Strategic Plan Process - DePauw University
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Strategic Planning Process

DePauw University launched an intensive, collaborative strategic planning process in September 2020. This initiative was designed to engage the entire university community through a comprehensive three-part system: a Strategic Planning Steering Committee, a set of Thematic Working Groups, and a community-wide input process. This structure allowed for broad participation while maintaining efficiency within the project timeline. The overarching goal was to evolve DePauw's esteemed liberal arts tradition to meet the needs of future generations of students while addressing current challenges and opportunities.

The process unfolded in several key phases:

  • Fall 2020: Gathered extensive community feedback from participants, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
  • November 2020 - Spring 2021: Established working groups to investigate ideas and conduct in-depth research, including benchmarking against other institutions.
  • May 2021: Presented preliminary findings to the Board of Trustees, who unanimously endorsed the strategic direction.
  • Summer 2021: Further developed ideas into a formal strategic plan through collaborative working groups involving representatives from various university constituencies.
  • August - October 2021: Presented proposals to faculty and staff, and reported comprehensive findings to the Board of Trustees.
  • Fall 2021: Formed implementation groups to create a detailed plan with tactical milestones, priorities, and scheduled investments.

Throughout this process, intense collaboration was a hallmark. The university fostered dialogues between diverse stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees. This collaborative approach ensured that the resulting strategic plan would be comprehensive, innovative, and reflective of the entire DePauw community's aspirations. Key focus areas that emerged included curricular enhancement and renewal, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the development of academic centers, improving student experience, and ensuring the long-term flourishing of the institution. The final implementation plan, along with a fundraising strategy, was set to be presented to the Board of Trustees in February 2022, marking the transition from planning to action in DePauw's strategic evolution.