On this day—November 2nd—in 1863, Gettysburg College alumnus David Wills, Class of 1851, invited President Abraham Lincoln to deliver “a few appropriate remarks” at the dedication of a national cemetery for those who had fallen during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Lincoln’s immortal words—delivered on November 19th and now known as the Gettysburg Address—called upon our nation to rededicate itself to the unfinished work before us.
Today it is clear that this great work—both before our nation and our world—is far from over. We face complex social, political, and environmental issues—from inequality and discrimination to hunger, war, and disease.
What we need is a new generation of leadership—leaders who are eager to tackle problems and generate positive change; leaders who will secure the worth and dignity of all people; and leaders who are committed to uniting us rather than dividing us.
Gettysburg College is proud to announce its new strategic plan, The Unfinished Work: A Strategic Direction for Gettysburg College, which is rooted in the words of Lincoln and the ideals of our Gettysburg Address.
This plan will guide us over the next five years and focuses on providing superb preparation to all Gettysburg College students, so they will graduate ready to live and work in an increasingly diverse, globally-interconnected, and fast-changing world. It is built around three key themes:
Impact
Building upon our strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, Gettysburg College will prepare students for lives of impact by enhancing opportunities for experiential learning that will advance their personal and intellectual development, their sense of social responsibility, and their ability to take effective action in service of the greater good.
Inclusion & Internationalization
We will cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming campus community that inspires a sense of social responsibility and enables our students to thrive in and contribute productively to an increasingly diverse and globally interconnected society.
Innovation
To prepare our students both personally and professionally for lives of innovation, we will promote an institutional culture of thinking and acting anew that honors the visionary leadership of President Lincoln.
Learn more about the College’s new strategic plan, and the action steps for each theme, by visiting www.gettysburg.edu/plan.
