Planning Process April 2, 2026

What Our Community Said: Strategic Planning Survey Results

“Respondents expressed confidence in the draft strategic framework and affirmed that it positions Capital well for the next five years.”

As part of the development of Capital Rising, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee distributed a university-wide survey to gather community input on the direction of the plan. The response was both encouraging and substantive — the Capital community engaged thoughtfully, expressing strong support for the overall framework while offering practical guidance for the work ahead.

The survey results were shared with the campus community in April 2026, summarizing the key themes that emerged and confirming the strategic direction the Steering Committee had been developing. Those themes are now reflected throughout the five pillars and 25 goals of Capital Rising.

Key themes from the survey

Strong support for the framework

Respondents broadly affirmed the draft strategic framework and expressed confidence that it positions Capital well for the next five years.

Focus on implementation

The community encouraged attention to execution — ensuring that strategic ambition is matched by realistic prioritization, institutional capacity, and available resources.

Campus environment and infrastructure

Respondents highlighted the importance of the physical campus, accessibility, technology support, safety, and sustainability as areas deserving continued investment.

Alignment across the institution

Participants emphasized the value of shared direction — connecting the work of individual departments, schools, and divisions to the University’s broader strategic goals.

How this shaped the plan

The survey findings were analyzed alongside the insights gathered in community listening sessions and the work of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Themes around implementation discipline, resource alignment, and campus environment are directly reflected in the goals of Capital Rising — particularly within the People, Place, and Resources pillars.

The feedback on prioritization also shaped the structure of the plan itself. Rather than attempting to capture every area of institutional activity, Capital Rising identifies strategic work that will meaningfully advance the University’s future — a distinction the community itself helped draw.

What comes next

With the plan formally adopted by the Board of Trustees in spring 2026, the community engagement that shaped it now transitions into the work of implementing it. Schools, divisions, and departments across the University are developing cascading plans that align their own priorities to the five pillars. Progress across all 25 goals will be tracked publicly through the Envisio dashboard linked from this site.