Student Affairs Strategic Plan
The Division of Student Affairs is developing a strategic plan that will give direction to our collective work in service of our vision, mission, and values. It will also support and advance the university’s new strategic plan.
Our Planning Process
Our planning process is inclusive, iterative, and guided by our vision, mission and values.
Staff Feedback Informs Our Direction
Our staff are our most important resource—this process is not possible without them! Through many events and gatherings, we’ve captured frank and thoughtful feedback from hundreds of staff about the future of our division. We’ve posed the questions:
- What should we achieve?
- What should we avoid?
- What should we preserve?
- What should we eliminate?
The broad themes that emerged from staff responses became the foundation for our divisional strategic plan. We are committed to making this process iterative and inclusive.
Strategic Plan Themes
Based on the themes that emerged from staff feedback, we’ve identified four strategic commitments:
- Our People/Us - Our Well-Being and Development
- Our Students - Their Learning, Success, and Well-Being
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Social Justice
- Our Division - Community, Collaboration, and Connection
Two other areas of focus emerged. These are “critical enablers” that help us achieve our strategic commitments:
- Policies, Processes, & Programs
- Infrastructure - Human, Physical, and Financial
It is important to note that divisional colleagues have already been working on a divisional strategy for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) and our physical infrastructure. Their work will be incorporated into our overall strategic plan.
Strategic Plan Timeline
Our planning process has been ongoing and organic since fall 2020. It began with the development of our new vision, mission and values, which launched in September of 2022.
Our final strategic plan will be about forward action. We will make choices to address specific challenges and set priorities for how we will act to improve in critical areas.
This timeline will be updated as we progress.
Current status: staff Strategic Plan Work Groups are defining and developing goals for DSA strategic commitments. View the Work Group roster.
September: New vision, mission and values announced
October: Strategic plan input solicited from all staff in division-wide Town Hall
November: Input sought from divisional leadership meeting
December: External consultant reviews staff feedback, identifies themes
January: Vice President of Student Affairs Counsel coalesces themes into strategic commitments and enablers
February: Strategic Plan Work Groups, composed of staff from across the division, are formed
March to June: Strategic Plan Work Groups meet to define and develop goals for DSA strategic commitments
July: Work Group outcomes reviewed by Vice President for Student Affairs and Council, next steps determined
August: Review and comment from Student Affairs Leadership Team
September: Review and comment from associate and assistant directors in the division. Feedback integrated into a single report.
October: Draft of Strategic Plan for final review and comment shared at division-wide Town Hall.
November: Strategic Plan finalized.
Strategic Plan Communications
All-staff, division-wide communications dedicated to the DSA Strategic Plan.
Feb. 9, 2023: DSA Strategic Plan: Moving Forward Together
Feb. 16, 2023: Sign up for a Strategic Plan Work Group