Campus Communications

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few weeks, the Strategic Plan Steering Committee has received thoughtful feedback regarding the draft strategic plan, including requests to provide a clear and structured opportunity for additional campus-wide engagement before finalizing the plan. After consideration, we want to balance the need to have a finalized strategic plan in place, which is an accreditation imperative, with our goal of ensuring that people have a chance to be heard.  

Therefore, we are adjusting the timeline, adding in an additional phase. The detailed timeline for this final phase is outlined below. It allows for a structured campus-wide comment period, while keeping us on track to have a plan finalized before the end of the spring semester. 

Timeline for Strategic Plan Rollout

1. By March 10 – Plan Revisions 

• Over the past several weeks, the Steering Committee has, to their best efforts, reviewed and considered the feedback received. To date, the draft document has been shared, and detailed feedback solicited, from all of our campus shared governance entities (Faculty Senate, Adjunct Faculty Caucus, Staff Senate, Student Government Association, and the Graduate Student Council) and campus leadership, including all members of Extended Cabinet and Deans Council.
• The Steering Committee will submit the proposed final draft to the President no later than March 10. 

2. March 11 – State of the University 

• The President will introduce the proposed final draft and open a guided comment period to invite refining feedback. 
• Immediately following the State of the University Address, the proposed draft and link to the feedback form will be shared broadly with our campus community via email. These documents will also be accessible through the strategic plan website.

3. Three-Week Campus Review Period (March 11 – April 1) 

• A structured mechanism for submitting anonymous feedback will be provided with periodic reminders sent on how to provide comment. 
• This will serve as the final window for comment before the plan is finalized.  

4. April 1 – April 15 – Steering committee to review and synthesize feedback 

• The Steering Committee will reconvene to review all feedback and determine whether additional refinements are warranted and how they will be incorporated. 

5. Week of April 20th – Updated plan shared prior to release 

• The revised plan will again be distributed to all shared governance bodies prior to finalization. 
• This will include a summary of themes received, indications of what changed and rationale as to why certain suggestions were not incorporated.  

6. May 1 – Strategic plan finalized and released  

• The final strategic plan will be shared with campus. 
• Implementation guidance and next-phase expectations will follow. 

The proposed draft that will be presented on March 11th at the State of the University address represents the vision, thoughtfulness, and time that hundreds of campus partners have dedicated to this important work. 

We are grateful for everyone’s continued commitment to SU and to this process. 

• Zebadiah HallVice President for Inclusion, Access and Belonging, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
• Dr. Christy Weer, Dean, Perdue School of Business

Co-chairs, SU Strategic Planning Steering Committee

Dear Campus Community,

Our Centennial is uniquely tied to another major milestone for the University, we are also shaping the roadmap that will guide our next five years – the 2026–2031 Strategic Plan. This plan will reflect who we are today and who we aspire to be in the future. When complete, the Strategic Plan will also align our goals with the evolving needs of our students, faculty, staff, and community.

Campus and Community Engagement to Date

Over the past several months, members of our Strategic Plan Steering Committee have been hosting listening sessions and focus groups to gather input from every corner of the campus. Thank you to all who participated in these thoughtful discussions and helped us explore questions like:

• What should Salisbury University look like in 5 or 10 years?
• What are we doing well, and what could we do better?
• What bold, forward-thinking steps should define our next century?

We have held a total of 30 focus group and listening sessions. Among these were five faculty sessions, five staff sessions, and six student sessions. Additionally, the committee also participated in eight internal unit-level meetings as well as six sessions with external constituent groups. All of these were facilitated by members of the Steering Committee and generated rich ideas about SU’s academic strengths, student experience, and community connections.

A full, detailed list of campus and community engagements can be found at salisbury.edu/strategic-planning. 

Sub-Committee Progress

Smaller sub-committees of the Steering Committee have also been assembled to focus on specific Strategic Plan topics:

• Mission and Vision Sub-Committee
• Values Sub-Committee
• Objectives and Metrics Sub-Committee

These groups are diving into the specifics and key metrics that will anchor the next steps of the process.

Next Phase: Strategic Plan Working Groups

We are now ready to launch the next stage – the formation of Strategic Plan Working Groups. These groups will take what we’ve learned so far and begin shaping concrete, measurable strategies to move SU forward.

There will be five working groups, each aligned with major pillars of the emerging plan:

1. Academic Excellence and Innovation
2. Student Experience and Success
3. Community, Culture, and Connection
4. Institutional Sustainability and Stewardship
5. Data and Implementation

Each group will include 10–12 members – faculty, staff, students, and community partners – and will meet several times between October and December.

These Working Groups are distinct from the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. While the Steering Committee continues to oversee the overall process and ensure alignment across the plan, the new Working Groups will support and inform their work by diving deeper into specific themes, testing ideas, and recommending actionable strategies.

Together, these two bodies will help ensure our next Strategic Plan is both bold in vision and grounded in the lived experiences of our community.

​How to Get Involved

We invite all interested faculty, staff, and students to volunteer for one of these Working Groups. This is your chance to help shape the vision and direction of Salisbury University as we move into our next 100 years.

To express your interest, please complete the brief Working Group Interest Form by Wednesday, October 22.

​Continue to Share Feedback

As always, feedback from our community remains essential to this process. You can share your ideas and suggestions at any time by emailing StrategicPlan@salisbury.edu.

Thank you for your continued engagement as we work together to chart the next great chapter in Salisbury University’s history.