Strategic Planning
Charting the future for UIC's College of Engineering Heading link
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering is at a pivotal moment of growth and opportunity. Located in the heart of one of the nation’s most dynamic urban centers, UIC Engineering combines the research power of an R1 university with a highly diverse student body, ranking in the top 10 for diversity and top 40 for social mobility according to U.S. News & World Report. Its research profile and student enrollment have experienced an upward trajectory for years, with tremendous opportunity in its future.
Beginning in January 2025 and continuing through the fall semester, we will engage members of our community in the planning process – to capture their ideas and to harness our collective strengths to advance progress across key dimensions for the College.
Together, we will identify actions to spur groundbreaking research, continue to train the next generation of problem-solvers and leaders, and expand our profile and impact within and beyond Chicagoland.
Resulting plan Heading link
The resulting plan will be designed to position UIC Engineering as a global leader in engineering education and research, ensuring its commitment to advancing knowledge, solving real-world challenges, and leveraging the power of diversity to create a thriving, inclusive community.
Process and Goals Heading link
Through collaborative research and synthesis, the strategic planning process will identify UIC Engineering’s distinct differentiators and opportunities, aligning the College’s culture and goals to create a roadmap for sustained impact.
Specific goals to be achieved through the planning process include:
- Engage key stakeholders for perspectives, ideas, and feedback.
- Create refreshed mission, vision, and values statements.
- Outline three to five strategic priorities and related action steps to advance the mission, vision, and values.
- Develop a strategic plan to guide decision-making, philanthropy, and resource allocation over the next 3 to 5+ years.
- Provide clarity and promote a focused and unifying approach to ensure progress toward achieving key priorities.
The final deliverables will include a strategic plan document, including vision, mission and values statements and a selection of key priorities and actionable goals for further development.
Consultants Heading link
Consultants Marisa Quinn and Jennifer Judge Hensel will work closely with UIC Engineering leadership to conduct an inclusive strategic planning process, collaborating with key faculty and staff leaders to conduct activities that gather and synthesize stakeholder input.
Engagement and Governance Heading link
To ensure robust engagement to inform the planning process, there will be broad-based surveys of key constituencies as well as meetings, focus groups and interviews with established governance bodies representing faculty, students, staff and alumni. Engagement with key external partners will also be central to this effort.
Stakeholder Engagement
The deployment of a broad-based engagement strategy will ensure that all voices are heard, both internally and externally, and that input, participation, and perspectives are incorporated throughout the planning process.
The following communities will be engaged at various stages in the process:
- UIC-E faculty, staff, students and alumni, including established groups such as the College’s Advisory Board, Executive Committee, Administrative Council, and Student Leadership
- Local recruiters that engage with UIC
- Corporate, industry and higher education leaders, including UIC leadership
Provide Feedback to the Strategic Planning Team
Coordination Groups Heading link
The following groups will support the strategic planning effort:
Steering Committee Heading link
| Jeremiah | Abiade | Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering |
| Joshua | Adkins | Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Civil, Materials and Environmental Engineering |
| David | Brazy | Director, Communication and Marketing |
| Rose | Coppola-Conroy | Director, Career Center |
| Jason | Elliot | Executive Director of Development |
| Chris | Kanich | Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, Director of Undergraduate Studies |
| Miiri | Kotche | Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, Clinical Professor, Biomedical Engineering |
| Carme | Lilley | Associate Dean, Graduate Affairs, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering |
| Ying | Liu | Interim Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Satish C. & Asha Saxena Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering |
| Constantine | Megaridis | UIC Distinguished Professor and James P. Hartnett Professorship in Energy Engineering Director, Micro/Nanoscale Fluid Transport Laboratory Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering |
| Thomas | Searles | Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Elsa | Soto | Director of Equity and Inclusion |
| Daniela | Tuninetti | Professor and Department Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Miloš | Žefran | Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering |
Working Group Heading link
This group will support the strategic planning effort through crafting and deploying communications, building surveys, scheduling of meetings and organizing on-site logistics for events.
David Brazy Director, Communication and Marketing
Ronald Fernandes Director of Information Security and Technology
Ray Matthes Director, Engineering Media Service
Lynn Thomas Director of Faculty Affairs
Writing Groups Heading link
At the stage of priority development, small writing groups comprising relevant constituencies will inform detailed action planning to achieve stated priorities.
Questions and Comments
Have a question or a comment? Please contact the Planning Team at engcomm@uic.edu.