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June 2, 2022 Official Launch of Baruch’s Strategic Planning Process for 2023–28 Dear Baruch College Community: It is my pleasure to launch the Strategic Planning Process for Baruch College. Every five years, Baruch renews its institutional strategic plan: the 2013–18
plan positioned the College as a global leader in public urban education, and the 2018–23 plan forged a comprehensive and
ambitious blueprint to further that aim. We are continuing that tradition in launching an institutional strategic planning process for 2023–28.
In a series of blog posts this spring, I framed the overarching theme and concepts for the strategic planning process as being
differentiation and engagement: Differentiation: “If the
audacious idea
behind Baruch’s success is
making excellence accessible to all,
what can we do to cultivate, expand, and elevate quality in the pursuit of excellence? How do we stay true to our mission of serving not the privileged few but the ‘privileged many’?
How do we transpose our institutional purpose and aspiration to our own journey—how do we find our role in the master script? By intentional and multifaceted engagement with our community, our stakeholders, and our partners and supporters, we will learn to
do this together in an inclusive, collaborative, transparent, and honest but respectful way.” Engagement:
“Strategic planning is
a form of institutional learning. Specifically, it is the act of collective thinking and sharing aspirations that lead to buy-in, action, and sustained change. Consistent attention
to where we are going as an institution ensures that the collaboration process remains energized and at the forefront of who we are and who we can be. Individual participation is the crux of this process; true change can only be accomplished with broad support
and commitment. As we move forward, it is essential that each of us
personalize
our roles—whether as a member of the Baruch community, as a stakeholder, as an alumnus/alumna, friend, partner, or supporter—and figure out the part we could play in impacting Baruch’s
institutional future.” Process and Timeline The planning committee has selected
Blue Beyond Consulting to assist us in the strategic
planning process. Their work with us will extend over the next year and encompass four phases: Phase 1, Through July 2022: Preparation, planning, and design. During this phase, Blue
Beyond will review existing materials, including the recent surveys distributed to the campus community. They will also engage directly with the Strategic Planning Committee and the President’s Cabinet during a campus visit in June. They may also engage with
senior staff and other campus representatives via Zoom during this phase. Phase 2, August–October 2022: Engagement, information gathering, and analysis. This
phase will include a two-day “Appreciative Inquiry Summit” on September 22–23, listening sessions, and design thinking workshops. Our consultants may also ask to visit regularly scheduled meetings, such as department meetings, student government meetings,
and staff meetings. Phase 3, November 2022–February 2023: Draft the plan. The consultants will work closely
with the Strategic Planning Committee and its subcommittees on drafting the plan. They will hold numerous focus groups/design thinking sessions to gather input and feedback and begin work toward implementation planning.
Phase 4, Finalize, Share, and Implement the Plan.
Stakeholder feedback sessions will be used to validate the plan and develop implementation strategies. At the end of their engagement, the consultants will leave us with an implementation
playbook that will include milestones, accountability measures, key performance indicators (KPIs), and so on.
Engagement and Participation Will Take Many Forms It is imperative that our strategic plan reflect the perspectives of everyone who has an important stake in the College—our students, families, faculty, staff,
alumni, donors, employers, and business and community leaders. In the year ahead, there will be a number of ways that you can participate in the process to ensure your voice is heard:
The strategic planning website will serve as a common point of reference to learn about our progress throughout this journey, as well as a place where members
of our community may share their thoughts, ask questions, and participate in an ongoing conversation about our shared future. The website will be launched shortly.
The Baruch Community Strategic Planning Committee I am grateful that more than 70 community members volunteered to serve on the Baruch Community Strategic Planning Committee, and we will make sure that all of them are
engaged in some ways throughout the process. The committee membership itself consists of students, faculty, alumni, staff, and administrators. The members of the Baruch Community Strategic Planning Committee will be reviewing data, leading meetings and focus
groups, chairing subcommittees, and drafting and revising the material that will go into the strategic plan and implementation plan. These dedicated community members will meet biweekly throughout the process in addition to other engagement activities.
With my sincere appreciation for their willingness to serve, I am hereby announcing the composition of the Baruch Community Strategic Planning Committee:
Linda Essig, Provost and SVP, Committee Chair Kenya Lee, Chief of Staff, Committee Co-Chair Committee Members (in alphabetical order): Jeffrey Acosta, alumnus, Class of 2018
Divine Adeniyi, undergraduate student, Weissman School Jay Berman, Trustee, Baruch College Fund, and alumnus, Class of 1959 Cheryl de Jong-Lambert, Director of Communications, Office of Communications, Marketing & Public Affairs Arthur Downing, Vice President for Information Services and Dean of the Library James Francis, Deputy Director of Public Safety, Office of Administration and Finance Osvaldo Garcia, undergraduate student, Marxe School, and Executive Vice President, Undergraduate Student Government Andreas Grein, Professor, Aaronson Department of Marketing and International Business, Zicklin School Serra Hilaire, Associate Director of Operations, Technology and Advising Programs, Division of Enrollment Management &
Strategic Academic Initiatives Elizabeth Ho, undergraduate student, Zicklin School Marios Koufaris, Chair and Professor, Chook Department of Information Systems and Statistics, Zicklin School Cuili (Evelyn) Lu, graduate student, Zicklin School Zachariah Mampilly, Associate Professor, Marxe School Jennifer Mangels, Chair and Professor, Department of Psychology, Weissman School John Osae-Kwapong, Associate Vice Provost for Assessment, Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness Gisele Regatao, Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism and the Writing Professions, Weissman School
Damali Tolson, Director of Student Life, Division of Student Affairs Natalie Velasquez Pinela, Operations Coordinator, Division of Enrollment Management & Strategic Academic Initiatives I am very excited about this opportunity to engage with the Baruch College community in new ways and to collaborate on the development of our shared vision for the future
of the College. Regards,
S. David Wu President, Baruch College
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