UAF’s next strategic plan
An ongoing conversation about where we are, where we want to go, and how we will get there.
Why strategic planning matters
Why should UAF develop a strategic plan?
Strategic plans serve as a living framework that helps us make decisions, set priorities, and allocate resources. Strategic planning gives us the ability to proactively chart our own path to the future we want. Without it, we risk existing in a reactive state — where our decisions are driven by whatever internal and external forces happen to be pulling us at the moment.
What benefit does strategic planning provide?
A strategic planning process asks us to step out of the busyness of our daily activities to look ahead to who and where we want to be in the future. It helps us think strategically about what we need to do to realize our vision, while staying mindful of the conditions and forces that will help or hinder our efforts to get there. It also creates an accountability structure by identifying clear objectives for us to work toward and the cross-functional teams responsible for leading the work.
The circumstances we navigate as a university are dynamic and our plans should adapt with them. Strategic planning, therefore, is not a one-time exercise. It should be an ongoing conversation about where we are, where we want to go, and how we will get there.
UAF will conduct its next strategic planning cycle in four phases:
Sharing out and strategic planning kickoff
Strategic plan implementation launch
- Chancellor’s Immersion Tour
Meet with all college, unit and department leaders to understand unit mission, vision, and values; key data for planning and alignment; analysis of unit and university strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats; key accomplishments and areas of operational effectiveness; and key strategic opportunities and imminent operational or resource challenges.
Chancellor's Immersion Tour schedule Date ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, unit or department name Scroll to view additional dates.
- 2019-2027 Strategic Plan assessment
Recap aspirations for each strategic goal, track relevant performance metrics, summarize the current status of strategies pursued and capture recommendations and implications for the next planning cycle. - 2027 planning process and timeline design
By December 2026, draft UAF’s next strategic planning process and timeline. This process may include:- Refreshing UAF’s mission, vision and values
- Drafting detailed objectives, projects and strategies to achieve the vision
- Collecting stakeholder feedback on draft materials
- Aligning planning cycles with resource decision-making cycles
- Sharing the process and timeline for subsequent reporting and planning cycles
- Highlight cross-cutting themes identified during the Fall 2026 Chancellor’s Immersion Tour
- Highlight key successes from the 2019 - 2027 Strategic Plan
- Share the 2027 strategic planning process and timeline, including how stakeholders can get involved
- Start planning activities
- Complete planning activities and draft plan materials
- Collect feedback from the UAF community
- Finalize plan and create project implementation plans; allocate resources for Year 1 implementation
How can I get involved?
Opportunities for broader community input will open once planning kicks off in early 2027. Check back here for updates as the process unfolds.
Questions?
Contact Amber Leytem, UAF Continuous Improvement Manager, at arleytem@alaska.edu.