Learning Resources

Abstract: When change in higher education isn’t managed in a human-centered manner, institutional leaders are unlikely to see the outcomes they intended to achieve. That’s because they didn’t invest enough in involving and supporting the individuals expected to operationalize a new strategy. Nobody wins in these situations: Executives, employees, and students all lose out on the benefits a change initiative could have produced. In this book excerpt, the author shares why strong change leadership must be at the helm of cultivating an environment where innovation is embraced and managed with compassion for the humans who are being asked to think and work differently.

Abstract: This article presents how a small, resource-constrained university leveraged integrated institutional planning to launch a 30-credit completion strategy that significantly improved student momentum, graduation rates, and institutional planning culture. By coordinating cross-functional teams, employing real-time data, and strengthening communication systems, the university built a scalable and sustainable framework that bolstered student retention and completion without requiring new funding or staff. This case offers a roadmap for similarly situated institutions aiming to align credit accumulation initiatives with broader strategic goals to drive measurable student success outcomes.

Abstract: Underlining SCUP's mission-driven commitment to advancing social justice, this keynote panel of presidents and chancellors of minority-serving institutions (MSIs) brings decades of experience leading institutions that support historically underserved, yet high-achieving students. Often underfunded compared to peer institutions that are not MSIs, these institutions provide academically rigorous, yet culturally affirming educational experiences for their students and serve as educational and cultural hubs in communities across the United States. This panel will explore the continuing relevance of MSIs in the current sociopolitical climate and how these institutions can more fully collaborate with each other and with the larger higher education and business sectors.

Abstract: For many years, the focus in higher education has been higher, more, and better. Higher rankings. More programs. Better services. And while these aims can be worthwhile, moments of vulnerability (like the one we're in now) are opportunities to rethink how we go about our work, reconnect to its meaning, and reimagine higher education's place in the world. What if, instead of going higher, what's needed is for us to go deeper?

Hawaiian ways of being and knowing acknowledge the power of going deeper—deeper into our relationships, deeper within our communities, deeper connections with the land. In particular, the power of place recognizes the importance of our surroundings, the people within them, and the interconnectedness of the two. It helps us remember fundamental truths about living in balance with our ecosystems and those we share them with.

In this keynote, Alapaki Nahale-a, a leader in Hawaiian community-building efforts, will share indigenous Hawaiian understandings and insights that can give you a new lens on integrated planning and higher education's role in the world. In particular, he'll share how connecting more deeply—to place and to each other—can be a source of meaning and strength for each of us, regardless of where our "place" is. Let Hawaii and the essence of who we are inspire you to embrace integrated planning as a way to unite us in purpose and action for the greater good.

Abstract: Colleges and universities have a traditional way to meet new needs. When there is a new research initiative, degree program, or student support function, institutions add space. Despite good intentions, their siloed structures, poor strategic planning, and history of continuous expansion mean that institutions adapt by adding. The result: Campuses are overbuilt and underutilized. Instead of shared spaces and seamless, supportive experiences, we’re left with sprawling campuses and spiraling costs. With enrollments, research funding, and our climate all changing, it’s time for a new model and a new mantra: Grow in place rather than add more space.

Abstract: Muskegon Community College’s (MCC) Goal in Focus communications program reshaped stakeholder engagement and strengthened institutional alignment, driving more effective strategic outcomes. Grounded in the Society for College and University Planning’s Integrated Planning Competencies, our approach fostered a planning culture that is transparent, adaptable, and collaborative. By strategically aligning monthly communications with its institutional goals, MCC increased engagement with students, employees, and the community while reinforcing a shared sense of ownership. A goal-focused communications calendar enriches sustainability, builds relationships, strengthens alignment, and improves preparedness for change.