Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan Priorities, Strategies, and Metrics

Vision:

To be the catalyst for scientific excellence and breakthroughs, where curiosity is cultivated, creativity flourishes, and every person—regardless of background—can develop as a scientist, innovator, and leader committed to solving real-world challenges. 

Mission: 

To ignite scientific discovery and empower the next generation of innovators who will reshape how we address humanity's greatest challenges by:

1. Advancing cutting-edge research and translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world applications.
2. Delivering transformative, experiential education that inspires critical thinking, curiosity, and scientific leadership in a diverse community of learners.
3. Building dynamic partnerships with regional, national, and global communities to amplify our impact and create solutions for a better, more resilient world.

Organization: 

The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) is one of the University of Massachusetts Amherst's largest and most distinctive academic units, comprising thirteen departments and two schools: Astronomy, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Conservation, Food Science, Earth Geographic & Climate Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Microbiology, Physics, Polymer Science & Engineering, Veterinary & Animal Sciences, the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, and the School of Earth and Sustainability. CNS also provides oversight for the Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (CAFE) and the university's extension mission. With nearly 500 faculty and 500 staff members, the college represents a significant intellectual and operational force within the university.

Education: 

CNS plays a central role in the university's teaching mission, serving approximately 8,000 undergraduate majors and 1,000 graduate students—representing roughly 30% of the university's undergraduate and doctoral enrollment. The college prioritizes experiential learning through innovative programs including Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), the SEA-PHAGES program, the Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) certificate program, the DesignBuild program (in collaboration with the College of Humanities and Fine Arts), the William Lee Science Impact Program (Lee-SIP), the CAFÉ Summer Scholars Program, and many others. CNS also houses two interdepartmental majors (Neuroscience and Statistics & Data Science) and four interdepartmental graduate programs (Neuroscience & Behavior, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Organismal & Evolutionary Biology, and Plant Biology).

Research:

The college's research enterprise is internationally recognized, securing $70-90 million in external grant awards annually over the past three years. Multiple units are ranked among the nation's and world's best, including Food Sciences and the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, both ranked #1 nationally. Five CNS faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. 

The college operates across eighteen campus buildings, three greenhouses, and several off-campus research sites, including the Cranberry Station, Gloucester Marine Station, Cold Spring Orchard, the Joseph Troll Turf Research Facility, the Equine and Livestock Research and Education Farm, and the Crop and Animal Research and Education Farm.

Priority 1: Promote Student Success

Priority 1: Bolster Supports for Undergraduate Academic Experience to Promote Student Success

• Strategy 1: Improve support for undergraduate students so they can thrive in their academic programs
• Strategy 2: Improve rates of student retention and timely degree completion
• Strategy 3: Bolster college-level contributions to enrollment efforts to meet the changing landscape of higher education and the regional/national demographics

Priority 2: Provide a Transformative Education

Priority 2: Provide a Transformative Educational Experience for Undergraduates That Prepares Students to Be Leaders in Stem-related Fields

• Strategy 1: Provide STEM-related experiential learning opportunities for all CNS Majors
• Strategy 2: Provide high-quality instruction and programming to improve student success
• Strategy 3: Enhance career development and post-graduation planning for all undergraduate students

Priority 3: Expand Graduate Success

Priority 3: Expand Opportunities and Success in Graduate Education

• Strategy 1: Leverage research strengths to expand opportunity for, and success in, graduate education
• Strategy 2: Provide high-quality instruction and programming to improve graduate student success

Priority 4: Grow the College’s Impact

Priority 4: Maintain And Grow the College’s Impact in Advancing and Applying Knowledge for the Betterment of Society

• Strategy 1: Increase innovation, translation and application of science
• Strategy 2: Expand external support for fundamental, translational, and applied research and community/public engagement with scientific discovery
• Strategy 3: Maintain and grow research facilities that allow cutting edge advances in fundamental and translational research

Priority 5: Strengthen Areas of Research

Priority 5: Identify, Leverage, and Expand Interdisciplinary Areas of Research Strength Within the College and University

• Strategy 1: Invest in and promote interdisciplinary strengths in the college (and across campus)
• Strategy 2: Expand research active faculty to maintain and expand areas of research strength in the college

Priority 6: Increase Engagement and Communication

Priority 6: Increase Engagement and Communication with the Campus-community, Alumni, and World

• Strategy 1: Expand and enhance external communication of college successes
• Strategy 2: Increase alumni engagement with the college
• Strategy 3: Support the development and success of college and departmental-level advisory boards

Priority 7: Increase Research and Engagement

Priority 7: Increase Research and Engagement Across the Commonwealth

• Strategy 1: Expand the societal impact of our research and training activities
• Strategy 2: Advance research, training, and outreach at our research stations and facilities across the commonwealth (Charles River Campus, Gloucester Marine Station, Cranberry Research Station, Cold Spring Orchard, South Deerfield Farm, Hadley Farm, and the Springfield Center)

Priority 8: Promote Belonging, Inclusion, and Well-being

Priority 8: Promote Belonging, Inclusion, and Well-being for All Members of the College

• Strategy 1: Advance belonging, inclusion, and well-being for all members of the college
• Strategy 2: Strengthen departmental and college-wide climate

Priority 9: Ensure the College’s Success

Priority 9: Ensure Sustainability of the College’s Success Through Responsible Stewardship and Growth of Resources

• Strategy 1: Advance sustainable deployment of resources to ensure the long-term success of the college
• Strategy 2: Generate additional resources to ensure the long-term success of the college