Like Detroit, Wayne State University will be a very different place in 20 years. And the university seeks input from students, faculty, staff and the community to help determine exactly what that means, via participation in the 2040 Master Plan process.

Think master planning sounds boring? Well, consider that in 2000, Wayne State laid out a master plan that called for new student housing, a renovated student center, and expanded athletic and theater facilities. What will be next to ensure that Wayne State remains an active campus where students live, learn, work, play and thrive? There are many ways to join the conversation.

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to join Provost Keith Whitfield and community leaders at a community kickoff event for the master planning process. This event will include a brief introduction by Provost Whitfield, a presentation by the university's master planning consultants and a panel discussion facilitated by Stephen Henderson, host of Detroit Today on WDET.

Panelists include:

Maurice Cox, Director of Planning and Development Department, City of Detroit

Susan Mosey, Executive Director, Midtown Detroit Inc.

Robin Boyle, Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University Department of Urban Studies and Planning

The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on the first floor of the Integrative Biosciences Center, 6135 Woodward Avenue

Additionally, students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to provide input on how they interact with campus and the surrounding neighborhoods. The survey can be accessed at wsu.dumontjanks.com.

"Wayne State University's campus and the surrounding Midtown neighborhoods have experienced remarkable physical changes since the adoption of the previous master plan in 2001," said Ashley S. Flintoff, director of planning and space management, Facilities Planning and Management. "The new master plan will be formulated with an eye toward addressing not only the current transformations, but casting a vision beyond to meet future needs on campus and in our Midtown community."

Flintoff and her team are leading the planning process along with DumontJanks, a campus planning and design firm. The master planning team also includes Ghafari Associates, Lord Aeck Sargent, Gorove/Slade Associates, Lauren Hood and Gage Cartographics.

If you are interested in participating in this process, or have specific questions or comments, please email masterplan@wayne.edu.

To view the 2040 Master Plan, visit facilities.wayne.edu/construction/master-plan,