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
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.
