UNC Pembroke recently announced the launch of Vision 2031, a comprehensive five-year strategic plan outlining a bold roadmap for student success, academic excellence, affordability and economic impact.
The UNCP Board of Trustees unanimously approved the plan at their Feb. 20 meeting. Organized around four core pillars, it clarifies priorities, focuses investment and strengthens UNCP’s impact across the state, the region and emerging national markets.
At its core, Vision 2031 is designed to address today's needs while anticipating tomorrow's demands.
“Our previous strategic plan positioned UNC Pembroke for extraordinary momentum and progress,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, MD, in a press release. “That success is a direct result of the talent and commitment of our faculty and staff, who deliver an exceptional educational experience every day. Vision 2031 builds on that foundation, expands opportunity for our students and accelerates UNC Pembroke’s forward trajectory.”
Vision 2031 is organized around four pillars:
Together, these pillars center on helping students persist, graduate and launch meaningful careers while strengthening the region UNCP calls home.
Chief of Staff and Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives Jess Boersma, PhD, led the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, which included a cross-section of faculty, staff and students. The initiative brought together voices from across the university community through listening sessions, campus forums, surveys and collaborative planning workshops. Each stage was shaped by community input and informed by institutional data.
Throughout the process, the chancellor and Board of Trustees provided guidance and input, affirming a shared commitment to the university’s future direction. Board of Trustees Chair Ed Brooks said the plan positions UNCP for long-term strength and sustained impact.
“Vision 2031 reinforces UNCP’s commitment to access, excellence and responsible stewardship,” Brooks said in a press release. “It ensures the university remains a powerful driver of opportunity and economic vitality for southeastern North Carolina and beyond.”
Progress will be tracked through clearly defined metrics that combine required UNC System performance measures with academic program review standards and institution-specific benchmarks. These measures include retention and graduation rates, enrollment growth, research productivity, endowment growth, debt at graduation, classroom utilization and national rankings.
Working groups will convene this spring to advance implementation, coordinate alignment across academic and administrative units and ensure the plan remains a living, actionable framework. Progress will be reviewed regularly and shared with the campus community and university stakeholders.
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