On July 14, the Council of Student Affairs Directors (CSAD) approved an amended copy of the Student Affairs Strategic Plan. The current plan, established as a three-year plan through 2017, was extended through 2019. The plan provides four strategic initiatives that help define the role of Student Affairs and its associated departments at the University of Nebraska.

The strategic initiatives are now:

1. Foster a campus culture that promotes student leadership, wellness and personal and social responsibility.
2. Establish a transparent system of accountability that advances opportunities for continuous improvement.
3. Secure and manage the human, financial and physical resources necessary to support our mission.
4. Communicate the educational value of engagement outside the classroom and construct a common Student Affairs identity.

"It is important to have a strategic plan because it sets the direction for the Division," said Vice Chancellor Franco. "It helps ensure that all focus on the priorities the Division has established for itself. It serves as a map to remind us where we want to go and how to get there. It also helps ensure that all members of the Division are involved in the success of the Division."

Changes from the 2014 plan primarily related to assigning metrics to accurately measure objectives, staffing changes that have influenced planning and the new outsourcing of the University Health Center to be managed by Nebraska Medicine. It is customary for CSAD to review the plan annually.

"Measuring our objectives through assessment is a critical part of the strategic planning process. Data from assessment provides essential feedback on progress and influences future direction," said Linda Major, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and director of the Center for Civic Engagement.

All departments in Student Affairs play a role in the division-wide plan. The full plan is available at http://go.unl.edu/sa-strategicplan.