University of Connecticut
PAE-2: Strategic Plan

Academic Plan: from the section on [3] Focused Areas of Excellence: "As this introduction suggests, emerging areas of interdisciplinary excellence grounded in traditional academic disciplines will be an important factor guiding the development of our existing research, teaching, and programs of public engagement. These areas of excellence encompass: • The Environment, including the environment and human health, the environment and sustainable ecosystems, the environment and sustainable energy."

From the section on [3] Focused Areas of Excellence: "As this introduction suggests, emerging areas of interdisciplinary excellence grounded in traditional academic disciplines will be an important factor guiding the development of our existing research, teaching, and programs of public engagement. These areas of excellence encompass: • Health and Human Behavior, including basic and clinical biomedical science; the relations between policy, law, behavior, science, and health; and the translation of discoveries in the basic sciences to products, policies, and practices that improve the health and quality of life of people everywhere. • Arts, Culture, and Society from a Local to a Global Perspective, including human rights, intellectual property, research on multicultural and international topics, an cultural enrichment in the humanities and fine arts.

WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES "While we are currently confronting a downturn in the economy, the news is not all bad. As noted in various reports and studies, including those published by the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, Connecticut Department of Labor, and the Battelle Institute, Connecticut’s economy is rapidly changing from one characterized by a large manufacturing base and blue-collar workforce, to a knowledge economy dominated by a growing services sector and higher paying white-collar jobs. In this transformed economy, higher education plays a critical role in ensuring an expanding population of college-educated workers. In light of the anticipated decline in the college-age population described above, the growing demand for college graduates poses a challenge for the State, but one that UConn is well-positioned to address. Coelen and Berger, in New England 2020, observed that college students comprise a substantial portion of the new residents attracted to states from outside their borders. These students are then likely to remain in the state following graduation and provide a steady supply of educated professionals who are crucial to growing the state’s economy. As the State’s flagship university and the highest ranked public research university in New England, UConn has the potential to continue to attract a growing number of resident and non-resident students, who are likely to remain in the state to address its workforce demands...”