Strategic Plan

As Interim President Smith announced, the College of Arts & Sciences (ArtSci) is tasked with developing a strategic plan that will help the college chart its path for the next several years.

The ArtSci Inaugural Strategic Plan will develop a framework for the goals and actions that firmly cement the newly formed college as the foundational future of the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences at Utah State University. 

Drafting a strategic plan involves several steps and the active participation of many stakeholder groups, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.

Strategic Plan Committee

The Strategic Plan Committee is responsible for drafting the strategic plan as well as a detailed implementation plan between August 2025 and October 2026. Dean Ward has assigned Associate Dean for Faculty Success Julia M. Gossard to serve as the Committee Chair and Lead Author.

With nominations from department heads and other college leadership, Dean Ward and Associate Dean Gossard have selected the following committee:

Designing Our Future

There are three phases for the development of the strategic plan. At each stage, stakeholder participation is essential. Events will be announced throughout the fall and spring semesters that will allow for ample faculty, staff, student, alumni, and community feedback and engagement. 

The following phases are subject to change. Information will be published to the website as we progress through each phase.

Phase 1: Gathering and Analyzing Data

Timeline: August 2025-December 2025

During this first phase, the Strategic Plan Committee will work closely with the ArtSci Steering Committee to hold town halls, develop stakeholder surveys, and gather essential data that can help us draft our goals and priorities. The college’s mission will also be refined during this period using the data collected.

Phase 2: Drafting and Refining the Strategic Plan

Timeline: January 2026-June 2026

During this second phase, the strategic plan committee will use the data gathered in Phase 1 to draft our initial plan. Town halls will be held to review and refine the strategic plan’s goals and objectives.

Phase 3: Implementation

Timeline: July 2026 – Ongoing

During this final phase, the committee will work with the Dean, the Provost’s Office, and the President’s Office to finalize the strategic plan. A public presentation of the strategic plan will occur in August 2026. The committee will also develop a detailed implementation plan by October 2026.

Draft College Mission (updated November 2025)

The College of Arts & Sciences is at the heart of Utah State University’s land- and space-grant mission. Through transformative learning experiences at each of our campuses statewide, we serve all levels of post-secondary education including concurrent enrollment students, undergraduates, graduate students, and lifelong learners. Our faculty, staff, and students advance knowledge, spark creativity, pursue innovative research and artistic excellence, and engage meaningfully with our communities. 

This mission will be refined and edited using feedback gathered in Phase 1.

Fall 2025 Overview of Work Completed

  • SWOT Analyses conducted with Dean’s Office, Department Heads, Strategic Plan Committee
  • Liaising with Steering Committee and reviewing of initial data
  • Mission drafting and refining
  • Value identification and drafting (in progress)

Stakeholder Involvement

The college Steering Committee will conduct town halls, invite faculty, students, alumni, and community members to take surveys, and ask for feedback at various stages of the drafting process.

If you have ideas and feedback to share with the committee, please contact Associate Dean Gossard.