Discovery 2030 @ South
A strategic planning process for the future of research at South
Throughout 2025-2026, the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) will be engaging the campus community in strategic planning activities to shape a research plan that fits the unique culture, opportunities and challenges at the University of South Alabama.
Ways to Participate
- TOWN HALLS: We plan three campus-wide town hall meetings throughout the process, one each at the kickoff, midpoint, and endpoint. Since time and space constraints will restrict attendance, we will record these sessions and share the recordings online once they are available.
- SURVEYS: We will be collecting data using a variety of surveys during the planning process. We will begin with a baseline campus survey (open to all), and conduct a midpoint survey after we have released our preliminary findings (open to all). We are also keeping a form open for continuous feedback on the planning process.
- COLLEGE MEETINGS: Throughout the fall semester, a small team of ORED leadership visited academic units to learn about and discuss research within the context of each college or school.
- FOCUS GROUPS: Beginning in January 2026, the ORED team will convene focus groups to gather qualitative feedback. We have reached out to our campus partners for participant nominations.
Timeline
Summer 2025: Engagement & Development- Fall 2025: Data Collection
- Spring 2026: Data Analysis & Action Planning
- Summer 2026: Release Plan & Operationalize
Resources & Data
Data and documents produced during the planning process are shared below.
▼ Existing Institutional Data We Have Referenced
University of South Alabama Strategic Plan
The work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Research Classification and Researcher Support (website to be launched in October)
Faculty Senate aggregated R1 listening session data
Past Events
Town Hall Meetings
- 9 Sep 2025 at the Marx Library Auditorium
College Meetings
- 2 Oct 2025 College of Medicine Meeting
- 27 Oct 2025 pm School of Computing
- 29 Oct 2025 College of Education & Professional Studies Meeting
- 29 Oct 2025 College of Allied Health Meeting
- 30 Oct 2025 College of Arts & Sciences Meeting
- 4 Nov 2025 College of Business Meeting
- 5 Nov 2025 College of Nursing Meeting
- 20 Nov 2025 School of Marine & Environmental Sciences Meeting
- 20 Nov 2025 pm College of Engineering Meeting