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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
July 23, 2024

Finding the Beauty in Right-sizing the KU Campus

By: Barbara Bichelmeyer, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor | Callie Long, Interim Vice Provost | Mark Reiske| Gautam Sundaram, Principal

The constraints that universities face in terms of capital, declining enrollment, and surplus capacity in campus facilities causes escalation of deferred maintenance costs.
Abstract: The constraints that universities face in terms of capital, declining enrollment, and surplus capacity in campus facilities causes escalation of deferred maintenance costs. The University of Kansas (KU) master plan focuses on the value and impact of right-sizing the campus through change management and the implementation of a data dashboard. This session will share a sustainable path to establish a culture of transparency in decision making, stakeholder engagement, and environmental stewardship. We'll outline a data-driven process and lessons learned for leveraging resources, enacting policies that enable change management, and meeting the challenges of implementing a bold cultural shift.

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 22, 2024

Navigating Academic Success: Dashboards for Data-informed Decision Making

By: Nasrin Fatima, Associate Provost for Assessment and Analytics, SUNY at Binghamton

The role of data-informed decision-making can't be overstated.
Abstract: The role of data-informed decision-making can't be overstated. By leveraging advanced data visualization techniques, these dynamic dashboards provide real-time insights into key performance indicators, enabling informed and strategic decision making. We'll embark on a visual journey into the heart of data-informed decision making with a focus on exceptional dashboards, delving into visual analytics to illuminate the transformative impact they have on leadership and student success. Come learn about the transformative impact that Binghamton University's dashboard creation and visual analytics has on academic leadership, departmental efficiency, student success initiatives, and institutional excellence.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
July 10, 2024

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Democratizing Data to Close Equity Gaps

Engage Teams to Dismantle Systemic Barriers That Impede Student Success

By: Neva Lozada, EdD, Carlos Rodriguez, EdD, Michael Salvatore, PhD, and Joseph Youngblood, II, JD, PhD

Kean University strategically reframed and visualized student data, merged planning processes, and harnessed analytics to dismantle impediments to bridging equity gaps in higher education.

From Volume 52 Number 3 | April–June 2024

Abstract: Through the inception of the Division of Strategic Analytics and Data Illumination (SADI), Kean University has cultivated a capacity for data literacy and analytics, empowering its community to employ data for evidence-based decision-making to overcome barriers to student success.
Employing optimal practices in integrated planning, SADI unified disparate offices into one cohesive data team to strategically reframe and visualize student data, identifying specific needs for continual improvement. This article underscores SADI’s initiatives in democratizing data, merging planning processes, and harnessing analytics to dismantle impediments to student success, particularly in bridging equity gaps in higher education.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
November 21, 2023

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Overcoming a $90M Budget Overage in Vanderbilt University’s Residential Colleges

A Multifaceted Team Worked Collaboratively to Stem Overruns

By: David Bailey, BA, AIA, LEED AP, and Walt Massey, BA

The University, architects, engineers, strategic planning consultants, and contractor teams worked hand in hand to peel back the onion to stem the overruns.

From Volume 52 Number 1 | October–December 2023

Abstract: When Vanderbilt University began seeing signs that cost escalation, scope additions, campus requirements, and authentic Collegiate Gothic architecture for their proposed new residence halls were all pressuring the budget, a multifaceted team worked collaboratively and arduously to stem the overruns.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
June 29, 2023

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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

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
March 24, 2023

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Transforming Data into Meaningful Information

Put Methodologies in Action with Data-Driven Integrated Planning

By: Douglas Masterson, PhD, Christopher M. Davis, PhD, and Suzanne Carbonaro, MEd

Leaders in two different accreditation regions share best practices and lessons learned from their integrated planning evolution and its impact on operational efficiency and student learning.

From Volume 51 Number 2 | January–March 2023

Abstract: Institutional success depends on long-term sustainability, connecting investments with outcomes, and creating a culture that is data-informed. As the role of institutional effectiveness expands across higher education, designing a comprehensive integrated planning process is critical. Integrated planning requires a unified approach to utilizing academic and administrative data for continuous improvement. However, this can be an overwhelming process for institutions, with many unsure of where to start. Learn from leaders in two different accreditation regions as they share best practices and lessons learned associated with their integrated planning evolution and its impact on operational efficiency and student learning.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
March 7, 2023

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It Takes a (Virtual) Village

Harper College Accomplished Integrated Campus Planning During a Time of Profound Change

By: Avis Proctor, EdD; Maria Coons, EdD; Krisan Osterby, MLA, ITGA; Stephen Siegle, MArch, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

This large community college successfully embraced virtual communication platforms and moved forward with a viable 10-year plan during a global health crisis, economic turbulence, and technological change.

From Volume 51 Number 2 | January–March 2023

Abstract: Integrated planning during profound change requires extra flexibility and attention to user engagement while utilizing new modes of interaction. This article summarizes a successful virtual and comprehensive planning process, including consensus-building, and approval at Harper College. It reviews results and lessons learned by this large community college as it embraced virtual communication platforms and moved forward with a viable 10-year plan during a global health crisis, economic turbulence, and technological change. The authors share the remote process used to set goals, assess resources, define needs, explore options, and guide decision-making with numerous stakeholders.

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ebook

Published
July 21, 2022

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A Practical Guide to Strategic Planning in Higher Education

Second Edition, with New and Updated Content

By: Karen E. Hinton, PhD

A resource for anyone engaged in college or university strategic planning, and an excellent primer for planning committees. This second edition also contains new strategies for using an institution’s strategic plan during times of institutional upheaval, and additional techniques for jump-starting various parts of the planning process.
Abstract: A Practical Guide to Strategic Planning in Higher Education is a resource for anyone engaged in college or university strategic planning; it is also an excellent primer for planning committees. Using clear definitions, practical tips, and examples drawn from actual situations, this short book acts as a manual for both experienced planners and those who are new to the process. This second edition also contains new strategies for using an institution’s strategic plan during times of institutional upheaval, and additional techniques for jump-starting various parts of the planning process.

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