The Strategic Plan Project
This page provides an overview of the process behind Arkansas State University’s Discover 2025 Strategic Plan, including the consulting partner, project phases, and resources that guided the initiative.
For more than 40 years, The Napa Group has partnered with education, business and non-profit organizations to strengthen their competitive advantage and financial sustainability as they respond to the changing expectations of their customers.
In consultation with Napa Group, a six-part model produced a strategic solutions with supporting resource plans and an implementation roadmap informed by enterprise thinking and integration. Below is a recap of the six stages conducted to achieve the #Discover2025 plan through engaging stakeholders both on and off campus.
Project Phases
Phase 1: Project Launch/Organizational Assessment
The time frame for Phase 1 is February - March 2019.
Project plan, leadership roles and communications plan
Form Steering Committee
Environmental scan and trends report - general market
Environmental scan and trends report - Arkansas State specific
Recommended Read
To prepare for this process, our Steering Committee members read "Robot-Proof," which explains the future of higher education. The library has acquired copies and it is also available digitally from Project MUSE or EBSCO.
Phase 2: Compelling Vision
The time frame for Phase 2 is March - May 2019.
Project website launch
Facilitated Steering Committee #1 (March 6)
Opportunities, challenges and high-level themes
Steering Committee Meeting - summary notes
Steering Committee-led focus groups (May 9)
Focus Group Responses - unedited
Phase 3: Realistic Strategies
The time frame for Phase 3 is May - June 2019.
Facilitated Steering Committee #2 (May 29)
Draft strategic framework (goals and objectives)
Stakeholder engagement plan confirmed
Phase 4: Stakeholder Engagement
The time frame for Phase 4 is September - October 2019.
Sep. 25 – 5:30-7:00 – Community Leadership (Student Union Auditorium)
Oct. 21 – 1-2:30 – Stakeholder Engagement – Students (Student Union Auditorium)
Oct. 21 – 3-4:30 – Stakeholder Engagement – Staff (Student Union Auditorium)
Oct. 23 – 3:30-5 – Stakeholder Engagement – Faculty (Student Union Auditorium)
Oct. 30 – 11-1 – Stakeholder Engagement – Alumni (Cooper Alumni Center)
If you can’t attend your group meeting, an open town hall for anyone is set for Wed, Nov. 6th, 5:30-7
Task Force formed and charged
Phase 5: Task Forces & Engagement
Taskforce Membership
The time frame for Phase 5 begins November 2019.
Task Force reports submitted
Facilitated Steering Committee #3
Draft plan, performance goals/outcomes
Phase 6: Final Strategic Plan & Implementation Framework
Final meetings, discussions, and formal adoption of the plan were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Final drafts were reviewed and adopted during the Fall 2020 semester.
In June 2023, new tasks were developed that aligned with post-pandemic initiatives.