Oakland University launched a major resource planning effort in 1997 called Creating the Future. The university brought together, ultimately, 500 business and community leaders, faculty, staff and students in 9 task forces to look at opportunities for excellence across the institution. The groups enthusiastically produced more than 500 recommendations, which the university community and the Board of Trustees prioritized into 71 critical areas of focus. The Board further refined the list into 21 urgent recommendations, which the university is now planning to execute over the next 1 to 3 years.