On Sept. 29, the University of Michigan-Flint announced BLUEprint 2031: a strategic plan that outlined a five-year set of goals for UM-Flint. The plan was developed with input from campus and community stakeholders and establishes five strategic priorities and 15 objectives focused on student success, academic programs, campus life, operational effectiveness and community partnerships.
The five priorities focus on increasing enrollment and student success, investing in university resources, improving operational efficiency, launching intercollegiate athletics and strengthening partnerships with the Flint community and other regional partners.
Each priority includes three objectives outlining steps the university plans to take, including expanding experiential learning, improving student support, modernizing operations, developing athletics and increasing community-engaged research and service.
“Blueprint 2031 defines the vision for the future of UM-Flint and the goals we must achieve to get that vision,” Abby Parill-Baker, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, said. “BLUEprint 2031 guides our collaborative work and provides a north star that guides our decisions and resource investments over the next five years.”
One initiative already underway is the launch of intercollegiate athletics at UM-Flint. The university is recruiting an athletics director and the University of Michigan Board of Regents approved a $34 million renovation of the Recreation Center. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation also provided an additional $5 million philanthropic gift toward the renovation.
Another initiative focuses on student-centered course scheduling. UM-Flint is participating in a course scheduling cohort through the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
The project aims to improve access to required courses, reduce the time it takes to get a degree and support students in completing their academic goals.
UM-Flint is working to establish consistent course rotations based on each course’s role in the curriculum and publish those schedules in the academic catalog. Some courses will be offered every semester, while others will be offered once a year or every other year during a designated term.
Publishing these rotations is expected to help students and advisors develop multi-year academic plans that include required courses and preferred electives. The university also plans to use scheduling data to identify improvements, such as adding sections of high-demand courses with high rates of D, F, or withdrawals.
Students are expected to benefit from fewer course substitutions, less waiting for required courses and more opportunities to take preferred electives rather than choosing from limited options.
The plan also includes an institution-wide artificial intelligence literacy initiative for students and employees. By 2031, the university aims for at least 80% of employees and 80% of graduating students to complete AI literacy training and demonstrate proficiency.
BLUEprint 2031 also identifies community engagement as a priority. The university plans to increase service and research projects developed with community partners, with measures to evaluate their impact and mutual benefits.
One program already supporting that goal is the Engage Flint grant program, which funds projects that bring university members and local residents together. 10 projects have already received funding through the program for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The university is developing an implementation plan that will outline next steps and timelines for BLUEprint 2031. Parrill-Baker said the university anticipates giving annual progress reports for these strategic goals going forward.
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