Strategic Planning in Higher Education

Successful strategic planning efforts in higher education settings requires bringing together highly diverse stakeholder interests in a collaborative, but efficient, process designed to create both insight and buy-in to the collective vision, mission, goals and priorities for the institution. We believe that success lies in building the plan from both the top down and the bottom up—engaging all key stakeholders in a highly collaborative and open process. The goal is to create a strategic plan that truly illuminates the distinct vision, mission, goals, and priorities of the University community, while also building the necessary ownership and understanding among all stakeholders to enable the plan to be implemented and goals to be achieved. This holistic approach differentiates strategic plans that sit on shelves, untouched, from strategic plans that drive organizational progress and success.