The Path Forward
Quick-Look Assessment
Launched in December 2021, the Path Forward was an ambitious administrative reorganization plan with 41 recommended initiatives leading to robust change across the university. In early August 2023, and at the direction of General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, interim president, a small team was charged with leading a quick-look assessment on the Path Forward. Learn more about the quick-look assessment, including recommendations and next steps, communicated to the university community on Oct. 4.
Texas A&M began an ambitious administrative reorganization of the university intended to streamline operations. The plan, called the Path Forward, sought to strengthen student outcomes at Texas A&M and better position the university for long-term success.
Some history: Previous Texas A&M President M. Katherine Banks asked the Aggie community in June 2021 and early fall that same year to weigh in by taking surveys about the university, while the consulting firm MGT also conducted interviews and performed in-depth operational reviews to produce a comprehensive report in October 2021. Former President Banks asked for feedback and received more than 1,200 pages for review. She also met with a variety of leadership teams from across the campus and organizations to discuss the individual and collective responses from their groups. On Dec. 14, 2021, she released the Path Forward plan for the reorganization, detailing 41 recommendations.
From there, students, faculty, staff, former students and others from the Aggie community were invited to serve on working groups. Those 41 groups have more than 550 participants and are in the process now of meeting to plan for these changes. The chairs of each of those groups reported to Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Hartman, who served as the chair of the Strategic Implementation Committee, which included the Student Body President, Faculty Senate Chair and Staff Advisory Council Chair.
The goal for the working groups was to complete their charge by Sept. 1, 2022, so implementation could begin and be carried out through 2023. Leadership across the university enacted processes and procedures, meeting that initial goal and start date for beginning implementation efforts.