Strategic Visioning Process

Overview

The strategic visioning process engages the Carleton community to identify priorities and opportunities that will shape the university’s future, with a near-term focus on 2027–2032, and a longer-term vision through 2042.

Five working groups will explore key strategic themes through research, engagement and analysis, developing recommendations to inform the next Strategic Plan. These recommendations will be considered by the Steering Committee and used to develop the draft plan for review and approval through the university’s governance process.

How Strategic Directions Are Developed

A Strategic Plan requires making thoughtful choices about where to focus efforts and resources. Working groups will use analytic lenses to examine Carleton’s current context, emerging opportunities and challenges. These insights will help identify strategic directions, which will then be assessed and organized using Strategic Choice categories to shape the university’s future priorities.

Analytic Lens

Three common lenses will guide working groups throughout the process. Together, they support a progression from understanding the current context, to testing ideas and assumptions, and identifying the choices and trade-offs that will shape Carleton’s future direction.

Strategic Choice Categories

Strategic Choice categories provide a framework for the Steering Committee to assess and organize proposed strategic directions. They help identify the priorities that will shape Carleton’s future direction and focus on three key areas.