By building on our strengths, we can improve the quality of our day-to-day lives, provide better and more varied learning experiences, and better appreciate and support the diversity of our community. We see these as areas of focus for our regular goal-setting and budget planning processes.

1.1 Continue to provide the finest educational experience in the world for students of contemporary music, taught by the finest faculty, by providing more interdisciplinary learning experiences, expanding our learning resources, broadening creative use of technology as an educational tool, and building the skills and capabilities of our faculty.	Berklee is the success it is today because of its faculty and the relevant programs and courses they continually develop to meet the educational needs of students preparing for careers in contemporary music. This is the college's core strength. Our greatest opportunity to maintain leadership is to continue to do what we do best.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: review private lesson and lab program improve and expand learning resources provide more "real-world" learning experiences provide a more interdisciplinary learning experience continue to explore graduate studies increase internship opportunities consider strengthening orchestra program progress on this initiative back to top
1.2 Create an environment in which women and minorities know that they are full and valued members of the community.	Although Berklee is richly diverse in many ways, there are groups who have been historically underrepresented in the music industry and at Berklee, and this has an effect on the environment for diversity in our community. We see the opportunity to create a more inclusive community with broader participation as a model for the music industry.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: create a congenial and supportive environment for women increase recruiting efforts for female students, faculty, and administrators increase opportunity for women at all levels increase awareness of diversity issues create a congenial and supportive environment for diversity consider establishment of diversity institute and office for multiculturalism provide for students with special needs encourage and support diversity programming at partner schools progress on this initiative back to top
1.3 Improve student satisfaction. Assess and recommend improvements in such areas as recruitment, admissions, student services, first-year curriculum, residence life, and other factors important to increasing satisfaction and retention. Create a college-wide “First-Year Experience Team" to assess student satisfaction, effectiveness of services, and all aspects of the first-year experience.	We believe, and national studies support our belief, that increased student satisfaction with educational programs and services can positively affect student success. This is especially true when student satisfaction is viewed within the context of meeting student expectations. Further, a student's first-year experience has been shown to set the tone for his or her entire college experience and often determines whether the student will succeed. We see this as an opportunity to identify additional means of helping students succeed in their first year at Berklee and beyond.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: improve advising programs build on success of counseling programs improve ESL/language skills instruction assess tutoring programs focus on retention/graduation increase student and faculty interaction build on success of student clubs and organizations assess affordability/scholarships examine admissions standards assess English language preparedness explore freshman seminar assess first-year/core curriculum consider preparatory programs consider mentoring programs provide for needs of international students progress on this initiative back to top
1.4 Provide web-based support services to faculty, students, and staff (Intranet). Develop online student services for registration, online applications, and other student transactions.	Customer service standards are evolving at rapid rates. Consumers now have an on-demand expectation for access to information and online services. We have an opportunity to utilize web-based systems to provide students, faculty, and staff with valuable information and administra-tive access. These new capabilities can provide cost-effective strategies to personalize service.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: use new technologies to enhance community and communication provide online student services expand digital media resource availability progress on this initiative back to top
1.5 Communicate Berklee’s unique identity throughout the organization. Establish a consistent philosophical approach, based on Berklee’s unique strengths, to help each individual achieve their best.	While Berklee established itself in the twentieth century as a visionary college in music education, there is an accelerating rate of change in music education, communication, and society in general. By clarifying the core ideology and guiding values that bond us together as a community, and with a shared commitment to continuous renewal and change, we will help assure our continued ability to be a visionary college in the twenty-first century.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: create an environment for open communication encourage more interdepartmental communication develop improved assessment practices develop improved governance practices review quality-of-life issues for faculty and staff consider "idea factory" at Berklee create more lines of communication with administration for students progress on this initiative back to top
1.6 Encourage commitment to professional development. Focus on continued learning and development. Encourage commitment to training college-wide.	The need for lifelong learning for both individuals and organizations is a recurring theme in management and higher education. The way business is conducted is changing so rapidly that the need for learning as a constant pursuit is a necessity for organizational survival. We are an institution that has thrived on change, and we have the opportunity to capitalize on this strength by supporting faculty and staff with relevant professional development.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: improve faculty training and development programs improve staff training and development programs progress on this initiative back to top
1.7 Expand Berklee International Network model to include high school music programs.	Interest in contemporary music continues to expand around the globe. The Berklee International Network is a membership organization of 14 music schools located in 13 countries that share a common mission and purpose. Further expansion of this model to include international high school programs will provide a Berklee educational experience to even more young music students.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: build on success of Berklee International Network provide for needs of international students progress on this initiative back to top
1.8 Build relationships with the music industry. Create programs with leading music industry foundations to strengthen friendships within the music industry and garner added visibility for the college.	Music is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States and one of the country's largest exports. There is an opportunity to develop strategic relationships and partnerships with the industry in order to create broader awareness for the social value and cultural relevance of contemporary music.
	Suggestions from the community that helped shape this initiative: expand collaboration with technology industry expand collaboration and partnership with industry develop cooperative experiential education programs support national/international public service endeavors progress on this initiative back to top