Integrating Self-Study, Strategic Planning

There is much integration between strategic planning and the self-study that is under way at Iowa State as part of the Higher Learning Commission accreditation process. The self-study informs planning and in turn, planning is reflected in the self-study. The table below illustrates some of the connections.

The environmental scan helped define strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to clarify our mission and vision, providing direction for our future. As a part of our culture and core values, our performance in learning and teaching, knowledge and engagement and service is important to us and is measured and evaluated regularly.

Priorities for the next 5 years have been aligned with our vision and informed by our self-study. Specific goals and measures have been developed to aid in monitoring performance and progress in fulfilling our mission, and planning for the future.

The strategic planning process and evaluation is described in the self-study for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Various other components of the self-study reference the strategic plan in descriptions of the decision-making process, resources, budget planning, evaluation, learning outcomes, knowledge and engagement and service.