Higher education conveys the promise of transformative experience, enhancing the quality of life for the individual student and enriching society through the contributions gained from an educated populace. The pathways that higher education institutions have traditionally taken to provide these transformational experiences, though, should no longer be taken for granted. With this new strategic plan, we stand poised to embrace the challenges and opportunities of a new era; we stand ready to develop and adopt best practices; and we stand ready to become an exemplar of the 21st century research university. We stand ready to take Giant Steps.