Kansas City, Mo. ? A controversial strategic plan for the University of Missouri-Kansas City includes several lofty goals and an ambitious fund-raising campaign.

Chancellor Martha Gilliland presented the plan, dubbed “UMKC 2006: Our Emerging Future,” to the Board of Curators Friday during the board’s meeting in Rolla.

The university hopes to increase federal research grants to $40 million a year from $15 million, lift 10 academic programs into the top 10 nationally and become a top university for graduating minority students. A roughly $200 million fund-raising campaign also is part of the plan.

The two-year effort to write the plan has prompted complaints from some professors, who say Gilliland is focusing on feelings and impressions, rather than advancing academic quality.

“We have a chancellor who is California-style, into touchy-feely psychobabble,” said Gary Ebersole, a professor of history and religious studies.

Just one of the plan’s five goals – becoming a national leader in scholarship and creative activity – highlights academic quality.

One other – finding the resources to fuel the plan – recognizes the university’s dire financial problems. State funding for higher education was cut last year.

The three other goals for 2006 are attracting and nurturing responsible community leaders; being an essential community partner; and being a workplace of choice.