What is our shared vision for the future of Williams? Eight working groups held about 120 strategic planning conversations with members of the college community in the fall to begin answering that question—one that President Maud S. Mandel says “every responsible educational institution should ask itself once a decade or so.”

In September and October, faculty, staff and students shared their ideas at formal events—including Tuesday forums at the Log and meetings with individual departments, programs and offices—and informal gatherings such as weekly sessions at the Tunnel City coffee shop. The working groups, which are examining the built environment, diversity/equity/inclusion, faculty and staff development, governance, life beyond the classroom, student learning, and sustainability, also held a full-day, campus-wide planning session on Oct. 15.

In the coming months, the working groups will synthesize what they have learned from all of these conversations into a set of visions and strategies that will form the basis of a strategic plan. Once it’s approved by the Board of Trustees, the plan will inform an operational plan to be developed in 2020-21.

Learn more, and share your ideas, at williams.edu/strategic-planning/.