Cassandra Armstrong

The IMSA 2033 Vision, titled 'Elevate IMSA Everywhere,' outlines strategic progress across key initiatives. These focus areas include advancements in Artificial Intelligence education and application, the reinvention of Residence Life, the establishment of New Academic Pathways, the development of Higher Education and Industry Partnerships, and the creation of Innovation Hubs. The document details first-semester progress towards achieving these outcomes by 2033, aiming to expand credentialing, enhance student support, diversify learning experiences, and strengthen collaborations.

This document outlines IMSA's Equity and Excellence Dashboard, a tool for monitoring progress on a three-year Equity and Excellence plan. The plan's North Star focuses on fostering belonging, enhancing cultural equipping, closing equity gaps, and elevating impact. Key areas of focus include ensuring staff and faculty feel empowered and are diverse and culturally competent, promoting student belonging and academic success, and expanding IMSA's reach and impact statewide, particularly in STEM education.

The 'Vision 2033: Elevating IMSA Everywhere' outlines a 10-year strategic plan to ensure IMSA's future readiness and expand its impact. The plan is structured around five key themes: establishing an AI center with enhanced curricular and lab capacity, reinventing the residential life experience through new facilities and comprehensive support, constructing new academic pathways to broaden student experiences, formulating strategic partnerships in higher education and industry to expand access opportunities, and developing innovation hubs statewide, including online platforms, to increase STEM enrichment access. This vision aims to elevate IMSA's commitment to excellence and equity, providing unique educational opportunities for STEM-focused Illinois students.

The meeting included discussions about allowing board member Santos Rivera to attend via conference call due to business reasons. The board members thanked the Math and Science Academy for hosting the meeting. The discussion also covered the role and function of the Board of Higher Education, evolving into a broader conversation about the state's direction in higher education. The task force decided to form three subcommittees focused on higher education funding, the career outcomes tool, and refining goals and outcomes.

The meeting included discussions and recognition of various individuals for their contributions, particularly Dr. Evan Glaser as the new president and Dr. Storm Robinson for his interim leadership. The board also addressed the academic calendar, making adjustments to parent day and the alumni awards. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a deep dive into cultural competency, focusing on the results of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and strategies for improvement.