Learning Resources

The Strategic Planning Checklist

17 Critical Mistakes to Avoid in Higher Education

By: Dr. Daniel Seymour - Tenured Professor, Administrator, and Consultant

Learn from a research-based analysis of over 250 colleges and universities.

Abstract: Learn from a research-based analysis of over 250 colleges and universities. What is the difference between the Strategic Plan and Strategic Planning? How do we ensure planning is not a one-time event, but an ongoing organizational learning cycle that endures the changing environment? The analytic framework featured in this webinar is a Strategic Planning/Organizational Planning Cycle that derives a series of “what not to do” dictums (guidelines?) that support higher education institutions. Don’t make these critical mistakes derail you during these uncertain times

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Organizational Change, Original Research, Planning Processes

Member Price:
Free | Login

Non-Member Price:
$35

Blog Post

Published
April 1, 2024

Navigating Student Success

‘Navigators’ Are Critical in Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Institution-Wide Initiative

By: Apryl Motley, CAE

To gain additional insight into how integrated planning to support student success can be a game changer, we turned to Paula Stossel, strategic advisor to the president for student success, and Amber Racchini, vice provost for student academic success, at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. They graciously accepted our invitation to address questions about their cross-functional effort to ensure a student-centered approach to delivery of support services at IUP.

Institutions Mentioned: Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Planning Types: Academic Planning, Student Affairs Planning
Tags: Alignment, Engaging Stakeholders, Organizational Change, Student Engagement, Student Experience, Student Retention, Student Services, Student Success, Student Support Services

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Trends Inside Higher Education | Spring 2024

By: Apryl Motley, CAE

What are key movements and trends within higher education? From addressing pandemic learning loss to grappling with generative AI in the classroom, learn the forces and changes directly impacting higher education, now and in the future.

Abstract: Integrated planning prepares your institution for change by ensuring its decisions are informed by realities in the external environment.

What are key movements and trends within higher education? From addressing pandemic learning loss to grappling with generative AI in the classroom, learn the forces and changes directly impacting higher education, now and in the future.

This issue curates and summarizes 40-50 trends happening outside the world of higher education that could impact colleges and universities. Each trend includes a brief summary, a footnoted source, and discussion questions to help you analyze and act on the trend.

Member Price:
Free | Login

Non-Member Price:
$40

Conference Presentations

Published
March 5, 2024

Residential Life and Safety at the Intersection of Town and Gown

By: Patrick Killilee, University of Pennsylvania | Michael Schade, Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Colleges and universities must adapt to changing issues around student safety and determine how to address these concerns while maintaining connections with the local community.

Abstract: Colleges and universities must adapt to changing issues around student safety and determine how to address these concerns while maintaining connections with the local community. This session will discuss the University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn) Stouffer Hall, a recently renovated residence hall that exemplifies the evolution of attitudes towards community, security, and student life on campus. Come learn how to create programs for increasing community engagement, address housing security concerns, and align residential life and building goals with current attitudes around safety.

Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Community Engagement, Facilities Planning, Security, Student Housing, Student Services, Town and Gown

Member Price:
$35 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
March 5, 2024

Planning and Leading Through Positive Turbulence: Kean’s Pursuit of R2 Status

By: Neva Lozada, Kean University | Carlos Rodriguez, Kean University | Michael Salvatore, Kean University | Joseph Youngblood, Kean University

In order to meet the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education's requirements for an R2 Research Institution designation, Kean University created the University Planning Council (UPC), an inclusive university-wide body with representatives from every constituency within the university community.

Abstract:

In order to meet the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education's requirements for an R2 Research Institution designation, Kean University created the University Planning Council (UPC), an inclusive university-wide body with representatives from every constituency within the university community. The UPC creates linkages between assessment and resource allocations to establish integrated university-wide planning, supporting a comprehensive restructuring of its planning processes, policies, and procedures. This session will emphasize the importance of the democratization of data, transparency, inclusivity, and capacity development in integrated planning processes.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Adaptable Plans, Alignment, Assessment / Analytics, Data, Resource Allocation, Resource Management

Member Price:
$35 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Book Review: “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”

Resistance to Change in Higher Education

By: John Kilmarx, PhD

From Volume 52 Number 2 | January–March 2024

Abstract: Brian Rosenberg, the author of “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”: Resistance to Change in Higher Education, argues that improvements in higher education are needed—which is certainly not a controversial or surprising outlook. However, he also says many institutions are on an unsustainable financial path, which makes the imperatives for change more urgent. What exactly needs to be addressed and how dramatically, though, is a matter of one’s perspective. The reviewer observes that in most cases, sustainable changes have been ongoing but incremental, not transformational. Some stakeholders might celebrate that fact. In other corners, this is not enough, and so frustrations abound.

Tags: Change Management, Disruptive Change, Organizational Change

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Collaborating, ‘Speed Dating,’ Celebrating, and More

Augusta University Equipped a Core Team to Engage Stakeholders in Strategic Planning

By: Mickey Williford, MPA and Brittany Cipollone, MBA, MAT

University colleagues share techniques and tools they find effective in their strategic planning process—and in fostering participation and intentional conversations.

From Volume 52 Number 1 | October–December 2023

Institutions Mentioned: Augusta University
Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Alignment, Building (or Writing) the Plan, Engaging Stakeholders, Environmental Scanning, Institutional Effectiveness, Planning Processes, Project Management, Team Building, Unit Planning

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Example Plans

Published
November 13, 2023

Example Plan

Private Doctoral/Research University (Maryland, United States)

The research university’s 2023 strategic plan.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Academic Planning, Academic Program Review, Alignment, Community Engagement, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Faculty, Goals, Graduate Degree Program, Learning Environments, Strategies and Tactics, Sustainability (Environmental), Town and Gown

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Trends Outside Higher Education | Fall 2023

By: Apryl Motley, CAE, SASM

Outside the world of higher education, what are some of today’s key trends—and what are some implications for institutions of higher learning?

Abstract: We’ve organized Trends using STEEP: Social, Technology, Economic, Environmental, and Political. Each trend includes a brief trend summary, a footnoted source, and discussion questions to help you analyze and act on the trend.

Member Price:
Free | Login

Non-Member Price:
$40

What Is Your Crisis ‘What If’?

Create a Sustainable Approach to Emergency Response Planning

By: Jessica A. Luedtke, PhD, and Mary M. Reinke, MBA, MS

The Medical College of Wisconsin planned strategically, engaged executive leadership, and operationalized an Administrative Response Team to navigate critical incidents impacting the university.

From Volume 51 Number 3 | April–June 2023

Institutions Mentioned: Medical College of Wisconsin
Planning Types: Continuity Planning
Tags: Building (or Writing) the Plan, Communication, Crisis and Disaster Management, External Collaboration / Partnerships, Leadership, Medical / Allied Health Education, Modifying the Plan, Recovery Planning, Response Planning, Risk Management, Scenario Planning, Security

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Planning Types

Challenges