TEANECK, N.J. –  Under the leadership of Fairleigh Dickinson University President Dr. Christopher A. Capuano and the direct oversight of Director of Athletics Bradford D. Hurlbut, the Knights have officially embarked on their first-ever comprehensive strategic planning process for FDU Athletics. The projected six to eight-month timeline will have the planning process completed by early summer of 2020 with the release of a five-year Strategic Plan for FDU Athletics.

"I'm very excited to formally announce that Fairleigh Dickinson University has embarked upon the Strategic Planning Process for Athletics on our Metropolitan Campus," said Hurlbut. "Our 50-member committee, as well as all of our coaches and staff, have enthusiastically embraced this undertaking and have been hard at work for the past 90 days. The feedback from the committee co-chairs has been terrific, thus far!"

The strategic planning process officially kicked off in November and includes participation by everyone within the FDU Athletics Department, a strong cross-section of administrators, faculty and staff from across the University as well as external stakeholders of FDU Athletics including alumni and donors. To streamline the planning process and the resulting Strategic Plan, eight representative strategic planning committees have been established to focus on key evaluative areas for the Department of Athletics. Additionally, an executive steering committee will assist in guiding the process. The planning committees include:  Extraordinary Experiences; Academic Success; Athletics Success; Compliance, Integrity and Sportsmanship; Development and Fundraising; Facilities; Fiscal Responsibility; and Marketing and Branding. 

"The athletics strategic planning process is an important effort that well supports the University strategic plan and will help us provide even more compelling reasons for students to attend the Metropolitan Campus," said President Capuano. "The completed plan will provide a roadmap for raising our athletic program to a higher level of prominence in the Northeast Conference and the New York/New Jersey Metro area."

Phases of the strategic planning process will include comprehensive strength/weakness/opportunity/threat (SWOT) analyses of the department, teams and support areas; a current state assessment and environmental scan of FDU Athletics; and goal-setting. The resulting plan will aim to establish clear priorities, set attainable timelines, assign responsible parties and guide decision-making and resource allocation for the Department in the years ahead.