Learning Resources

Abstract: If you’re stepping into a role that involves planning—or trying to sharpen your skills—you’re not alone. This session is a conversation with higher education professionals who will share candid stories about how they got started, what supported their growth, and what they’re still figuring out.

You’ll walk away with practical ideas on how to approach planning as a skillset—where to focus, how to build confidence, and how to make progress even when the path isn’t clear. Whether you're new to planning or simply looking to grow, this conversation will show that building capacity is a process—and it’s one you don’t have to navigate alone.

Abstract: Office space makes up about a third of all non-residential space on campuses. Post-COVID, many institutional offices struggle with providing enough office space while simultaneously creating a sense of workplace vibrancy due to the rise in remote and hybrid employees. Promoting change in higher education is tough—is it possible to fulfill the needs of all institutional offices through one style of workplace or is it necessary to consider unique needs of offices and individual employees? Join us to explore two institutional workplace case studies and apply the lessons learned on your campus.

Abstract: Integrated planning in higher education requires a broad set of skills, knowledge, and qualities. Some of these might seem obvious (like planning knowledge). Others may be less so—particularly expertise related to “soft” skills or human skills, like communication or collaboration.

Build capacity for integrated planning more efficiently with SCUP’s Integrated Planning Competencies. This framework identifies the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for successful integrated planning across the institution. We will provide an overview of the competencies, describe how they were developed, and share insights from competency research.

Whatever planning activities you’re involved in—whether you’re responsible for planning across your institution, coordinating your institution’s next strategic plan, implementing your campus master plan, working within your department to improve student success, etc.—an integrated planning approach is key. Join us and demystify the skills, knowledge, and dispositions you need to get there.

Abstract: Triton College’s strategic plan focuses on short- and mid-term institution-wide neurodiversity efforts to create a neuroinclusive campus culture. Key aspects of success include a multi-year administrative commitment; connecting the work to the open-access mission; including committee members from across the college; and focusing on programming, space, and partnerships. Triton College built support and overcame barriers by amplifying advocates and identifying champions, tying the work to campus-wide initiatives, ensuring strategic and operational leadership, securing seed funding, including stakeholders, starting small, reducing risk, allowing for development time, defining the work, building on wins, and adhering to an open-access mission.

Abstract: The University System of Georgia's (USG) academic program proposal process aims to align program development with system-wide strategic goals while increasing graduate employability to meet workforce demands. This session will illustrate how USG's well-oiled standardized system prioritizes interdepartmental collaboration and iteration, drawing on diverse perspectives to create new degree programs across 26 universities. Come learn about how our "Good, Better, Best" approach uses a detailed application and budget template to generate high-impact programs that prepare students to enter an ever-evolving workforce.

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.

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.