UWG next
UWG Launches Strategic Planning Process Share this page
The University of West Georgia has formally launched UWG Next, a comprehensive strategic planning process that will help guide the university’s direction over the next five years and beyond, as UWG approaches its 125th anniversary in 2031.
UWG Next will be a collaborative and transparent effort, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners to help shape the university’s priorities and long‑term direction.
“Our next strategic plan must reflect both the needs of today and the opportunities of the future,” said Dr. Michael Johnson, president of the University of West Georgia. “UWG Next is intentionally designed to be open and inclusive, ensuring that voices from across our campus and our communities help inform the path forward.”
The planning process will be guided by a Strategic Planning Steering Committee, co‑chaired by Dr. Jon Preston, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and Allyson Bretch, vice president for university advancement and CEO of UWG’s philanthropic foundations. The steering committee includes representation from faculty, staff, students, alumni, athletics, academic leadership and community stakeholders.
While the planning process will continue to evolve, UWG Next will remain grounded in the university’s five Big Rocks, which anchor UWG’s mission and priorities: student success, research and innovation, athletics, economic development and community engagement, and the arts.
“As a public university, UWG has a responsibility to listen carefully, plan thoughtfully and make decisions that strengthen our impact,” Johnson said. “This process allows us to step back, learn from one another, and position the university to serve students and UWG well into the next decade.”
The UWG Next process will unfold in several phases, following widely accepted best practices in higher education strategic planning:
- Listening and discovery, focused on gathering broad input and understanding current strengths and challenges
- Data synthesis and framework development, identifying themes and areas of focus
- Drafting and refinement, informed by feedback and further engagement
- Final review and adoption, leading to the release of the university’s next strategic plan
- Opportunities for participation – including listening sessions and other engagement efforts – will roll out over the coming months.
More information about UWG Next, including the planning process, the full list of steering committee members and future engagement opportunities, is available at westga.edu/uwgnext.