Strategic Planning Process
Central Michigan University’s previous strategic plan expired at the end of 2022. In 2022 and 2023 we undertook a strategic planning process to develop a new plan to guide our university forward.
The CMU Board of Trustees charged a Strategic Planning Executive Committee to create structures and processes to gather broad-based input from the university community and the wider community.
The new strategic plan built upon the work completed in the strategic envisioning process and focused on clearly differentiating CMU in meaningful ways from other institutions across Michigan. The final plan outlined a clear path to guide CMU forward using SMART goals as we navigate the changing landscape of higher education.
Committee structure and membership
The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees had a leadership role in the strategic planning process and had ultimate decision-making authority over the university's mission and vision statements and the overall strategic plan. Members of the greater university community also had an important role to play in developing and formulating the mission and vision, as well as the plan itself.
CMU adopted a multifaceted structure to engage stakeholders in this process. The links below navigate to descriptions of each of the groups that played significant roles in the planning process. Please visit each page to view an overview of each group's responsibilities and membership.
- Strategic Planning Executive Committee (SPEC)
- Strategic Planning Team (SPT)
- Strategic Planning Advisory Council (SPAC)
- Strategic Envisioning Advisory Team (SEAT)
Campus update sessions
The updates to campus may be viewed in the presentation and campus update session below.
Strategic plan
Learn more about CMU's strategic plan by viewing the document below.
Anticipated timeline
The Strategic Planning Team hosted campus engagement sessions throughout Spring 2023. The SPT presented a draft plan to the Board of Trustees in June 2023. After incorporating proposed edits, the SPT shared an update with the campus community in late August. The final proposed plan was presented to the Board of Trustees in September 2023.
Implementation
An implementation toolkit was developed to ensure all strategic plan details are fully understood by stakeholders charged with implementing divisional and college plans that align with the overarching university plan. Information gathered throughout the planning process will be available for implementation team members and additional key stakeholders to leverage as they prepare divisional and college plans. All plans will align with the university plan. An investment of resources will be made through strategic reallocations to initiate the implementation of the plan.
Reporting
The four listed priorities will guide the strategic direction of Central Michigan University for the next five years. Annually, the plan and allocation of resources will be reviewed, to ensure alignment between the budget and priorities. A full report will be provided for the campus community and presented at the Board of Trustees meeting each September.
Stakeholder engagement opportunities held to date
The involvement of CMU's many stakeholder groups in the strategic planning process is vital to the success of the plan. The Strategic Planning Team hosted numerous stakeholder engagement sessions in Spring 2023. This included focused sessions with targeted stakeholder groups as well as general sessions open to any member of the university community.
Staff
Friday, Feb. 10 at 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. in French Auditorium (EHS Building)
Faculty
Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Auditorium
Students
Students, Faculty and Staff
Face-to-face sessions
- Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Auditorium
- Friday, March 17 at 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. in French Auditorium (EHS Building)
- Monday, April 24, 2023 at 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. in Biosciences Room 1010
- Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. in French Auditorium (EHS 118)
Focused engagement sessions
- Student Government Association
- Board of Trustees
- President's Cabinet
- Provost's Advisory Council
- Senior Leadership Team
- Divisional leaders
- Senate Executive Board
- Academic Senate
- Academic Colleges
- Budget Priorities Committee
- Council of Chairs
- Innovation and Online unit
- Alumni, major donors, former Trustees, members of Alumni and Advancement boards
- Local and state government partners
- Local and state business and civic leaders
- Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Council
- Greater Mount Pleasant community, which may include representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, economic development committees, business owners and landlords.