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Strategic Planning

President's Message

The 2017-2018 academic year will serve as Westfield State’s strategic planning year.

Strategic planning is a critical activity for every purposeful entity. An effective strategic planning process requires deep deliberation, a far-reaching scan of the environment, multiple opportunities for engagement and honest conversations about an organization’s past, present and future. Ultimately, the plan should be fiscally sound and based on a realistically attainable and progressive vision. The plan’s included strategies should position the university to deliver the highest quality education to our students and ensure that Westfield State University will be recognized as a model public comprehensive institution committed to student success.

To achieve such a plan will require the work of our full community. The Strategic Planning Steering Committee will work to engage the campus through a variety of communication settings. I ask that you participate earnestly and completely in the discussions and opportunities for engagement throughout the process.

Committee Charge

This committee will serve as an advisory and planning body working with the campus community to structure a strategic plan in conjunction with the vision and mission of Westfield State University. The committee will be supported in its efforts by a strategic planning consultant.

Charge:

Propose an inclusive process for engaging the campus community in a review of the current the mission, vision and values.
Present the campus community with opportunities to engage in development of the campus strategic planning process through surveys, focus groups and SWOT analyses.
Analyze data collected through input processes and incorporate campus input into development of strategic planning priorities.
Analyze data on trends in higher education in the state and region as well as nationally and internationally to inform the development of strategic planning priorities.
Propose strategic priorities that support the mission, vision and values.
Propose methods for implementation of the strategic plan and its assessment.

Membership List

Dr. Joe Camilleri, Department of Psychology

Jennifer Carlson, Office of the Registrar

Patrick Carpenter, Institutional Advancement

Dr. Susanne Chuku, Department of Economics and Management

Dr. Enrique Morales Diaz, Department of Languages and Culture

Marcus DiBacco, Student

Dr. Jennifer Hanselman, Department of Biology

Richard Lenfest, Athletics

Angelo Mazza, Trades & Grounds

Dr. Susan Leggett (Chair), Office of the President

Arielyss Santiago, Student

Dr. Rose Sullivan, Department of Social Work

Stephen Taksar, Finance and Administration

Timeline

Timeline Process Steps Infographic

Timeline:

Reaffirm Mission and Vision September/October
Conduct Environmental Scan September/October/November
Collect and Analyze Stakeholder Input October/November/December
Conduct SWOT Analysis November/December
Summarize Strategic Issues December/January/February/March
Prepare Strategic Plan February/March/April/May/June
Develop Distribution/Implementation/Assessment Plans April/May/June

Milestones:

Project Kick-off Meeting September 8th
Summary of environmental scan & stakeholder input preparation October
Stakeholder input sessions across campus November
Identify plan priorities and goals December
Initiate plan goal alignment at division level January
University community feedback & briefing with Board of Trustees & Board of Higher Education March
Finalize plan & brief the Board of Trustees & Board of Higher Education May