Strategic planning is a crucial part of the continuous improvement process in higher education — and solid plans require solid foundations. As your higher education institution embraces new strategies for success, it can be helpful to return to simple principles for complex processes. Explore these five simple tips to guide you in building a strategic plan at your college or university.
Create a comprehensive planning team, with representation from the board, administration, and faculty.
Gather feedback from a broad range of stakeholders and involve them in the implementation process.
Imagine vividly your institution’s desired future state and develop strategies that can make it a reality.
Plan for the evolving educational landscape, preparing for future challenges and opportunities.
Establish measurable indicators to track progress and encourage accountability.
Use key metrics such as graduation rates and student retention to understand the current situation.
Develop multi-year financial plans focused on strategic priorities.
Ensure departmental strategies align with the overall institutional plan and include detailed implementation structures.
Identify potential roadblocks and develop mitigation strategies.
Implement the plan across the campus and review the plan annually to ensure ongoing relevance and improvement.
Learn how Watermark Planning & Self-Study can help.
