Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning Process

Fairleigh Dickinson University has embarked on the development of a new institutional strategic plan for the next 3-5 years. The 2015–2020 strategic plan called for “a paradigm shift toward 21st-century higher education that emphasizes contemporary teaching methodologies, transformative learning, and student learning outcomes.” In that plan, among key efforts, FDU recommitted to accessible and affordable education that provides lasting value to students and their families. This next plan will build on those initiatives and guide the future pathway. Students, society and higher education are all changing, and FDU continues to face critical challenges but has important and exciting opportunities.

The new strategic planning process will engage the whole University community and its stakeholders on all campuses in designing a bold new future for FDU. The process is being guided by an FDU Steering Committee and the professional support of Keeling & Associates, LLC.

In this strategic planning process, the University will:

  • Harvest and use reliable internal, comparative and contextual data to inform planning discussions, analyses and decisions — the new strategic plan must be rigorously data-driven;
  • Study both challenges and opportunities closely in order to develop a plan that is both aspirational and practical;
  • Clarify the long-term vision, identity and strategy for the University and each of its campuses — different campuses may have different purposes and priorities but must be aligned within one university;
  • Define measurable goals and objectives through which to achieve the intended strategy and institutional priorities; and
  • Create a feasible implementation plan that incorporates sound financial planning and provides the framework and guidelines for FDU to achieve its strategic goals and objectives.

Strategic Planning Steering Committee

The charge of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Strategic Planning Steering Committee (SPSC) is to: (1) provide direction, guidance and oversight throughout the planning process; (2) engage members of the University community inclusively in interviews, forums, surveys and other activities essential to the success of that process; (3) review summaries and analyses of information and data collected through the process; (4) determine overall institutional strategic priorities for the planning period; (5) develop draft and final strategic goals and objectives; and (6) oversee the creation of the final strategic planning document, which will include a detailed, comprehensive implementation plan. The SPSC will serve as the primary liaison between the University and its planning consultants, Keeling & Associates, LLC (K&A).

Strategic Planning Working Groups

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee (SPSC) has formed working groups composed of both SPSC members and other faculty, staff, administrators and students, as appropriate, to focus in depth on specific areas of strategic importance (e.g., academic programs; the student experience; diversity, equity and inclusion; financial stability and institutional sustainability; student enrollment and retention; infrastructure, etc.). The working groups will review data, confer with campus partners and recommend priorities that the SPSC will consider.