Dr. Howard Cohen, Senior Associate AASCU Penson Center

Strategic Position Strategic Plan Operational Plan

 Your strategic position is the location of UW- Whitewater in relation to peers and competitors in conducting your mission-driven activities. ◦ Your competitive space  Who else does what you do?  Student recruitment  Constituency relationships ◦ What makes you distinctive? ◦ How do you assess your success?

 A strategic plan is a means to an end. That end is finding and holding a strategic position. ◦ Mission and Role as a Regional University in WI ◦ Vision and Values ◦ Goals that, if achieved, will strengthen your strategic position ◦ Activities undertaken to accomplish your goals ◦ Budgeting for success ◦ Tracking progress – assessment and course correction

 A strategic plan must identify the most significant goals that, if accomplished, will successfully position you in your competitive space. ◦ A few big goals (4-6) ◦ Biggest impact (80/20 rule) ◦ Measurable (We will be successful when…)

 What are our areas of greatest strength and promise?  What currently makes this university truly distinctive in relation to peers and competitors?  What are the major forces, trends or issues – in higher education, in our state, our system, and our region - that will affect the future of this university?  What are our greatest opportunities to enhance quality; to carve out a place for ourselves that will lead to distinction and serve our constituents?

Getting startedGathering relevant materials Establishing a working group Campus involvementTown Hall meeting Addressing first questionsDeveloping initial positioning ideas; communicating and testing them with constituencies Framing and aligning the strategyMission, Vision, Values and Goals Planning the pathFormulate activities for each goal Setting a course of actionDetermine responsibilities and timelines Beginning the journeyDocument and communicate the plan

 Without assessment “you can’t get there from here.” ◦ Are your operational activities bringing you closer to meeting your strategic goals? ◦ Are your strategic goals bringing you closer to your desired position in your competitive space?

Five –year Strategic Goal Assessment Measure – % completed Annual Operational Goal Assessment Measure – % completed On Pace ? Red Yellow Green Goal I Sub-goal AGoal I-A Sub-goal BGoal I-B Goal II Sub-goal AGoal II-A Sub-goal BGoal II-B