statement, and draft five broad-based strategic directions. During the next five years, several committees and task forces worked to implement a number of institutionally-defined strategic initiatives.
By Fall of 2010, those initiatives were incorporated into the structure of USD and the university was ready for new challenges. President Lyons launched a second cycle of planning to establish new directions and initiatives that will build upon the mission, values, and vision statements already in place.
