Oregon State University
PAE-2: Strategic Plan

OSU's Strategic Plan was developed in two phases. In Phase II, the plan focuses on three Signature Areas of Distinction, one of which involves creating academic programs with emphasis on "Advancing the Science of Sustainable Earth Ecosystems." More specifically, Phase II targets "improving the understanding of the earth ecosystems upon which all life depends, and promoting their sustainability through high-impact public policy involvement with issues such as climate change, food security and safety, renewable energy production, and economically viable natural resource management." One specific goal in Phase II is to "substantially reduce OSU’s carbon footprint."

The overall imperative of Phase II is to "sustain human and improve the quality of human life." This imperative entails an understanding of and attempt to improve the environmental dimensions of sustainability. OSU recognizes the degree of global environmental problems caused by an increase in human population and in the consumption of fossil fuels. Therefore, the institution's strategic plan focuses on addressing "key future challenges [which] include linking the drivers of climate and ecosystem change to their impacts on natural and human systems; assessing strategies to mitigate the human “footprint,” (such as carbon sequestration, consumption moderation, and resource conservation); and formulating strategies that balance sustainable environmental, energy, and economic systems." In order to address these challenges, OSU will continue to promote faculty and students from its its nationally top-ranked programs in oceanic and atmospheric sciences, agriculture, forestry, geosciences, fisheries and wildlife, marine resources, botany, zoology and natural-resource related humanities to conduct research and activity in close proximity and across disciplines. This includes research and activity leading not only to improved ecosystems, but also towards a better understanding of the complex nature of human/environment interactions.

OSU's long-standing engagement with the larger community through the Extension Service, Agricultural Experiment Station, and Forest Research Laboratory contributes directly to the improvement of ecosystems in a localized context.

In 2013, the OSU provost has launched a process to revise OSU's strategic plan and build on Phase II from 2009, creating Phase III.

OSU's Strategic Plan has a University-Wide initiative to "provide a campus environment in which health, wellness, equity, and inclusiveness are fostered and all community members can grow and do their best."

The second area of distinction in phase two of the strategic plan focuses on "Improving Human Health and Wellness". This area of distinction addresses the social dimensions of sustainability by promoting health and longevity among human populations. As expressed in the plan, by "building more holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to healthy aging, chronic infectious disease control, new drug development, mental health, disease prevention to enhance the human lifespan, [and] decreasing health care costs," we will make progress towards maintaining a healthy population.

OSU has substantial credibility for effectiveness in promoting human health. OSU's "Colleges of Health and Human Sciences, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine are home to highly ranked programs that respond to some of the most challenging issues facing us today, focusing on prevention strategies to promote healthy living across the life span, examining the creation of new vaccines and vaccine delivery, and identifying and testing new pharmaceutical treatments for infectious diseases, and testing diseases that can affect humans. OSU is a collaborator in the Oregon Master of Public Health Program (OMPH) in community health, a program ranked second in the nation. The Linus Pauling Institute's focus on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer, aging, immune function, and neurodegenerative diseases brings additional strength and focus to this signature area."

OSU also focuses on social sustainability by seeking to develop a socially responsible workforce and acknowledging that social progress must occur in the context of social justice, increased diversity, equity, and supportive communities.

Two initiatives specifically to address social dimensions within the student population 1) Sustain and expand the Bridge to Success program to provide educational opportunities to students from limited financial circumstances. 2) Increase participation and success of students from under-represented U.S. minorities and international students, and equalize six-year graduation rates for all student cohorts. As illustrated in the plan's metrics table (which shows progress since the plan's adoption), graduation and retention rates have substantially increased from the 2003 baseline to the 2008 performance year. This increase is a result of initiatives set forth in OSU's Strategic Plan.

OSU's Strategic Plan addresses the economic dimensions of sustainability through its goal to "align and strengthen innovative scholarly and research activities to continue discovering new products and technologies that generate economic activity." This includes addressing "economically powerful solutions to America's critical challenges through leadership in areas such as energy and clean technology, micro and nanotechnology, and natural resource product technology." Furthermore, research endeavors at OSU are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and are often partnered with other universities and private entities. This promotes effective knowledge sharing and the collaboration required to market innovations and to include more beneficiaries.

The strategic plan recognizes and promotes the disciplines which contribute to economic sustainability. As stated, "OSU has degree programs that produce graduates who now and in the future will sustain areas critical to Oregon's economic vitality, including energy, health, nutrition and green development." OSU prepares graduates in these areas to be successful in a globally competitive economy.

Promoting research innovation and discovery is a major aspect of economic sustainability in the the plan, as new technologies, products, and creative ideas will contribute to growth in the market. OSU's world-class programs in engineering, science, and business prepare students in these fields to be leaders of innovation, leaders who acknowledge the importance of social justice and communities in the context of generating wealth.

The plan offers measures which relate economic sustainability to environmental sustainability, as these dimensions are often interdependent. This is illustrated by OSU's desire to "pursue breakthrough advances in renewable and alternative energy, green building technology, and resource and enterprise sustainability." As the planet is facing limitations on resource availability, this strategic plan acknowledges the importance of sustainable resource consumption and energy use as coinciding with the economic dimensions of sustainability.