Office of Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness

Strategic Planning Process and Timeline

Western Illinois University is developing its next strategic plan for 2027–2032. The University Strategy Council is leading a collaborative process designed to look at the University as an interconnected system. The process recognizes that student success, enrollment, academic programs, people and culture, resources, operations, partnerships, and institutional effectiveness do not function in isolation. Meaningful strategic planning requires understanding how these parts of the University affect one another and work together.

The work is moving through several phases, with opportunities for broader University feedback before the plan is finalized and approved.

Foundation and Context (February–April 2026)

The University Strategy Council was formed in spring 2026, bringing together perspectives from different functions and areas of the University. The Council reviewed institutional data, existing plans and initiatives, recurring issues and opportunities, and initial feedback from Council members to identify areas that needed deeper attention.

Working Groups (May–August 2026)

Four working groups brought together additional perspectives from across the University to look more closely at key areas:

  • Enrollment, Identity & Outreach
  • Student Success, Progression & Completion
  • Workforce, Culture & Organizational Capacity
  • Financial Sustainability & Institutional Resources

The groups reviewed relevant information and ongoing work, discussed what was working and what was not, identified barriers and opportunities, and developed recommendations for the University Strategy Council to consider.

Synthesis (August–September 2026)

The Council then looked across all four working-group reports to identify common themes and areas of overlap and to consider how the different issues and recommendations connected to one another. Rather than treating enrollment, student success, people, finances, and other areas as separate parts of the plan, the Council began developing a structure that reflects how these parts of the University work together and affect one another.

That work has led to an emerging framework with two strategic directions focused on what Western seeks to accomplish and five institutional commitment areas focused on the capacity we need to build and sustain to accomplish it. The framework will continue to develop as the Council gathers broader feedback this fall.

Campus Engagement and Draft Development (September–October 2026)

This fall, the Council is sharing its work to date and gathering broader feedback from across the University. Constituent meetings and campus surveys will help us understand what we may be missing, what needs more attention, and what should be reflected in the full draft.

Feedback on WIU's mission and vision is also being gathered as part of this phase.

Revision, Approval, and Implementation Planning (November–December 2026)

The Council will use that feedback to revise and finalize the plan and begin developing the implementation framework. The final plan will be presented to the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees for review and approval.

Implementation will continue beyond adoption through a living action plan that identifies the work we will actually do, how we will measure progress, and what we learn from the results. The action plan can change as we learn what is working, what is not, and where adjustments are needed.