Strategic Plan 2024-2030: We Innovate for the Public Good

The Clark School’s educational mission is to prepare our students for careers in engineering—and beyond—while training them to address the challenges of today and define the challenges of tomorrow. As the problems our students face become more complex and interdisciplinary, we must reimagine how we prepare them. Our students will learn to use their foundational knowledge from the classroom to innovate solutions to societal challenges and translate them to real-world applications.

Objectives

REINFORCE links between the classroom and the real world.

ENGAGE students through innovative teaching and collaboration in inclusive and accessible learning environments.

PROMOTE multidisciplinary interactions and education to prepare students to ethically solve society’s grand challenges.

LEVERAGE the unique ecosystem of the national capital region to help prepare students through experiential learning and entrepreneurial activities.

LEAD in developing workforce educational activities in emerging fields that are of importance to the nation.

Initiatives

DEVELOP industry-government-university partnerships to bring real-world and use-inspired challenges to the classroom.

CREATE vertically integrated project teams to provide multiyear projects for experiential learning, allowing students to learn through activities they are passionate about.

EVOLVE the curriculum and pedagogical methods to ensure flexibility and leverage opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement, including those in areas outside of engineering.

ENHANCE our online and applied graduate engineering program to be responsive to emerging needs in workforce development.

IMPROVE research opportunities for all students and introduce research cohorts and lab rotational programs to expose students to research from year one.

LEVERAGE emerging artificial intelligence technologies, immersive and mixed reality, and data analytics to improve the student learning experience and generate success within engineering.

The Clark School will innovate in research to serve the public good. We will act as a leading catalyst for high-quality research that generates new discoveries, technologies, and innovations that yield significant positive impacts across all facets of society. By supporting and nurturing a creative, inclusive, and interdisciplinary environment that fosters innovative ideas at the forefront of science and engineering, Clark School researchers will define and advance new solutions to society’s most pressing challenges to meet our shared needs and enhance economic development  regionally, nationally, and globally.

Objectives

FOSTER a thriving research community by supporting the growth of collaborations across disciplines.

ENHANCE the utilization and sharing of space and infrastructure across the Clark School.

INVEST in human resources enabling the pursuit of transformative ideas and innovation at the forefront of science and engineering.

EXPAND and facilitate technology translation.

LEVERAGE the rich federal ecosystem of the region to address emerging research areas.

ENHANCE communication of Clark School research that is positively impacting society.

Initiatives

FOSTER communication and a collaborative culture among research units and disciplines by using shared spaces designed to promote intellectual and social interactions.

INVEST strategically in new core laboratory infrastructure and technical staff for thematic research initiatives accessible to researchers across the Clark School and the University.

INCREASE fellowship opportunities that strengthen the doctoral student pipeline by improving the recruitment of top students and incentivizing excellence among graduate students and their faculty advisors.

ESTABLISH liaisons to government and industry to grow external research collaborations and facilitate technology transfer.

STRENGTHEN the Clark School's role in supporting and fostering technology transfer and idea incubation while reducing barriers to entrepreneurship.

EXPAND opportunities and implement new mechanisms for sharing our research activities and accomplishments with internal and external stakeholders.

The strength of the Clark School relies on having a vibrant and diverse community of students, faculty, staff, and alums that share a passion for learning, innovation, research, and societal impact—a community where every member realizes their full potential while demonstrating inclusive excellence. We will foster a shared vision of excellence in all that we do; support and empower all community members to reach academic and professional excellence; and provide an environment that is safe and open, allowing everyone to take risks and celebrate successes. We will ensure and support the wellbeing of our community while pursuing new investments to foster engagement and inclusion. As we move toward 2030, we will challenge ourselves to become a model of inclusive excellence for the University of Maryland so that all may innovate to serve the public good.

Objectives

RECRUIT and support a highly diverse student body, faculty, and staff from all sectors of society.

INTEGRATE the values of an inclusive community where every individual throughout the Clark School has a voice and is treated with respect.

FOSTER a community of care to support the mental health and well-being of every member of the Clark School.

RECOGNIZE and celebrate the variety of contributions and services provided by our staff, faculty, and students.

ALIGN evaluations, rewards, and incentives with our goals and values to support the professional and academic development of our community.

EMBRACE a culture of collaboration, openness, and transparency within our community.

Initiatives

INVEST in student groups, organizations, and programming to foster a strong academic community from day one, living up to the principles of Terrapin Strong.

COLLABORATE with other groups on campus to create programs to enhance student engagement, belonging, and success.

ENSURE the well-being of our community through equitable access to health and wellness resources, including mental health and wellness professionals.

CREATE clear career development paths and promote professional development opportunities to support the growth of our community members.

DEVELOP an equitable rewards and recognition system inclusive of all members of our community that incorporates the Clark School’s values.

ORGANIZE open and inclusive events that celebrate diversity, build meaningful connections, and increase engagement.

UPDATE and expand the Clark School’s common spaces to increase interaction and engagement among our community members.

ENHANCE communications and promote a diversified system of shared governance to empower every member of the Clark School community to share their voice and to actively participate in the betterment of the school.

Strategic partnerships, especially those that embrace Clark School values, are vitally important as they act as a tremendous force multiplier of our passionate pursuit of excellence in research, education, and service to our region and beyond. Partnerships are the foundation for realizing our goalsto solve societal grand challenges. By engaging with the citizenry of Maryland; the state’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercial ecosystems; and the vast array of federal institutions and corporations found in our local region, the Clark School is in a truly unique, enviable, and formidable position to accelerate positive outcomes and innovate for the public good. With our size, the Terp alumn network, ready access to unique resources, and commitment to advancing technological solutions and the people that drive them, the Clark School proudly embraces our responsibility to lead the way.

Objectives

LEVERAGE the unique ecosystem of the nation’s capital region and pursue and cultivate partnerships that accelerate the
pursuit of our mission.

GROW partnerships that enhance our impact on communities across the state of Maryland and extend critical knowledge and expertise to meet society’s most pressing issues.

PROVIDE tools, facilities, and resources needed to pursue and cultivate meaningful partnerships that strengthen our impact in research, education, and translation to society.

FOSTER partnerships that capitalize on our strengths to advance equality, prosperity, and security within national and globalcommunities.

CULTIVATE partnerships that recognize and include the highly diverse region we live in and provide access to engineering education and workforce development for all.

Initiatives

GROW partnerships that build on the programs of Clark School departments, centers, and institutes that promote technological innovation, provide experiential learning opportunities for students, and that contribute to the technology economy and public good of the state and region.

PRIORITIZE partnerships that involve high-impact, multidisciplinary challenges including those in energy, climate, data science, robotics, autonomy, national security, and health.

CREATE programs that not only recognize our proximity to federal institutions but also embrace and financially support those relationships through Clark School student internships, seedgrant initiatives, bi-directional visiting professorships, and joint appointments.

FACILITATE shared infrastructure relationships that extend resources and build cooperation and collaboration.

DEVELOP partnerships with adjacent and distant Maryland communities, their leaders, and businesses that contribute to the rich diversity of thought, experience, and practice that is necessary to innovate, design, and demonstrate engineering’s positive societal influence.

IDENTIFY and pursue national and international partnerships, embracing the vast educational, research, and service-related relationships that have grown from our internationally recognized leadership in engineering.

INCREASE engagement with education institutions (primary, secondary, and vocational) to build awareness of engineering careers and foster excitement within the next generation of engineers.

AMPLIFY communication about our partnerships to increase community engagement and enhance partnership outcomes.