Strategy as a Transformation Engine
Core’s model is unlike traditional planning processes; we deliver a complete campus wide strategic blueprint in 90 days that is fast focused and execution ready.
Traditional strategic planning in higher education was built for a different era—one where change was slow, risk was low, and time was abundant. Those days are over. The pace of change has accelerated more than threefold, so that now the changes that occurred over a decade are happening in three years or less. Higher education is at a crossroads.
Today’s leaders face a perfect storm: enrollment cliffs, funding volatility, political disruption, and AI-driven transformation. Yet many institutions are still using outdated, 10–12 month planning processes that result in verbose documents, vague priorities, and limited execution.
It’s time to retire that model. That’s why Core offers a Modern Strategic Planning Practice—a bold, AI-integrated, outcome-focused approach that helps presidents, boards, and cabinets align fast, act decisively, and stay future-ready.
What Makes This Different
- Clarify bold, directional choices that define where the institution is going—and what it will walk away from.
- Double down on distinctiveness by aligning strategy with what makes the institution irreplaceable.
- Build execution discipline by tying strategy directly to capital, people, time, and measurable progress. This is not a plan that checks every box. It is a blueprint that commits to what truly matters—for mission, margin, and momentum.
Why It Matters
Urgency is Real
The timeline for setting strategic direction has collapsed. Institutions can no longer afford 12-month planning cycles in an environment defined by rapid disruption.
Strategy ≠ Tactics
Too many institutions confuse operational activity with strategic clarity. Without a focused blueprint, execution lacks coherence and impact.
Alignment Drives Execution
When leadership, departments, and stakeholders share clear priorities and measurable goals, momentum builds—and results follow.
Adaptability Is the Advantage
From AI to scenario planning, forward-looking tools are essential. The institutions that learn, adapt, and move quickly will not just survive—they’ll lead.
What You Will Gain
A Proven, Fast-Track Strategic Planning Process
Learn why most plans fail—and how to build a focused, institution-wide strategic blueprint in just 90 days that actually drives results.
Smarter Tools for Faster, Deeper Insight
Modernize your use of SWOT, benchmarking, stakeholder engagement, and AI to quickly surface priorities and accelerate decision-making.
Clear Metrics and Future-Ready Strategies
Align leadership with bold goals, meaningful dashboards, and scenario planning to confidently navigate disruption and deliver on your mission.
What You Can Expect
- A proven, collaborative and prescriptive 90-day strategic planning framework built for speed and action
- AI-powered tools as a part of your plan: strategy builder, dashboard templates, and a real-time SWOT checklist
- Core’s unique approach as strategic partner will lend confidence to lead change—grounded in real examples, benchmarks, and implementation strategies used nationwide
