About

Moving Illinois Forward

For generations, the world treated higher education as a shared investment that strengthened innovation, civic leadership, and economic success across communities and the nation. While that mission hasn’t changed, the world around us has. 

This is a historic moment, and Illinois is one of the few institutions uniquely positioned to meet it. 

• We are a comprehensive public land-grant research powerhouse with more than half a million influential students, staff, faculty, and alumni around the world. 
• We are a catalyst for progress and innovation on a local and global scale. 
• In a society searching for answers, we want everyone to know that Illinois leads. 

Building on a Strong Foundation

Boldly Illinois guided the university’s progress in recent years, and Illinois Leads will build on that strong foundation. In this next era, we will move forward with a plan that is ambitious, specific, and measurable.

Meeting This Moment

Illinois Leads sets the course for this university to strengthen its leadership role in higher education. To meet the moment, the planning process will move quickly while remaining thoughtful. The Illinois Leads strategic plan will be guided by our university mission, aligned with Illinois brand pillars, grounded in clear priorities, and focused on measurable impact.