SIU System Strategic Planning
History
The Southern Illinois University (SIU) System has developed a comprehensive Strategic Plan to guide its initiatives from 2021 through 2026. This plan, unanimously approved by the SIU Board of Trustees in February 2022, was one of the first goals set by President Dan Mahony upon his appointment in March 2020. The strategic planning process was a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders across the SIU campuses, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members. In July 2020, Vice President Gireesh Gupchup was appointed to organize the plan's creation, working alongside co-facilitators Dr. Lakesha Butler from the SIUE School of Pharmacy and Professor John Pollitz from SIUC's Library Affairs.
SIU System Strategic Plan Dashboard SIU System Strategic Plan
Strategic Planning Process
The strategic planning process commenced in March 2020 under the leadership of President Dan Mahony. In July 2020, Vice President Gireesh Gupchup was appointed to organize the plan's creation, working alongside co-facilitators Dr. Lakesha Butler from the SIUE School of Pharmacy and Professor John Pollitz from SIUC's Library Affairs. The process involved the formation of eight working groups focusing on areas such as Academic Program Development, Student Success, Diversity and Inclusion, Employee Satisfaction, Community Impact, Partnerships, Research, and Shared Services. These groups developed reports to inform the strategic planning process, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach.
Implementation and Progress
Since summer 2022, the SIU System Strategic Plan Implementation Teams have been actively engaged in overseeing and reporting on their respective objectives. Each team submits four reports annually to the Center for Predictive Analytics: two comprehensive reports with narrative and data submissions for formal Board of Trustees updates, and two narrative updates highlighting progress, success stories, opportunities, and challenges. The President’s Office provides formal updates to the Board twice a year, featuring the work of different Implementation Teams at each meeting. This structured reporting process ensures transparency and accountability, allowing the SIU community and the public to monitor progress toward strategic goals.
In summer 2023, the SIU System unveiled the first iteration of its Strategic Plan Dashboard. This tool includes qualitative and quantitative metrics reflecting progress toward each strategic goal and associated objectives, with multi-year data where available. The dashboard enables members of the SIU community, Board of Trustees, and the general public to monitor progress, with data viewable by campus, demographic, or year. It is updated twice per year across all teams, with some metrics receiving live updates as data is received.
Throughout 2023, the Center for Predictive Analytics collaborated with each implementation team to identify top priorities for the initial years of the Strategic Plan, establish timelines for priority activities, and refine metrics to accurately reflect progress through both quantitative and qualitative measures. This collaborative effort has laid a strong foundation to build on each campus's unique strengths and expand the collective impact of the SIU System.
Strategic Plan Refinements
In Fiscal Year 2024, the implementation teams focused on identifying key priorities,establishing timelines, and aligning metrics to measure success. In summer 2024, the goal co-chairs engaged in a thoughtful review process to further refine objectives and metrics, ensuring the plan remains responsive to the needs of our system and the communities we serve.
The result of this work is an updated strategic plan, which represents the System’s continued commitment to collaboration, innovation, and accountability. As SIU enters the next phase of implementation, we are confident in our ability to achieve the goals set forth for Years 3–5, driving progress across the System.
