Chapman University’s strategic planning process engaged a variety of campus stakeholders over a six-month period.
Planning began in June 2022 at a two-day planning retreat at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar resort in Del Mar, Calif., where President Daniele C. Struppa and other Chapman leaders shared ideas and gained insights for Chapman’s next strategic plan to the Board of Trustees, senior leadership, deans, president of the Faculty Senate and president of the Student Governing Organization.
Throughout the summer, Provost Norma Bouchard began drafting the main sections of the plan – called Our Path to Greatness – circulating the document to Chapman’s senior leadership for feedback. Struppa presented this draft at retreats for the staffs of Chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President Harold W. Hewitt Jr., Vice President and Chief Information Officer Helen Norris and Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Matt Parlow.
Simultaneously, Bouchard convened Chapman’s deans for a two-day retreat to outline the goals of the new strategic plan, solicit feedback, discuss budgeting and share ideas for how the deans could present the plan’s concepts to faculty and staff in their respective schools and colleges.
At a faculty meeting before the start of the fall semester, Struppa presented his ideas for the strategic plan. The presentation was offered in both live and online formats so that all could attend.
As specifics of the plan began to take shape, Struppa presented more details to the Board of Trustees’ investment, finance, real estate and advancement committees, as well as the Board of Governors and Student Government Association. Bouchard met separately with faculty governance leaders on the Senate Executive Board and Long-Range Planning Council to share ideas and incorporate feedback.
A town hall presentation and feedback session with Chapman’s staff was held in September 2022. During that session, Struppa answered questions and solicited thoughts from Chapman’s full-time staff members.
A second town hall and feedback session with Chapman’s full-time faculty, including the Faculty Senate, was held in October 2022. Chapman’s faculty members asked questions and shared their thoughts directly with the president and provost during this session. In early November, the draft of the plan was posted online and feedback was solicited from faculty and staff for one week.
Other meetings and retreats were held in fall 2022 to discuss the strategic plan’s goals in greater detail. Norris and Bouchard held an all-day retreat to brainstorm and prioritize projects associated with the digital transformation goal outlined in the plan. This retreat resulted in a prioritized list and timeline for new Information Systems & Technology department projects.
In late November, Struppa presented the final strategic plan to the Board of Trustees Finance Committee, which approved funding. He will present the final version of the strategic plan to the Board of Trustees for formal approval.
“Our Path to Greatness” will be posted on Chapman’s website, shared within the campus community, and key performance indicators will be developed to monitor the plan’s progress.
Chapman looks forward to continued progress on the plan’s goals toward another successful strategic plan.
