UPRA formally initiated its strategic planning process in the mid 80’s and has continuously reviewed and updated its mission, goals, and objectives based upon systematic analyses of its internal and external environment. University efforts in this direction have been spearheaded by an Institutional Planning and Research Office (IPRO) task force, composed of students, administrators, alumni, and key external community members that have been designated on academic, planning and fiscal management committees both at the institutional and departmental levels to actively participate in this process. They have been responsible for carrying out the activities, based on a strategic planning model, to update the existing Five-year Plan (2003-08) to reflect changes in scope determined by environmental internal and external scanning results. UPRA has developed a planning and assessment model that focuses on measurable outcomes through strategic planning and annual operational improvement plans. The planning/assessment process has been integrated as a cohesive whole into the various components of the Five-year Plan in order to guide the Institution and enable it to respond in a timely manner to internal and external challenges and opportunities.

Analysis of the institution’s strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems has also been
aided through the self-study process undertaken by UPRA during the past year (2004-05) for
joint reaccreditation by the MSCHE and the PRCHE. The recommendations formulated by these
agencies were considered in the analysis that produced this CDP, and represent a major step
toward assuring the soundness of the activities proposed and their ultimate institutionalization.

UPRH has been a leader among institutions of higher education on the Island in strategic
planning and assessment since the mid 1980’s. It was first in P.R. to introduce assessment at the
classroom, programmatic, and institutional levels through a Title III grant approved in 1988. By
1993, the UPRH had institutionalized its assessment activity, making it widely participatory and
on going. The Institutional Planning Committee, with representatives of all university
constituents – top administrators, faculty, students, personnel, and the external community, has
been in charge of monitoring the planning and assessment efforts. In 1998, the university revised
its Strategic Development Plan, redefined the goals to achieve the institution’s mission, and
incorporated an assessment plan to measure the achievement of these goals. As a result of this
newly-approved plan, during the 1998-99 re-accreditation process the MSCHE Evaluation Team
acknowledged UPRH’s accomplishments in these areas.