Process

At the start of that academic year, aware of the approaching conclusion of the Envisioning 2024 strategic plan, President Harris charged Vice President of Mission Integration, Dr. Michael Lovette-Colyer, with leading a review of the University’s Mission, Vision and Core Values. Dr. Harris anticipated that these statements would serve as a firm foundation for the next strategic plan which, like Envisioning 2024, would establish concrete goals to embody and advance USD’s mission, vision and values. With the engagement of more than 900 community members, in May of 2023 the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new Mission, Vision and Core Values.

In January of 2023, President Harris convened a Presidential Advisory Council on Strategic Planning. Consisting of six faculty members, three hourly staff members and three administrators, this group reviewed the best practices of strategic planning for colleges and universities, considered key questions and issues for the plan to address and mapped out the contours of the process for the following academic year.

Before the start of the 2023-24 academic year, President Harris asked Senior Vice President and Provost, Dr. Gail F. Baker, and Dr. Satyan Devadoss, Fletcher Jones Professor of Applied Mathematics, to co-chair the strategic Planning Committee. Comprised of 20 individuals, the committee included faculty, administrators, hourly staff, the Alumni Relations President and members of the Board of Trustees. In addition to the Strategic Planning Committee, a Writing Group of six other individuals was charged with reflecting on all the input gathered, submitted and summarized by the larger committee and expressing their key ideas in a written statement. That document provided a framework for the new plan by articulating four cornerstones: Foster Inspired and Meaningful Lives, Cultivate Innovation to Serve Humanity, Care for our Community and Expand our Global Vision as an Anchor Institution.

During the summer and fall of 2024, Dr. Lovette-Colyer worked with President Harris and his Strategic Leadership Team, the Board of Trustees and the entire university community to refine the cornerstones into specific, measurable goals and objectives. Benefiting from the involvement of almost 600 community members, the Lighting the Way to 2030 strategic plan was unanimously approved the Board on Dec. 6, 2024.