The beginning stages of a new budgetary plan are in place for the university community.

A mass email sent out by Colorado State University-Pueblo President, Lesley Di Mare, gave details on the start of a “strategic planning task force” that will be put in place to address challenges to the university, as well as, continuing to build upon its strengths.

CSU-Pueblo has had challenges with the retention of its students and budgetary issues for years now; but that is all set to change in the near future.

“We are beginning the first step to develop a strategic plan that will chart the institutional course of CSU-Pueblo for the next three years. The plan will focus on 2013-16, and provide us direction as we address our challenges, while simultaneously build upon our strengths, and take advantage of exciting opportunities,” Di Mare said in the email,

“Our actions will be driven by our mission and core values as a regional, comprehensive university with a student-centered focus and an enduring commitment to diversity,” Di Mare said.

The strategic planning task force will consist of all of the stakeholders on campus.

“I am requesting that the leadership of academic council, faculty senate, associated students government and classified and administrative professional councils, each provide 10 names of those willing to serve, to Jen Mullen, chief of staff, by 5 p.m, on Wednesday, Feb. 6,” Di Mare said.

The final decision on who will be on the task force will be decided after the president meets and discusses with members of her cabinet.

“Task force membership will be comprised of two representatives from each of those five groups,“ Di Mare said.

“Currently our challenges are also great, as we face budgetary and enrollment concerns that must be addressed through improved financial management procedures, strategic program assessment, and new recruitment and retention initiatives,” Di Mare said

The plan, along with members of the strategic planning force, will help determine ways to retain more of CSU-Pueblo students over the duration of all their years in the undergraduate and graduate programs.

“This group will examine our recruitment and retention efforts, our graduation rates, our academic programs, administration, student services and facilities,” Mullen said

“They will also look at our expected revenue and create a plan that we will then implement going forward.  It’s a complex undertaking that will take quite a few months,” Mullen said.

“This isn’t new; we do this every 3-5 years at CSU-Pueblo,” Mullen said.

“We get together representatives from students, faculty and employees to work together on solutions.  We must do this planning every 3-5 years because plans change, the university change, society changes…and we want to always be current with what kinds of plans we’re going forward with,” Mullen said.