Strategy in Action: Planning for Dynamic Academic Environments - May 2027
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Register
- Non-member - $599
- Member - $499
Course Description
Online and professional education units operate in fast-moving environments shaped by enrollment pressures, workforce demand, evolving learner expectations, and emerging technologies. This course helps professionals and leaders translate strategy into pedagogical and technological delivery while navigating the realities of institutional priorities, organizational capacity, and shared governance.
Participants will explore approaches to strategic planning, innovation, organizational change, and data-informed decision-making within academic environments. Learners will develop a focused, realistic action plan for an aspect of an academic portfolio, supported by a practical logic model that communicates intended outcomes and measures success.
Designed for administrative professionals responsible for strategic initiatives, organizational planning, and academic innovation, this course provides practical frameworks for leading change, responding to emerging opportunities, and turning strategic ideas into meaningful institutional action.
Two Ways to Participate
This course is part of the COLO concentration for the Enterprise Leadership Certificate and may also be taken independently as a Professional Practice course. Participants who enroll individually may be able to apply the course toward future certificate requirements.
What You Will Explore
Strategic and Operational Alignment
Examine how institutional strategy connects with operational planning, academic delivery, resource decisions, and implementation.
Change and Innovation
Explore approaches for leading organizational change, responding to emerging opportunities, and navigating complex academic environments.
Action Planning and Measurement
Build an actionable implementation plan and logic model that define intended outcomes, measures of success, and organizational impact.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Analyze the strategic forces shaping postsecondary academic operations, including changing learner needs, workforce demand, institutional priorities, external accountability, and emerging technologies.
- Differentiate between strategic planning, operational planning, and implementation within complex higher education environments.
- Apply practical planning tools and data-informed decision-making strategies to advance organizational initiatives.
- Develop an actionable implementation plan that aligns institutional goals with available resources and organizational capacity.
- Evaluate strategic initiatives using logic models and outcome measures to support continuous improvement and communicate organizational impact.
Course Structure and Expectations
This instructor-supported course is delivered over four weeks. Each week combines asynchronous coursework with a one-hour live session that provides opportunities for faculty guidance, collaborative discussion, peer exchange, and application of course concepts.
Asynchronous Coursework
Complete readings, planning activities, case examples, discussions, and applied assignments within each weekly module.
Weekly Live Session
Participate in a one-hour synchronous session each week to examine strategic challenges, discuss practical examples, and receive faculty guidance.
Applied Strategic Planning
Develop a focused implementation plan and supporting logic model for an initiative, portfolio priority, or organizational opportunity.
Who Should Enroll?
This course is designed for professionals who lead or support strategic initiatives, academic planning, organizational change, and innovation in online, professional, and continuing education.
Academic and Program Leaders
Strengthen your ability to connect institutional strategy with academic portfolios, program delivery, and operational priorities.
Planning and Innovation Professionals
Apply practical frameworks for evaluating opportunities, developing initiatives, and translating ideas into achievable plans.
Current and Aspiring Enterprise Leaders
Build strategic planning and implementation skills needed to guide complex online and professional education enterprises.
Heather McCullough
Senior Director of Academic Programs at the University of North Carolina System Office
University of North Carolina System
Heather McCullough, Ph.D., is Senior Director of Academic Programs for the University of North Carolina System, where she leads systemwide initiatives that advance undergraduate education, digital learning, and academic innovation across 17 institutions. With over two decades of experience across academic affairs, faculty development, libraries, and instructional technology, she has led large-scale efforts in online learning, open education, and digital transformation. Her work focuses on designing responsive academic programs and advancing teaching and learning in a rapidly evolving landscape, including the integration of generative AI. She has led systemwide faculty learning communities, developed shared academic programs, and guided strategic approaches to instructional continuity and teaching effectiveness. McCullough has served on the UPCEA Board of Directors, Open Education Network Steering Committee, and DOERS Collaborative Steering Committee, and as faculty for UPCEA and EDUCAUSE programs. She actively contributes to national conversations on the future of digital learning and higher education strategy.
See what past participants have to say about this course:
"This course is an exceptional resource for developing the skills you need to plan and implement a project or initiative within your organization. The step-by-step process and feedback are motivating and will help you develop a template and process to use at any point in your PCOE journey."
"The class delivers completely on its objectives."
"I truly enjoyed this course as well as the assistance and confidence it provided me in creating the policy and procedure manual for my department."
"I would highly recommend this course to ALL campus leaders, even if not necessarily engaged with PCO education."
"The readings and activities were excellent and extremely relevant to the work I am doing."
