Bridges to the Elms Plus Experience

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. Please note: The Elms College Strategic Plan has been extended for one additional year – through 2024.

Click on each of the five institutional priorities listed below to learn more. You can also download the Executive Summary.
See what we have accomplished: Strategic Plan: Year One Report, Strategic Plan: Year Two Report, and Strategic Plan: Year Three Report

Teacher and student in a classroom

Excel

Excel in Academics

  • Build a robust faculty mentoring and development program, including the needs of diverse faculty.
  • Ensure that distinctive elements of an Elms education are incorporated into all academic programming.
  • Implement a comprehensive plan for the innovative delivery of ElmsFlex programs with a commitment to accessibility for all students.
  • Maintain a continued focus on identified academic program priorities.
  • Identify new academic program opportunities for planning, resource allocation, and launch.

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Students using science equipment

Expand

Expand Experiential Learning

  • Advance Experiential Learning (EL) at Elms and oversee the Keating Schneider Fund and the Elms Internship Advantage Experience Fund.
  • Establish the position of Director of Experiential Learning.
  • Increase the number and types of EL opportunities available.
  • Create a pathway for EL throughout the Elms Plus Experience from day one through graduation.
  • Make EL accessible for all students.

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Statue and trees on campus

Elevate

Elevate Ethical Leadership

  • Develop a comprehensive plan to infuse ethics and ethical leadership development into all academic and cocurricular programs, as well as the liberal arts core.
  • Institute ethical leadership development as a hallmark feature of the Elms Plus Experience that will distinguish the college regionally and nationally.
  • Establish the Center for Ethics, Religion and Culture as the visible manifestation of the college’s commitment to our Catholic Identity and contemporary academic and public engagement.

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Group photo of students on campus

Engage

Engage Our Learning Community

  • Build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus through increased underrepresented student enrollment and faculty and staff hiring and retention.
  • Empower students through leadership roles effecting positive changes in the college, local communities, and the world.
  • Carry on the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph by engaging students’ learning through spirituality and service to the Dear Neighbor.
  • Improve living and learning environments in the residence halls, classrooms, and flexible affinity spaces.

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Student center for success reception desk

Enhance

Enhance Sustainability

  • Increase undergraduate enrollment pool geographically and with fully online/nontraditional students.
  • Increase student retention of academically underprepared, residential, and underrepresented populations.
  • Increase graduate enrollment.
  • Increase student athlete enrollment by modernizing athletic facilities.
  • Augment and track fiscal stability of the college.
  • Boost donor funding through a multi-year comprehensive capital campaign.

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Photo of lawn, statue and nice building on campus

Download the Full Report