The 2021-2022 academic year marked “year one” of activity and implementation on behalf of Boise State’s strategic plan, Blueprint for Success, and university leadership announced three major milestones reached in that time.
Milestone #1: Synchronized Process: Prioritization, Planning, and Budget
By late fall 2021, the University Strategic Planning Council introduced a synchronized process for submission of required annual reporting to the State Board of Education and strategic budget requests. This synchronized submission process allows for aligned and integrated thinking about progress being made on the strategic plan, continuous improvement action items (program prioritization), and the funding needed to support them (both funded internally within college/division and funded through central budget requests). Divisions, colleges, and units completed this first-of-its-kind process in March 2022.
Strategic planning themes that emerged from this first synchronized process include, but are not limited to: Enhancements or creation of plans and programming designed to foster student success and retention, new programming and initiatives across divisions, efficiencies gained through unit/staff reorganization and technological acquisition, refining communication of Boise State’s innovation achievements, and preparing for a comprehensive fundraising campaign that aligns with the Blueprint for Success.
Milestone #2: Investments for 2022-2023
After review of the spring 2022 budget requests, investment in university personnel ranked first among the priorities, with funds allocated to strengthen academic advising, faculty across adjunct, lecturer, and tenure track positions, the human resources team, Children’s Center, Division of Research, Athletics, Financial Aid Office, and Registrar’s Office. Other investments included resources for Salesforce, a software tool supporting digital campus needs and a research dashboard to better track grant activity at the university.
Milestone #3: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Mid-Cycle Accreditation Review
The evaluators who conducted Boise State’s mid-cycle accreditation review offered a strong endorsement for the collaborative process of the Blueprint for Success’s development and for the clear “buy-in,” “enthusiasm,” and “support” for the plan from across the university. As the plan matures, the evaluators advised that “school, college, and other unit plans and goals align and support the university’s five overarching goals.”