Dean's Message, End of the Academic Year, 2025-26

This past semester, the College of Liberal Arts began gathering feedback from faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders to lay the groundwork for our next five-year strategic plan. The information from the conversations, surveys, and listening sessions held across COLA is now actively shaping the direction of the plan.

In parallel, RIT's Board of Trustees recently voted to adopt a new university-wide strategic framework, and COLA's plan will be developed in thoughtful alignment with that broader vision. Together, these efforts represent a rare opportunity to define what our college will strive toward in the years ahead.

The emerging plan is organized around pillars that reflect both who we are and who we aspire to become. Themes around ethical grounding, student belonging, and the college's evolving identity in a tech-forward university ran consistently through the feedback we received, and you will see each of the revised themes honored in the framework taking shape.

We recognize that for some, the phrase "strategic plan" can prompt a degree of skepticism. Will this actually change anything? Does the work translate into real outcomes? Or does it sit on a shelf? These are fair questions, but I think our more recent record speaks for itself. COLA's Bridge Plan, our transitional roadmap of recent years, set clear goals, and we delivered on them. Strategic plans work when the entire community owns them, and this college has already demonstrated success. 

This new five-year plan carries even greater promise. COLA's vision—to provide a liberal arts foundation for all RIT students within a welcoming community committed to academic freedom and shared governance— positions us as an indispensable part of the RIT experience.

As the technological landscape grows more complex, the need for critical, creative, and ethical thinkers grows more urgent. A strong College of Liberal Arts is even more necessary for RIT students. The plan we are building together will make that case clearly and will give every member of this college community a concrete role in advancing it.

More details on the draft framework, timeline, and opportunities for continued input will be shared in the fall. Thank you to everyone who contributed their voice this semester (students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents) your feedback is shaping what comes next.