Learning Resources

Abstract: Achieving curricular coherence across a multi-campus institution required sustained coordination, shared purpose, and a commitment to alignment. Through integrated planning, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University moved from three separate catalogs and curriculum processes to a single, standardized system. AI provided an initial draft for a unified catalog, but real progress came through cross-campus faculty collaboration. Faculty reviewed and revised content together, covering more than 2,000 courses, guided by a process that included the registrar, deans, and accreditation leaders. The approach emphasized relationship-building, respected campus differences, and ensured consistency, creating a stronger foundation for future change.

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This webinar is part of SCUP’s Sponsored Series and is presented in partnership with Occuspace.

Halfway through 2026, higher education has moved past recovery and squarely into an era of strategic optimization. With fiscal scrutiny tightening and enrollment patterns and student needs continuing to shift, aligning physical asset planning with how space is actually used is a financial necessity.

Join Occuspace, the leader in higher ed occupancy intelligence, for an exclusive first look at the data that defined the Spring 2026 semester. In this webinar, we’ll unpack the key findings from our latest Space Utilization Index (SUI), analyzing H1 2026 trends across millions of square feet of academic and administrative space in North America, and what they signal for Fall 2026 planning.

Abstract: This Viewpoint examines how organizational culture, performance expectations, and decision authority interact as interdependent drivers of executive alignment and institutional effectiveness within colleges and universities. It is intended to contribute to ongoing discussions on institutional effectiveness, executive leadership, strategic planning, and organizational sustainability in higher education. Drawing on organizational culture theory and practitioner leadership experience across multiple executive divisions, the authors propose the Executive Alignment Framework as a conceptual model to understand both fragmentation and coordination in higher education.

Abstract: As a master’s program in education shifted from a hybrid to a fully asynchronous delivery model, its program leaders used a structured planning approach to align recruitment, advising, curriculum sequencing, and accessible course design. Planning decisions were guided by cross-functional collaboration and aggregated program-level data across three academic terms. This article illustrates how future-focused, data-informed, and collaborative planning processes can support modality changes while sustaining graduate enrollment and student success.

Abstract: Amid declining public trust, demographic challenges, and mounting concerns about affordability, many institutions are asking whether the long-held “iron triangle” of higher education—where reducing cost inevitably diminishes quality and underrepresented student access—still holds true. This article draws on case studies of Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, which sustained decade-long tuition freezes. Their experiences reveal lessons in leadership, culture, process reengineering, financial positioning, and trade-offs that suggest the iron triangle can, in some cases, be bent.

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.

Abstract: With over 100 programs and 113 sites across 28 states and multiple countries, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University faced mounting complexity in managing institutional changes. Previously, each change we made required meetings with up to 30 participants from more than 20 offices, including Financial Aid, Facilities, Academic Affairs, IT, and Site Management. Through integrated planning, we replaced that costly, time-intensive model with a SharePoint- based system for asynchronous collaboration. The shift fostered transparency, reduced delays, and empowered cross-functional alignment. The project exemplifies how intentional design and relationship-building can transform sprawling processes into coordinated, responsive systems prepared for institutional growth and change.

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.