Learning Resources

Strategic Planning That’s Truly Strategic

By: Aimee Hosemann, PhD, RHB | Rob Zinkan, EdD, RHB

What do strategic plans do? What does it mean to be “strategic”? These are among the questions addressed in a recent year-long study of 108 active college and university strategic plans. Hear directly from the researchers as they highlight a few important insights they discovered during their analysis, like how to avoid the many pitfalls of strategic planning and ensure a process focused on strategy and outcomes.

Abstract: What do strategic plans do? Who are they for? What does it mean to be “strategic”? These are among the questions addressed in a recent year-long study of 108 active college and university strategic plans (and the basis of the 2021 book What Makes a Strategic Plan Strategic). Hear directly from the researchers as they highlight a few important insights they discovered during their analysis, like how to avoid the many pitfalls of strategic planning and ensure a process focused on strategy and outcomes.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Building (or Writing) the Plan, Decision Making, Determining Priorities, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Measuring the Plan, Original Research, Planning Processes

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

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.

Member Price:
Free | Login

Non-Member Price:
$40

How Do You Grow and Sustain Indispensable Planners?

By: Donald M. Norris, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Joseph (Tim) Gilmour, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Linda B. Baer, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Michael D. Moss, Society for College and University Planning

Institutional transformation requires more than a planner or a strategist—it requires a transformation architect. How can leaders grow and support transformation architects? The authors of Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders, share three sets of actions needed to enable and empower transformation architects.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Change Management, Disruptive Change, Higher Ed Trends, Organizational Change

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Blog Post

Published
July 6, 2022

What Is a Bridge Plan?

(And Does Your Institution Need One?)

By: Sadie Wutka, Director of Content Strategy, SCUP

A bridge plan allows a college or university to continue to pursue defined strategic pathways during times of uncertainty or rapid, unpredictable change. It’s also a good solution for when faculty and staff are overwhelmed due to a highly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Adaptable Plans, Bridge Planning, Change Management, COVID-19, Disruptive Change, Modifying the Plan, Organizational Change

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Example Plans

Published
May 31, 2022

Sustainability Plan

Public (British Columbia, Canada)

Abstract: “In 2013 TRU established ‘increasing sustainability’ as one of its five strategic priorities for 2014-2019. This Strategic Sustainability Plan (SSP) is aligned with the university’s strategic plan, and provides a focus for TRU’s efforts toward sustainability over the same period. The SSP is comprehensive in nature, and includes more than 130 recommended strategies across four key focus areas: Operations & Planning, Advocacy & Engagement, Learning, and Administration. The SSP is intended to provide a framework for each TRU department and operational unit to incorporate sustainability initiatives into their own planning processes (the structure of the plan is illustrated on the opposing page). . . . Unlike some strategic documents, the plan takes a comprehensive approach of documenting strategies over the next 5 years. These strategies are not all the responsibility of one department or office, but rather are shared among many. This comprehensive approach will allow each office or department to see where and how it can play a role in TRU’s sustainability journey.”

Planning Types: Campus Planning, Sustainability Planning
Resource Types: Sustainability Plan
Tags: Academic Planning, Alignment, Building (or Writing) the Plan, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Energy Infrastructure, Engaging Stakeholders, Facilities Planning, Goals, Governance, Health and Wellness, Implementation, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Operational Planning, Strategies and Tactics, Sustainability (Environmental), Transportation and Parking

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

The Indispensable Planner

By: Donald M. Norris, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Joseph (Tim) Gilmour, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Linda B. Baer, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Michael D. Moss, Society for College and University Planning

Learn more about how planners can play a new, indispensable role—transformation architect—in helping their institutions transform to meet current challenges. The authors of the new book, Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders, describe this transformative role, why planners are obvious candidates for the role, and the new mindset, behaviors, knowledge, and skills they will need to fulfill it.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning, Academic Planning, Institutional Effectiveness Planning
Tags: Alignment, Change Management, Disruptive Change, Higher Ed Trends, Organizational Change

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Teetering on the Demographic Cliff, Part 3

Different Conditions Require a Different Kind of Planning

By: Bryan C. Harvey, EdD

Higher education has faced major changes for some time—COVID-19 accelerated that volatility—and now we’re anticipating the demographic downslope in student enrollment. How and when should institutions mobilize for the difficult work of planning in the face of wrenching change?

From Volume 50 Number 2 | January–March 2022

Abstract: Part 1 of this series described a major contraction in the pool of college-going 18-year-olds that will reverse decades of growth and stability for higher education. Part 2 explored how we can shape a planning context that supports success in the coming 10 or 20 years. Part 3 suggests how our approach to planning must shift to prepare for abrupt change.

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Book Review: Higher Education Business Models Under Stress

Achieving Graceful Transitions in the Academy

By: Susan C. Allen, MBA

From Volume 50 Number 2 | Jan–Mar 2022

Abstract: Higher Education Business Models Under Stress: Achieving Graceful Transitions in the Academy
by Melody Rose and Larry D. Large
AGP: Washington, DC: 2021
140 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-951635-12-1

Institutions Mentioned: Marylhurst University
Planning Types: Resource Planning
Tags: Assessment / Analytics, Cost of Higher Ed, COVID-19, Disruptive Change, Higher Ed in Society, Higher Ed Trends, Student Demographics

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Transformation Best Practices in the Decade Ahead

By: Donald M. Norris, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Joseph (Tim) Gilmour, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Linda B. Baer, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc.

Inexorable challenges demand that higher education transform . . . and that transformation needs to start now. Learn more about these challenges and the knowledge, skills, and capabilities an institution needs to transform in the coming decade from the authors of the new book Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders.

Institutions Mentioned: Austin Community College District, Georgia Institute of Technology, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Mott Community College, Mount Saint Mary College, Ocean County College, Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University
Planning Types: Strategic Planning, Academic Planning
Tags: Disruptive Change, Higher Ed Trends, Leadership, Online Learning, Organizational Change, Planning Processes, Trends External to Higher Ed, Workforce Development

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Transforming for Turbulent Times

An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders

By: Donald Norris, Joseph (Tim) Gilmour, Linda Baer

Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders can prepare your institution for the new learning ecosystem that will revolutionize work and learning by 2030. This book outlines a proven, eight-step process for planning, leading, navigating, and orchestrating the transformation necessary to thrive in the new world of knowledge, work, and learning. Whatever your role in your college, university, or learning enterprise, you’ll learn the principles, techniques, and actions that will make you indispensable to its transformation in these turbulent times.

Abstract: Higher education is entering a period of unparalleled turbulence. By 2030, a global knowledge, work, and learning ecosystem will revolutionize work and learning. It will empower individuals to fuse learning, living, and work over 60-year time spans. Tens of millions of additional learners—or even more—will be added to the global learning force. To compete in this rapidly expanding arena, traditional institutions will need to transform, starting now.

Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders will help you support your institution in its efforts to rise to these challenges.

This book outlines a proven, eight-step process for planning, leading, navigating, and orchestrating the transformations necessary to thrive in this new ecosystem. Whatever your role in your college, university, or learning enterprise, you’ll learn the principles, techniques, and actions that will make you indispensable to its transformation in these turbulent times.

Institutions Mentioned: Austin Community College District, Georgia Institute of Technology, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Mott Community College, Mount Saint Mary College, Ocean County College, Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University
Planning Types: Strategic Planning, Academic Planning
Tags: Disruptive Change, Higher Ed Trends, Leadership, Online Learning, Organizational Change, Planning Processes, Trends External to Higher Ed, Workforce Development

Member Price:
$20 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$40

Planning Types

Challenges