Forward with Purpose: Temple University’s Strategic Plan will serve as the university’s compass moving forward, helping to ensure that Temple takes its place as one of the most consequential urban research universities in the nation by 2034.

More than 14 months ago, when John Fry was first appointed Temple University’s 15th president, he shared part of what drew him to the role. 

“We are uniquely positioned to set the standard for urban research universities in opportunity, engagement and discovery,” he said during his introductory communication to the Temple community. 

Now, a little more than a year later, the university has developed the foundation to achieve that goal. 

This week, Temple University introduced Forward with Purpose: Temple University’s Strategic Plan. The plan was formally approved during the public session of the Jan. 28 meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees. 

The strategic planning process, which began in February 2025, was originally designed to build upon the university’s 2022 Strategic Plan, ensuring that Temple’s institutional priorities aligned with the evolving needs of its students, faculty, staff, alumni and the surrounding North Philadelphia community. Just as important, this process was aimed toward further enhancing and investing in the academic excellence of the university. 

“The beginning of the strategic plan is really a watershed moment for us as an institution,” Fry said. “It has been no secret that I am very confident when it comes to this university and its potential to set the standard as one of the most consequential urban research universities in the nation. Now, we have the blueprint to help us accomplish that goal, and I am deeply grateful to co-chairs Interim Provost David Boardman and Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives Richard Souvenir as well as the Strategic Plan Steering and Executive committees for all the work that they did to help us arrive at this point.” 

Forward with Purpose has been organized around three priorities: Student Success, Research in Action and Place-based Impact. Additionally, a set of three foundational principles—Innovation for Excellence, Partnerships, and Operational and Financial Strength—will span the university’s work across the priorities and form the foundation needed to achieve our objectives. Together, these six elements form a shared framework for the university’s future. 

“This plan truly gives Temple a roadmap for the next decade, a beacon that should illuminate and guide every important decision,” said Boardman, who co-chaired the strategic planning process. “At the heart of it is service to our students and to our region. I am proud of the collaborative effort to get to this point, and I am looking forward to the important work ahead.” 

This process to create this framework and develop the plan has been both inclusive and truly Temple Made. Over the past year, all stakeholders—faculty, students, staff, alumni and community partners—have had a voice in the process, and those voices have all been widely incorporated into the final product. In total, more than 2,200 members of the Temple community provided feedback via either a town hall, listening session or through an online engagement platform. 

Additionally, a Steering Committee provided feedback on emerging themes and the framework and worked with the Executive Committee to finalize the plan. The Steering Committee included at least one representative from Temple’s 17 academic schools and colleges and its many divisions. Students, alumni and the community were also represented on the committee. 

“In creating this plan, one of the key things we focused on was stakeholder engagement,” said Souvenir, vice provost for strategic initiatives who helped spearhead the strategic planning process. “One of the lessons from the last planning cycle was the value of engaging people earlier and more consistently. This time, we focused on making sure the community had visibility into the work as it was happening, so the final plan felt shared and expected.” 

The timing for Forward with Purpose is also apropos, as it has been designed to serve as the university’s compass through 2034. That year also coincides with Temple’s 150th anniversary. The overall vision of the plan, as outlined within it, is: “By 2034, the 150th anniversary of our founding, Temple will be known and respected as one of the nation’s leading urban public research universities—an innovative institution that provides a high-value, accessible education, produces research and creative discoveries with true impact, and serves as a model of community leadership and partnership.” 

That vision can be accomplished by staying laser focused on the three priorities of Student Success, Research in Action and Place-based Impact. Achieving these three priorities will be supported through Building Connections, a complementary campus development plan that was released as part of the strategic plan and helps us envision the physical environment that will support Forward with Purpose. 

According to Souvenir, the university has already placed a great deal of attention on these priorities, but the plan provides an opportunity to further develop them and be thoughtful when it comes to accountability and measuring progress. 

“When we talk about place-based impact, we have been intentional about articulating work that needs to be done in partnership with the North Philly community. Research in Action is specifically about addressing urban research challenges,” Souvenir said. “This plan reflects what we want Temple to be known for, with student success at the center of all we do. We want students to have a multifaceted learning experience that includes opportunities to take advantage of our urban location and to partner with local organizations and community groups in support of their educational goals.”  

While the Strategic Plan is now complete, the most important part of this process will soon begin. Over the next several weeks and months, the university will begin to implement the plan to ensure that Temple is on its way to accomplishing its goal of becoming one of the most consequential urban research universities in the nation by 2034. Faculty in particular will play a prominent role in this effort. 

However, the plan is intended to be iterative and flexible. To reach its goals, the university will adapt to circumstances but will always keep students and faculty at the center of its mission. 

Soon, the university will host a series of events, which will provide members of the Temple community with an opportunity to learn more about the plan and how to get involved. For more information, visit Forward with Purpose.