PRISM: Blazing Brighter Together!
After nearly a year of comprehensive collaboration through listening sessions and surveys with faculty, staff, and students; information gathering by subcommittees; and benchmarking, Elms College has developed five critical strategic areas to lead our efforts as we move forward in line with our mission, vision, and values.
PRISM: People, Relevance, Innovation, Strength and Mission
Read the full PRISM Strategic Plan (PDF)
Click on each of the five institutional priorities listed below to learn more.
You can also download the Executive Summary.
People
- Model for our students a mission-driven, financially sustainable, just, and joyful Elms community that excels because of its diversity and in which all members can thrive.
Relevance
- In the new Massachusetts higher education environment, clearly articulate the value and relevance of a private, Elms education: to prepare real-world-ready, ethical and principled leaders and doers both traditionally and flexibly for the benefit of our students and our employers-partners, in selected areas.
Innovation
- Within a context of rapid academic and pedagogical evolutions, and in a business model that is increasingly difficult for small, private colleges, articulate the two innovative tracks that the College will follow in the next three years: reorganization and novel practices to build and strengthen capacity and improve the student experience, and leading-edge initiatives to recruit students and enhance our profile.
Strength
- Financial resources are the fuel to pursue and advance the mission. Elms College will maintain the financial health that allows a vigorous pursuit of our mission in these incredibly difficult times for small colleges. The three elements of the strategy are: a stabilized and growing enrollment, continued discipline in achieving key financial metrics established in a multi-year financial plan, and targeted fundraising for specific needs.
Mission
- Elms College, a Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, derives our distinctiveness from our mission: to educate a diverse group of students in a vibrant and supportive learning environment, thus forming ethical, principled, and caring individuals for themselves and for the world. Elms College will remain attentive to our distinctive mission both now-in the outcomes that we seek in our students-and for the future-as we are intentional about ensuring that we remain faithful to our founding mission.
