Process

Overview

The implementation of the strategic plan is organized around the four core strategic pillars. Each pillar operates on a three-year cycle and follows a consistent annual implementation process that translates strategic priorities into coordinated institutional action.

This process is intentionally structured to foster alignment across the university, support collaborative problem-solving, and ensure that progress is continuously reviewed and refined.

The implementation cycle consists of four primary components:

1. Design Summit
2. Annual Launch Event
3. Strategic Design Events
4. Impact Showcase

Together, these components create a repeating annual cycle of design, implementation, reflection, and renewal.

1. Annual Design Summits

Each year begins with a Design Summit for each strategic goal area. The purpose of the summit is to define the strategic work to be undertaken during the upcoming academic year.

Each summit is a four-day facilitated working session involving the Executive Design Team for each pillar goal. These summits are highly structured and are jointly facilitated by the Office of Organizational Effectiveness and the Office of Data & Analytics.

The Design Summit serves as the strategic planning and coordination moment for the year.

Key Objectives of the Design Summit

During the summit, participants will:

• Review progress and outcomes from the previous year
• Examine institutional data and external trends
• Identify the most important opportunities and challenges within the goal area
• Establish what the strategic high-impact initiatives are for their pillar
• Develop the work charters that will be used in the design events to guide implementation

Summit Deliverables

Each Design Summit produces three key deliverables:

• Design Charter: A formal statement defining the strategic problem or opportunity to be addressed.
• Scope of Work: A clear definition of the work to be undertaken during the academic year.
• Design Event Lead: Identification of the lead for the cross-functional teams that will be assembled to carry out the work.

These deliverables establish the structure and expectations for the design events that will occur throughout the year.

2. Annual Launch

At the conclusion of the summit, the work for the year is formally launched during a Presidential Town Hall, where the priorities, teams, and work plans for each strategic goal area are presented to the university community.

This launch reinforces institutional alignment and signals the beginning of the implementation phase.

3. Design Events

Following the Design Summit, the work shifts to Design Events conducted throughout the academic year.

These events bring together small, purpose-built teams assembled according to the charter and scope defined during the summit. Participants are selected based on expertise, operational responsibility, and perspective relevant to the design challenge.

The purpose of these design events is to:

• Design and develop how the initiatives will be implemented using solutions that achieve the outcomes defined by the Design Summit
• Prototype and refine approaches
• Coordinate implementation across units

Each team works in concentrated sprints (design events) during the academic year to move ideas into practice and ensure the successful implementation of the scope and initiatives defined at the summit.

4. Strategic Plan Impact Showcase

At the conclusion of the academic year (April–May), the university will convene an annual event to highlight progress, recognize contributions, and share outcomes from the strategic initiatives completed during the year.

During this event, Executive Sponsors from each strategic goal area present the work accomplished and the impact achieved.

This gathering serves several purposes:

• Celebrating institutional progress and mission fulfillment
• Sharing innovations and lessons learned
• Recognizing the individuals and teams contributing to the strategic plan
• Reinforcing the culture of collaboration and impact across the university

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Timeline

The strategic implementation process follows a repeating annual cycle.

Annual Cycle

The cycle then begins again with the next Design Summit.

Year One (26–27) Timeline Adjustment

Because the first year of implementation requires preparatory work to establish structures, teams, and facilitation processes, the initial Design Summits will occur in September.

Beginning in the second year of the strategic plan, Design Summits will transition to June, allowing strategic priorities to be established earlier and providing the full academic year for implementation.

Three-Year Operating Horizon

Each strategic goal area will operate across a three-year implementation horizon. The annual cycle allows the university to:

• Continuously refine priorities
• Respond to emerging opportunities
• Maintain momentum across strategic initiatives
• Ensure accountability for outcomes

Over time, this approach creates a disciplined yet adaptive system for advancing the university's strategic priorities.