At the University Days Academic Convocation on September 12, 2007, President Ashley officially launched UNLV's comprehensive planning process during his State of the University Address.
"A wealth of new discoveries awaits the university that can properly focus its planning, academic, and research efforts. As shapers of minds and pioneers of innovation, we spend much of our time in the abstract. But we must acknowledge the concrete realities of cost versus revenue.
Treating our time, energy, and resources with economy is a form of self-respect. At this critical juncture in UNLV's history — this moment when we can all make our mark — we must do ourselves the honor of planning properly to maximize economy. It is more than efficiency. It is about precision.
On Sept. 25, Executive Vice President and Provost Neal Smatresk will initiate our planning process in full. Our first engagement will be a comprehensive budget planning process. This is a process unlike any the university has ever seen. Cooperative. Collaborative. And completely new in its full transparency. You will see clearly how monies are allocated — especially discretionary and indirect cost revenues.
If you are in this room right now — or if you ever have a reason to visit campus — you are encouraged to be part of this process.
It begins by asking the right questions. Those questions will be posed and considered in a series of town hall meetings throughout the fall. These town hall meetings will feature panel discussions by university stakeholders representing a cross-section of our community. I want to take this opportunity to formally invite all of you to attend these meetings. This is our time to realize the full potential of our individual voices.
In essence, the success of these town hall meetings depends on you. It is only through an exchange of ideas that we can arrive at the best plan of action.
At the conclusion of this series of town hall meetings, all information will be coalesced into a unified document. This document will serve as the blueprint for resource allocation for the coming years. During my inaugural address, I assured you that our priorities would stay funded. I stand by that today. And now, it is your opportunity to help chart the course for what those priorities should be."
