President's Message

Dear Laker Family,

Clayton State University’s 2024-27 Strategic Plan serves as a testament to our institutional commitment to social mobility and positive transformation to better the lives of our engaging and resilient student body. Moreover, by virtue of our dedicated faculty and staff, along with our supportive community of alumni, corporate colleagues, and local educational partners, we will influence the trajectory of Atlanta’s southern crescent and beyond.

The theme, Transforming Today for Tomorrow, authentically reflects who we are as a university, standing firm on our values of adaptability, collaboration, excellence, integrity and remaining a people-centered institution. The next several years will be integral to the continued success of the university as an anchor institution, becoming an even stronger beacon of education and opportunity in our community, while expanding outside the region.

Our new plan is grounded in four foundational capabilities — Achieving Financial Sustainability, Advancing Operational Excellence, Enhancing University Well-Being, and Strengthening Reputation and Brand Awareness. These four foundational capabilities enable our priority areas of focus — Building Academic and Career Pathways, Driving Student Success and Social Mobility, Growing Enrollment, and Increasing Community and Corporate Engagement. Taking the lessons that we have learned from the past along with the activation of a high-quality, career-oriented educational experience, these capabilities and priorities will bring our university’s full potential to fruition. Moving forward, it is imperative that we build upon our strengths, stand firm in our mission, and be inspired by new ambitions and initiatives.

What we are currently doing, and what we will achieve collectively in the future as a result of this plan, will solidify Clayton State University as a school of choice for anyone looking to transform their lives, advance their careers, and make a difference in the world around them. Let’s get to work!

Sincerely,

Dr. Georj L. Lewis