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Your Higher Education Planning Library

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Blog Post

Published
September 2, 2025

How Strategic Is Your Strategic Plan?

Identify Its Shortcomings and Ask Key Questions

By: Sarah L Collie, PhD, Associate Vice President for Organizational Excellence, University of Virginia

Today, strategic planning in colleges and universities is more crucial than ever. Yet many strategic plans in higher education lack a clear strategy, instead resembling a long-range plan.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
August 18, 2025

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Strategic Alignment for Degree Completion

Leverage an Integrated Planning Approach to Improve Credit Momentum and Student Success

By: Nicole DeCapua, EdD, Mildred Mihlon, PhD, and Tracy Louisse S. Chacon, MEd

By coordinating cross-functional teams, employing real-time data, and strengthening communication systems, a university bolstered student retention and completion without requiring new funding or staff.

From Volume 53 Number 4 | July–September 2025

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.

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Conference Presentations

Published
May 20, 2025

Reimagining Science and Engineering Programs through the Living Masterplan

Abstract: Science and engineering programs continue to grow and attract funding. Strategic planning can maximize new and repurposed space for STEM programs to address aging infrastructure, changing research, evolving student needs, and an uncertain future. To build stakeholder consensus and develop an achievable plan, we'll define key metrics behind the best use of existing space and showcase how specific data-driven tools and analytics transform traditional planning into a living masterplan. By applying a living masterplan and embracing data-driven tools, you'll be able to reach stakeholder consensus sooner and develop more efficient plans that are both implementable and adaptable to future changes.

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Conference Presentations

Published
April 3, 2025

Leveraging New Campus Development for Community Empowerment

Abstract: Affordable and accessible higher education is key to upward mobility and community transformation, especially for many rural and remote suburban communities that have limited access to resources. In this session, we'll explore the potential synergies between existing community colleges and their satellite locations. How can institutions drive community-engaged development in places that really need it? Is it better to build on existing assets or to build new? Discover how a community charted its own path toward a new college campus by organizing, passing a bond, and ultimately developing a tech-enabled, high flex learning environment with community space.

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Conference Presentations

Published
April 2, 2025

A Data-driven Approach to Revolutionize Campus Planning

Abstract: Many campuses face real estate pressures, reduced funding, and aging assets, but often lack complete data sets or tools for visualizing the connection between campus priorities. Bold strategies and tools can help us find commonalities and opportunities in a time of limitless needs and constrained resources. We will detail an approach that considers cost, campus vision, and asset management goals to enable flexible solutions with a data-driven analysis of capital planning alternatives. Come learn how to determine which data matters and how to approach your campus's challenges in a way that better supports the institutional mission and adaptation to change.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
December 11, 2024

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Strategic Planning for the Uncertain Road Ahead

Collectively Set Your Institution’s GPS to the Future

By: Diana L. Young, PhD, and Holley Morris Roberts, EdD

A public liberal arts institution began an integrated, collaborative, and future-focused strategic planning process during COVID-19, enrollment declines, and financial shortfalls. Committed leadership, listening to stakeholder voices, and studying best practices from other universities paved their strong path forward.

From Volume 53 Number 1 | September–December 2024

Abstract: Georgia College & State University, a public liberal arts institution, began an integrated,
collaborative, and future-focused strategic planning process during a time of uncertainty (COVID-19, enrollment declines, financial shortfalls, etc.). This planning included shared leadership across campus to develop and implement the plan, data-informed decision-making by a diverse group of steering committee members representing all areas of campus, visits to strategically identified aspirant universities, and ongoing stakeholder engagement that included student input. These strategies leveraged the inherent qualities of a liberal arts institution while addressing the challenges and opportunities that exist in public higher education.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
October 31, 2024

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Leveraging Data to Engage Our Community

Data Play Dual Roles in Facilitating Inclusive and Evidence-Based Strategic Planning

By: Su Swarat, PhD, and Gina Park, PhD

Success in strategic planning requires decision-making that reflects the collective vision of diverse constituents.

From Volume 52 Number 4 | July–September 2024

Abstract: Success in strategic planning requires decision-making that reflects the collective vision of diverse constituents. At California State University, Fullerton we leveraged data as the essential thread in engaging our community in an inclusive strategic planning process. Data played dual roles, serving as input and output, to provide a common framework through which the ideas and wisdom of our community are reflected and shared, anchoring the strategic plan firmly in the campus voices. Our engagement through data embodied our commitment to evidence-based decision-making and contributed to the success of our strategic planning process.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
October 29, 2024

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The Devil and the Detail

Using Headcount and FTE in the Planning Process

By: Karen E. Hinton, PhD

Often, student, faculty, and staff headcount and FTE can be misunderstood and misused. Understanding crucial factors about these data sets can strengthen the planning process.

From Volume 52 Number 4 | July–September 2024

Abstract: Everyone involved in planning activities will be aware of the use of data in the process. Data-driven planning is ubiquitous in all planning processes but can be a weak spot for many planners. The difficulty for most people is that the very mention of “data” can make eyes glaze over. Some of the least understood and most misused data are student, faculty, and staff headcount and FTE (full-time equivalent). Understanding some critical factors about these data sets can help demystify them and strengthen the planning process.

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Integrated Campus Master Planning for Unprecedented Capital Improvements

By: Michael Hoff, Vice Provost

Universities are complex organizations that must align many different types of plans to maximize success.
Abstract: Universities are complex organizations that must align many different types of plans to maximize success. Integrated planning is vital to the master planning process because it requires support of all university constituencies. This session will describe how integrated planning and the development and implementation process of the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) master plan enabled ETSU to receive external support of more than $400 million for new and renovated capital projects over the past decade. We'll share how to plan across units, gain constituency support, take steps for project proposals that gain state support through competitive approval processes, and ensure the master plan is the foundation for university growth.

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Bison Blueprint: Building An Integrated Planning Culture At Gallaudet

By: Kristin Mulrooney, Strategic Planning & Integration Officer | Guthrie Nutter, Strategic Communications and Planning Manager| Jennifer Powers, Sr. Project Manager

A successful integrated plan requires the broad engagement within an institution.
Abstract: A successful integrated plan requires the broad engagement within an institution. In this session, we'll demonstrate how we taught key leaders about integrated planning by breaking down the integrated planning process to enable plan creation for different programs and divisions. We'll share our Bison Integrative Planning Toolkit, which provides an 'evergreen' resource for onboarding colleagues into the integrated planning process and also serves as a manual that walks through the process of creating a plan. Join us to gain teachable, no-cost resources that you can easily disseminate at your institution to foster necessary skills for building an integrated planning culture.

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