Timeline

The planning process is split into three phases:

For detailed information about what each phase entails, see below.

July 2023

Strategic Planning Steering Committee (SPSC) formed
Scope and objectives of the strategic plan formed. The strategic plan is named “The Strategic Compass”

August 2023

September 2023

Work plan is finalized
Stakeholder Synthesis Team (SST) leads are identified and teams are built out.
Teams are trained on the strategic planning process
Website is established and broad communication strategies are implemented
Stakeholder Synthesis Teams begin research with the External Scan and identification of Key Success Factors.
- The External Scan is a research process that gathers data throughout the landscape of higher education, engages with the external stakeholder groups and conducts a PESTEL (Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technology, Environmental, and Legal elements) review. This step seeks to understand and prioritize external challenges and identify key success factors through research and feedback solicited from external stakeholders.

October 2023

External Scan continues
- Insights are solicited from the university community and stakeholders, and research is conducted
- Strategic Compass Town Hall session
SSTs conclude External Scan with reports submitted to the Strategic Planning Steering Committee.

November 2023

SPSC reviews External Scan and finalizes findings, assumptions, and Key Success Factors.
Stakeholder Synthesis Teams begin receiving insights and engaging the campus community with the Internal Scan and the identification of Critical Issues and Priorities.
- The Internal Scan gathers data, engages with campus community stakeholder groups to assess what the University does well and what it can do better. This step seeks to identify critical issues, priorities and opportunities through insights solicited from the university community and stakeholders.
SSTs conclude Internal Scan with reports submitted to the SPSC.

December 2023

SPSC reviews Internal Scan reports and finalizes findings and assumptions and begins review of critical issues and priorities.
SPSC meets to finalize Critical Issues and Priorities.

Review of current Mission and Vision
Identify Major Objectives - what must be our major accomplishments in 3–5 years?
Communicate Mission, Vision, Values and Objectives with stakeholders and solicit feedback.
Develop strategies to achieve major objectives and measurable goals.
Finalize a draft version of the Strategic Compass and present to President Kelly
Board of Visitors reviews the Strategic Compass

Major objectives are implemented by the University’s faculty and staff.
Ongoing review of progress, course adjustments as needed and results communicated regularly.
Continue implementation and monitoring of strategic initiatives.
Outcomes and impacts report developed and published.
Begin planning for the next strategic planning cycle.