Christopher Newport University outlines five-year Strategic Compass focused on liberal arts, inclusion and regional ties

President Bill Kelly of Christopher Newport University told the Newport News City Council that the university has developed a five-year "Strategic Compass" to guide its decisions and strengthen ties with the city and the Hampton Roads region. Kelly said the planning process included "over 200 voices" from the campus and community and produced four primary focus areas: anchoring the institution in the liberal arts; building a foundation to thrive through fiscal responsibility and enrollment strategy; creating a culture of inclusion and belonging; and connecting the university to the region through research, service and partnerships.

Kelly highlighted a forthcoming Science and Engineering Research Center, described in the presentation as an 83,000-square-foot facility with a two-story drone lab and maker spaces. He said the center is funded by the Commonwealth and scheduled for a ribbon-cutting on Jan. 10, and that the university is pursuing partnerships with Virginia Tech, the Tech Center and Newport News Shipbuilding to leverage the facility for regional needs. "We want it to be a resource for the region and especially for our city," Kelly said.

The president also noted that more than half of CNU graduates earn STEM degrees and that, when business programs are included, the universitys graduates in those fields exceed 70 percent. Kelly described sustainability efforts on campus—including recycling at recent sporting events, which he said diverted more than 95 percent of event materials from waste—and emphasized the universitys intention to be "a hometown university for Newport News and Hampton." He said the Strategic Compass contains about 49 tasks, and flagged Tom Kramer as the universitys point person for city engagement. Kelly said the university will conduct an economic impact study to quantify CNUs contribution to the local economy, citing recent athletic events that drew teams and fans from several states and filled local hotels and restaurants.

An unidentified council member thanked Kelly for the presentation and commended the universitys focus on community engagement. Kelly closed by inviting further questions and offering to work with city officials on shared objectives. The presentation concluded with council members thanking Kelly and his wife, Angie, for their engagement with the city.

The council did not take any formal action on the Strategic Compass during the meeting; Kelly provided hard-copy materials for council review and pointed to staff contact Tom Kramer for follow-up.