Scope, Structure and Implementation
Six strategic priorities continue to center MSU’s strategic plan. These priorities, which emerged through the initial planning process, provide the scaffold for broad, outcome-oriented goals, related objectives, key actions/initiatives and relevant indicators of success.
With the plan’s refresh, MSU leadership is underscoring our strength as collaborative thinkers and doers who can move boldly as one team building on enduring core ideas. Listening and conversation have led to new cross-cutting themes that span strategic priorities, uniting key areas and infusing our efforts with new energy. These cross-cutting themes support and enhance the continuing work within each priority.
Implementation of the refreshed, reframed, reimagined and reaffirmed strategic plan continues to be guided by the plan’s six priorities, their goals and the actions identified to achieve those goals. Each strategic priority will continue to have an executive sponsor or sponsors who lead work in that area. In addition, special work groups will drive collaboration, synergy and progress as they accomplish the work of the cross-cutting themes and the connected strategic priorities. These groups will bring together leaders already working in the priority areas, and more broadly from across the university.
The executive sponsors who lead implementation at the university level, consulting with shared governance as appropriate, are:
- Student Success — Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for Student Affairs
- Staff and Faculty Success — Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Executive Vice President for Administration and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences
- Discovery and Innovation for Impact — Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and Vice President for Research and Innovation
- Sustainable Health — Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and Executive Dean for Health Sciences
- Stewardship for a Sustainable Future — Executive Vice President for Administration and Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
- Access, Opportunity and Excellence — Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
Broad strategic plan implementation will continue to be led by the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and the Strategic Plan Implementation Steering Committee, a group comprising the plan’s executive sponsors and other key university leaders. The Vice President for Strategic Initiatives is responsible for annually reporting progress to the Board of Trustees.
At the unit level, college and administrative unit strategic and annual plans should be aligned to advance the strategic themes of the university. University processes, including budget planning and resource allocation, support leadership priorities and planning themes.
Although the strategic plan articulates broad themes and identifies selected key initiatives and actions to advance our goals, much of the specific work to advance the university’s objectives takes place within colleges and administrative units, including auxiliary units like Athletics and Residential and Hospitality Services. Our success depends on the collective expertise, action and uncommon will of the Spartan community working together.
Metrics
Updated metrics for strategic priorities will be developed over the fall 2025 semester.