Structure and content of strategic plans of public higher education institutions in the United States

Strategic planning is a ubiquitous practice across higher education institutions that requires a significant investment of time, energy, and resources. While numerous and varied guides to strategic planning exist, campus leaders have little beyond their limited and biased experience to draw from when designing their own strategic plans. What is actually contained in strategic plans of higher education institutions? Strategic plans from 150 public colleges and universities were examined to catalogue and compare their contents. We searched for patterns and variation in structural elements, such as titles, mission, vision, and value statements, and types and numbers of goals. This work provides insights into current strategic planning practices that can be used by planners to determine how their plans compare to those of peer institutions. Attempts to justify similarities and differences can provide useful insights into the attributes of an institution and its goals.