WRI’s 5-Year Strategic Plan
Building the South Jersey Research Hub of the Future
2024-2028 Strategic Priorities
Building on WRI’s mission of producing community-facing research in and for Southern New Jersey, the plan outlines key strategic priorities for the next five years that enhance its research initiatives, expand its reach across South Jersey, and establish exciting new opportunities for students and faculty to engage in real-world projects that support the region. By bringing community and WRI researchers together, WRI strives to continue making connections across research, policy and practice in the region.
The Walter Rand Institute’s strategic planning process began in spring 2022. Through extensive discussions, interviews, and prioritization exercises with WRI staff, the WRI Advisory Board, university leadership, faculty, and students, WRI developed the following vision and strategic priorities.
Research Portfolio Development
Enhancing WRI’s community-facing research portfolio to produce timely policy and practice-relevant research that highlight issues and solutions across Southern New Jersey.
Linking the University to Regional Issues
Creating dynamic pathways for faculty and the university to both engage in impactful South Jersey-based research and offer coursework in community-focused research.
Strategic Public Engagement
Fostering a variety of research engagement opportunities for government officials, State and local agencies, community providers and members of the public that effectively support Camden City and all Southern New Jersey counties in sound policy and practice decision-making.
Student Engagement
Expand an already robust set of offerings to create a learning laboratory for students that teaches and trains the next generation of professionals and leaders in community-facing research practices, writing for public audiences, and furthers students’ professional research goals and interests.
There are a variety of pathways to make a donation to the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs and support the implementation of this plan.
Visit https://rand.camden.rutgers.edu/donate/ to learn more.
If you have questions or would like to collaborate with WRI on any aspect of the strategic plan, reach out to wrand@camden.rutgers.edu.