Transition Plan

President Elizabeth Cantwell.

To inform and guide her leadership as Utah State University’s 17th president, President Elizabeth Cantwell has developed a transition plan focused on listening, learning and engaging with the USU community.

Transition Plan Objectives

  • Create and facilitate a process for the new president to listen and learn about USU’s history and traditions, as well as key priorities and major issues faced by colleges and units across the university system.
  • Drive engagement with key university stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, community leaders, and other members of the community.
  • Identify and prioritize strategic objectives and actionable initiatives to help guide her leadership and fine-tune the Aggie Action 2028 strategic plan.

Roundtables

This fall semester, President Cantwell will hold a series of roundtables with different segments of the USU community. During the roundtables community members will discuss and actively engage with questions about opportunities, challenges and institutional priorities and will have the opportunity to provide insight, assist in the development of actionable strategies, and contribute to the advancement of university goals and vision.

President Cantwell would like all of us to consider the following questions:

1

What is USU’s greatest untapped opportunity?

2

What are the greatest risks that you worry will put the university off course?

3

What is the one thing you worry no one else has shared that you think she needs to know?

Logan Campus Schedule

  • Thursday, October 26 – Staff Round Table (1of2): 9:00-11:00 am – ECC 205/207
  • Friday, October 27 – Staff Round Table (2of2): 2:00-4:00 pm – ECC 205/207
  • Tuesday, November 7 – Faculty Round Table (1of2): 3:00-5:00 pm – DBH
  • Thursday, November 9 – Undergraduate Students Round Table: 1:00-2:30 pm – TSC 221
  • Friday, November 17 – Research Round Table: 1:00-2:30 pm – TSC 221
  • Friday, November 17 – Extension Round Table (in person and zoom option): 3:00-5:00 pm – TSC 221
  • Wednesday, December 6 – Student Athletes Round Table: 5:00 - 6:30 pm - Maverik West Stadium Center (3rd floor)
  • Thursday, December 7 – Faculty Round Table (2of2): 3:00-5:00 pm – DBH
  • Friday, December 8 - Graduate Students Round Table: 8:30 - 10:00 am - TSC 221

USU Statewide Campuses Schedule

  • Wednesday, November 15 - Blanding Community Round Table: 7:30-9:30 am - Administrative Conference Room
  • Wednesday, November 15 - Blanding Faculty/Staff Round Table: 9:00-10:00 am - Arts & Events Center
  • Wednesday, November 15 - Blanding Student Round Table: 11:00-12:00 pm - Administrative Conference Room
  • Wednesday, November 15 - Moab Faculty/Staff Round Table: 3:00-4:00 pm - Conference Room
  • Wednesday, November 15 - Moab Student Round Table: 4:00-5:00 pm - Conference Room
  • Wednesday, November 15 - Moab Community Round Table 6:00-7:00 pm - Josie Wyatt's Restaurant
  • Thursday, November 16 – Eastern Faculty/Staff Round Table: 10:00-11:00 am – JSLC Multipurpose Room
  • Thursday, November 16 – Eastern Student Round Table: 11:00am-12:00 pm – JLSC Board Room
  • Wednesday, January 10 - Salt Lake Round Table: 5:00-6:00 pm - SLC Student meeting USU Salt Lake, Room 156
  • Wednesday, January 10 - Salt Lake Round Table: 9:00-10:00 am - SLC Faculty and Staff USU Salt Lake, Room 156
  • Thursday, January 11 - Roosevelt & Vernal Round Table: 1:00-2:00 pm - Roosevelt Faculty and Staff Huish Learning Center
  • Thursday, January 11 - Roosevelt & Vernal Round Table: 2:00-3:00 pm - Roosevelt Students Huish Learning Center
  • Thursday, January 11 - Roosevelt & Vernal Round Table: 6:00-8:00 pm - Community Members & Stakeholders Swain Brother’s, 29 S. Vernal Ave. Vernal
  • Friday, January 12 - Vernal Round Table: 9:00-10:00 am - Vernal campus Faculty and Staff BEERC, Room 101
  • Friday, January 12 - Vernal Round Table: 10:00-11:00 am - Vernal campus Students BEERC, Room 101
  • Friday, January 19 - Tooele Round Table: 9:00-10:00 am - Tooele Faculty and Staff Science amp; Technology Building
  • Friday, January 19 - Tooele Round Table: 10:00-11:00 am - Tooele Students Science & Technology Building
  • Friday, January 19 - Tooele Round Table: 6:00-8:00 pm - Community and Stakeholders Hug-hes Café 500 Village Blvd. #202 Stansbury Park
  • Friday, January 19 - Brigham City Round Table: 2:00-3:00 pm - Brigham City Faculty/Staff Academic Building, Members First Credit Union Multipurpose Room, A104
  • Friday, January 19 - Brigham City Round Table: 3:00-4:00 pm - Brigham City Students Academic Building, Members First Credit Union Multipurpose Room, A104
  • Monday, February 26 - Uintah Basin, Roosevelt Faculty/Staff Round Table: 1:00-2:00 pm - Huish Learning Center
  • Monday, February 26 - Uintah Basin, Roosevelt Student Round Table: 2:00-3:00 pm - Huish Learning Center
  • Tuesday, February 27 - Uintah Basin, Vernal Faculty/Staff Round Table: 9:00-10:00 am - BEERC 101
  • Tuesday, February 27 - Uintah Basin, Vernal Student Round Table: 10:00-11:00 am - BEERC 101
  • Tuesday, February 27 - Salt Lake Student Round Table: 3:30-4:30pm - Room 142
  • Wednesday, February 28 - Salt Lake Faculty/Staff Round Table: 9:00-10:00 am - Room 156

Submit Feedback

If you cannot attend a listening session or want to provide your comments anonymously, please use the form below.

Transition Process

FALL

  • Create the transition team
  • Hold roundtables sessions
  • Plan engagement opportunities
  • Plan Statewide Campus tour

SPRING

  • Plan President Cantwell’s investiture
  • Announce the president’s vision
  • Identify and prioritize action strategies
  • Update USU’s strategic plan – Aggie Action 2028
Aerial view of Logan campus

Presidential Investiture

An investiture is a formal academic ceremony conferring the authority and symbols of high office, which has symbolized the pursuit of knowledge since the Middle Ages. It is held during the new president’s first year in office or at the conclusion of the first year. Today, universities view investitures as opportunities to welcome a new era and celebrate as a community.

The installation of a new president is a ceremony of dignity with many academic traditions and protocols. It includes an academic procession of delegates from other colleges and universities as well as the institution’s own faculty. Marchers wear the colorful academic regalia of their own alma mater.

More information regarding President Cantwell’s Investiture will be forthcoming in early spring.

Modern Land-grant Themes

President Cantwell plans to strengthen the 135-year USU land-grant mission by creating a modern interpretation that is deeply rooted in the core values of the state of Utah, amplifying our unique identity, and addressing the challenges and opportunities of the present era.

Through academic excellence, impactful research, and continuous engagement, we empower all Utahns to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. USU is translating the land-grant mission for the 21st century by emphasizing these focus areas:

  • Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovation
  • Community Engagement and Collaboration
  • Stewardship and Sustainability
  • Excellence in Education and Workforce Development
  • Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility

By aligning with these entrepreneurial and innovative values, the land grant mission will effectively serve the needs of the state's diverse communities while embracing the advancements of the modern digital era.

View of Logan campus at sunset