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Webinar Recordings

Published
January 21, 2026

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No Man is an Island

Navigating the Changing Tides of Integrated Planning

By: Melissa Renner, South Texas College | Fernando Chapa, PhD, South Texas College

This session will describe how South Texas College restructured its integrated planning processes through the development of two planning bodies—which became instrumental in dismantling silos, aligning stakeholders, and amplifying diverse voices across multiple campuses.
Abstract: This session will describe how South Texas College (STC) restructured its integrated planning processes through the development of two planning bodies: the Institutional Leadership Council (ILC) and the Institutional Planning and Effectiveness Committee (IPEC). This restructuring was instrumental in dismantling silos, aligning stakeholders, and amplifying diverse voices across STC’s large service district and multiple campuses. Presenters will share lessons learned from the restructuring and demonstrate how to use both small-group (IPEC) and large-group (ILC) communication channels to balance inclusive communication with intentional, focused dialogue.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
January 20, 2026

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Beyond Compliance

Building a Sustainable Assessment Framework for Continuous Improvement at Scale

By: Amanda M. Main, PhD, and Sean W.G. Robb, PhD

A case study of a public university’s college of business administration contributes empirical evidence of scaling challenges and offers a transferable framework for institutions seeking to enhance assessment capabilities while maintaining faculty engagement.

From Volume 54 Number 2 | January–March 2026

Abstract: Using a longitudinal case study spanning two decades (2003–2022), the authors analyzed how a large public university’s college of business administration designed a system that balanced institutional assessment needs with faculty workload considerations. Their findings revealed that successful large-scale assessment systems require: (1) multilevel organizational structures with clear staff roles, (2) embedded assessment measures leveraging existing coursework, (3) technological infrastructure to streamline data collection, and (4) robust feedback mechanisms ensuring interventions are implemented and evaluated. The study contributes empirical evidence of scaling challenges and offers a transferable framework for large institutions seeking to enhance assessment capabilities while maintaining faculty engagement.

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Blog Post

Published
August 4, 2025

The Campus Planner in a Time of Turmoil

Your Role Is as Adviser, Not the Ultimate Decision-Maker

By: Frederick W. Mayer, Campus Planner Emeritus, University of Michigan

A founding member of SCUP shares some of his experiences and thoughts on how to deal with the challenges and turmoil facing higher education.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
April 4, 2025

Institutional Transformation and Successful Accreditation Review Through Data-Informed Collaboration

Gain Accountability with Values-Based Integrated Planning

By: Shawna Herwick, MSW, and Paul Illich, PhD

Implementing a values-based integrated planning framework equipped Southeast Community College to leverage the data it collected to build and strengthen relationships, align the institution within and across divisions, and prepare for change. The efforts led to the successful modernization of facilities, historic enrollment growth, staffing increases, other operational improvements, and a positive accreditation outcome.

From Volume 53 Number 2 | January–March 2025

Abstract: Southeast Community College (SCC) applied an integrated framework approach to inform all aspects of its successful comprehensive accreditation review. Following decades of reviews leading to monitoring and focused visits to address opportunities for improvement, SCC managed its most recent comprehensive assessment through integrated planning to ensure the accreditation process coincided with building relationships, aligning divisions and departments, and promoting a culture that is well prepared for change. This structured and focused integrated planning method for comprehensive accreditation review was associated with a successful outcome that involved no monitoring or required follow-up for the first time in the College’s accreditation history.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
February 5, 2025

‘Catching’ Substantive Changes with Integrated Planning

Form a Dedicated Team to Reduce Silos, Develop Cross-Unit Collaboration, and Implement Transformative Goals

By: Rachel E. Smith, PhD, and Leslie W. Grant, PhD

Implementing changes at institutions that operate under a distributive leadership model can be challenging because academic and support units function separately. This article recommends successful ways to manage the change-making process.

From Volume 53 Number 2 | January–March 2025

Abstract: Implementing changes at institutions that operate under a distributive leadership model can be challenging because academic and support units are siloed. This article presents an example of one midsize, public, research institution’s successful strategy for “catching,” or identifying and managing, substantive changes using integrated planning. Through a centralized team of academic and support unit representatives, the academic units shared planned substantive changes, received feedback, and adjusted. The institution’s substantive change policy, infrastructure, and collaborative culture ensured the changes did not slip through the cracks or hit significant roadblocks. This article shares how the team operated, giving recommendations for institutions implementing the change practice.

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Leadership Lessons Learned: Assessing Strengths, Skills, and Knowledge

By: Barbara Gellman-Danley, Higher Learning Commission

Higher education leaders carry the responsibility of vision and building new strategic directions for colleges and universities.
Abstract: Higher education leaders carry the responsibility of vision and building new strategic directions for colleges and universities. This session will provide a deep look into one leader's decades of experience and share ways to become a strong, successful administrator at any level. Come learn the ways in which leadership is more than a title and discover how to assess your own skills and knowledge, as well as the best ways to position those findings for current and future roles.

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 22, 2024

Renew, Revise, or Reject: Presidential Turnover and Strategic Planning Impacts

By: Sandra Patterson-Randles, Chancellor Emerita and Professor of English

Since the average presidential tenure is now fewer than six years, campuses need to design and implement circumspect planning which will prove stable even in the event of leadership changes. Using examples from eight institutions across the U.S., this session explores the challenges to campus strategic planning when new leadership arrives.
Abstract: Since the average presidential tenure is now fewer than six years, campuses need to design and implement circumspect planning which will prove stable even in the event of leadership changes. Using examples from eight institutions across the U.S., this session explores the challenges to campus strategic planning when new leadership arrives. Campus constituencies will be able to weather the uncertainties of a presidential transition through a detailed understanding of commonly experienced impacts on campus planning.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
June 20, 2024

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Why Strategic Plans Aren’t Working in Uncertain Times

Because Strategic Planning Should Be a Dynamic, Robust Process

By: Daniel Seymour, PhD

The author’s approach to his research-based Strategic Planning in Uncertain Times Fieldbook began with a sampling review of 50 strategic plans. What emerged was the development of an organizational learning cycle used as a template to assess the effectiveness of strategic plans on more than 250 college and university websites.

From Volume 52 Number 3 | April–June 2024

Abstract: A strategic plan is supposed to “bring the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” Almost every college or university has such a plan because accreditors and governing boards require one. The question is: Why do so many higher education institutions seem to be unprepared when they take drastic actions (e.g., eliminating programs, cutting faculty and staff members, etc.) in uncertain times? The author studied more than 250 colleges and universities and suggests the answer in this article.

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 5, 2024

Launching the Duquesne College of Osteopathic Medicine From the Ground Up

By: Rodney Dobish, Duquesne University | Neil Martin, The S/L/A/M Collaborative | Karen Parzych, The S/L/A/M Collaborative

Establishing a new college within a university requires coordination with the accrediting body, other university disciplines, the city, donors, and neighboring landowners. We’ll outline and discuss how we navigated the process, challenges, and opportunities related to Duquesne University’s new College of Osteopathic Medicine, including the collaboration with the City of Pittsburgh’s Forbes Avenue Improvement Initiative.
Abstract: Establishing a new college within a university requires coordination with the accrediting body, other university disciplines, the city, donors, and neighboring landowners. We’ll outline and discuss how we navigated the process, challenges, and opportunities related to Duquesne University’s new College of Osteopathic Medicine, including the collaboration with the City of Pittsburgh’s Forbes Avenue Improvement Initiative. Through practical, implementable approaches to growth-focused programming in a new urban facility, this session will offer lessons learned, priorities, and planning tools for flexibility and improvement.

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Blog Post

Published
October 5, 2023

Listen Up Leaders

Two-Way Communication Is Important in Establishing Trust

By: Apryl Motley, CAE, SASM

To gain additional insight into strategies for establishing trust between stakeholders and their leaders, we turned to Sonia Alvarez-Robinson, associate vice president for strategy and organizational effectiveness, Georgia Institute of Technology.

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