 Hello, I'm Kerry Dixon, Chancellor of Elizabeth City State University. I'm excited to share with you ECSU's strategic plan for 2020-2025, Foraging Our Future. Foraging Our Future focuses on how to best utilize our strengths to serve our students in providing access to a high-quality, affordable education at North Carolina's premier institution. ECSU is where leaders are created, leaders who are courageous, resilient, and empowered. Our strategic plan is built with integrity and compassion, supporting our students, faculty, and staff as we develop the innovators, entrepreneurs, pioneers, and creators of tomorrow. Our 2020-2025 plan was intentionally developed with a vision for our collective future. ECSU's high-quality academic programs aligned with community demands meet employer needs, enhance our region and state, as well as drive economic development to guarantee the future success and sustainability of the university. As a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, Elizabeth City State University offers baccalaureate, professional, and master's degrees for diverse student body. Our mission is to promote economic, social, and environmental progress for the people of Northeastern North Carolina, the state, and the entire nation. Through teaching, research, and community engagement, the institution's rich heritage and its current multicultural student-centered focus provide a firm foundation for its endeavors. It serves the needs and aspirations of individuals and society, producing graduates for leadership roles and lifelong learning. Foraging our future is comprised of six goals with successive objectives that are the blueprint for ECSU's success over the next five years. The first goal is academic excellence. That means ECSU will provide high-quality academic programs that fully utilize our strengths as a university and enhance our region. Promoting an academic environment that is centered on student success and Falster's faculty development in the areas of teaching, research, and service is our commitment. Established as a normal school for the teaching and training of teachers, ECSU will collaborate with regional K-12 education agencies to enhance preparation quality education to deliver best practices. As our strategic plan says, we are foraging our future. As ECSU aligns with community demand and strives to meet the demand of employers, we will continue to expand our academic offerings, services, and expand the national prominence of our aviation program, which is the only four-year collegiate degree program available in the state of North Carolina. Goal two is student experience. Because we are invested in the future of our students, it is important that we create transformative experiences for our students that support academic outcomes and build Viking spirit. While ECSU does provide a quality education at an affordable price, students can be assured that faculty and staff are not only committed to their academic success, but are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive environment that fosters a safe and engaging environment for students to be Vikings. As Vikings, students have access to robust co-curricular and extracurricular campus activities, enhanced living experiences, competitive athletic programs that develop student athletes into well-rounded leaders, and our unique culture of Viking spirit and Viking pride. Goal three is sustainable growth. By improving our enrollment process and investments in recruitment, retention, and completion efforts, we are maximizing our potential for sustainable growth in new student population, graduation rates, and overall management practices. Goal four is institutional advancement. As we promote and progress the institution through the engagement of our students, alumni, and other stakeholders, we must engage those constituent groups in ways that are meaningful and strategic. That includes implementing an effective marketing and communication plan, increasing visibility, cultivating a campus-wide culture of service and giving to the university, and prioritizing engagement with the community and the region. Goal five is operational excellence. ECSU will ensure sound and efficient operations and enhance our customer service quality and delivery through improved technology and business efficiencies, exceptional campus-wide customer service, and the recruitment and retention of talented faculty, staff, and administrators. The sixth and final goal is regional development. As an institution servicing 21 counties, it is imperative that we secure our position as a catalyst of regional economic, social, and environmental development. In doing so, we will facilitate collaboration with industry and government agencies to improve our region. In every way, ECSU is passionate and intentional about the success of its students. Guided by a group of core values, the university strives to demonstrate and maintain an incomparable level of accountability, commitment, excellence, collaboration, and inclusion. Viking Pride is not just about the institution. It is about the people. People who serve humanity with a passion for lifelong learning and strive for excellence as the standard. We are a proud family, one built on the strength of our forefathers. Together, we will continue our legacy of success. Together, we are forging our future.