In his fall convocation to faculty and staff, Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson stressed the need to develop a bold, innovative and fearless strategic plan. He said a departure from conventional thinking is required to help NMU weather what some have called "higher education's perfect storm" of significant decreases in high school graduates nationwide, changes in state funding, higher expectations from students and parents for state-of-the-art facilities and technology and increased operating expenses.

"In the four-state Great Lakes region-Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota-there will be 45,000 fewer high school grads over the next decade due to lower birth rates and other demographic factors, and more than half of that decrease is in Michigan," Erickson said. "We must be one of the universities that is brave enough to head in a new direction. That means looking for new student populations and exploring new academic and student attractions that will make students choose Northern from the 500 institutions of higher education that exist in that four-state area."

In addition to enrollment, the other priority areas that will be reflected in NMU's strategic plan are academic excellence, student success, outreach and engagement, and innovation and investment. Erickson has set an aggressive timeline for completing the process. He plans to engage campus stakeholders in discussions over the fall semester and bring a completed plan to the NMU Board of Trustees for approval in December. The plan would drive decision-making effective with the winter semester.

"Being fearless in our strategy will not be easy," Erickson said. "At times, it will seem we're sending mixed messages: Cut the budget, but dream big. Invest in new initiatives as we stop doing something we've always done. Be fiscally conservative and, at the same time, wildly innovative. A great strategic plan helps the university become better at focused, effective decision-making that moves the institution forward."

The plan follows the set of core values developed for the university during Erickson's first year as president. He took an opportunity to reflect on the No. 1 lesson he learned about Northern early in his term.

"The people of Northern have impact-locally, statewide and globally. I realize that everywhere I go, whether I'm meeting with students, faculty and staff, business leaders around the UP or alumni across the country. What Northern people are doing in their classrooms, professions and communities is making a difference."

NMU fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 24.