Dear Think Big Seed and RFP Finalists:
A lot of energy has been expended over the past several months on our strategic plan and charting a course for the university’s future. We are incredibly grateful to you and your teams for the thoughtful, forward-thinking and ambitious proposals which you have submitted to us.
As you are aware, COVID-19 has brought with it considerable and immediate budgetary challenges that need to be addressed now. With those challenges in mind, and in consultation with our Board of Trustees, we have made the decision to pause our Think Big investments until mid-July when the full, university budget is submitted. At that time, we can purposefully coordinate our strategic investments with our operating budgets, and plans from the schools and units. We are in a unique time of uncertainty and now, more than ever, we believe it is prudent to wait to make these investments. But I also know that we have a very strong pool of ideas ready for investment, when that time is right.
Thank you again for your commitment to Think Big. We hope that you will also share this message with your teams, and please feel free to contact Lisa Camp with any questions.
Sincerely,
Ben Vinson III
Provost and Executive Vice President