Academic Strategic Planning in a Constantly Changing Environment - October 2025
Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 10/29/2025 at 12:00 PM (EDT)
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Register
- Non-member - $599
- Member - $459
Faculty Member
Heather McCullough, Ph.D., Director, Learning and Technology at the University of North Carolina System Office
Cost
Members: $459.00
Non-Members: $599.00
Description
Learning, planning, implementing, and reassessing permeate all levels of professional, continuing, and online education, more so perhaps than in any other area of higher education. What are the processes for identifying opportunities, developing evidence, determining goals, defining key milestones, establishing accountability, and measuring outcomes? How do you engage others in these processes? This course explores how strategy combines analysis and action.
Topics Covered
- Approaches to planning and innovation
- The impact of shared governance on decision-making
- Moving strategically toward the future
- The impact of data on decision-making
- Evaluating Success
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the impact of strategy, leadership, and implementation on an institution.
- Develop strategies that reflect effective approaches to internal and external constituents in the approach of a problem or innovation.
- Develop strategies for maintaining the role of being a learner in strategy for the future.
- Evaluate strategies for change and innovation.
Who should take this course?
This course is designed for both those who are new to online and professional education as well as those who have significant experience (3-5 years and beyond) who want to learn more about strategic planning, innovation, and decision-making. Participants will outline a problem they are facing and develop a change template that they can immediately apply to the challenges they are facing day to day.
Format and Schedule
This is a five-week course consisting of about five hours of weekly course work made up of readings, asynchronous activities, and a weekly one-hour live class meeting via Zoom. Attendance in the live class is strongly encouraged. Schedule for live meetings will be shared soon.
Heather McCullough
Director, Learning and Technology at the University of North Carolina System Office
University of North Carolina System
Heather McCullough, Ph.D., Director, Learning and Technology at the University of North Carolina System Office. In this role, she collaborates and liaises with the 17-campus system around online learning, faculty development, and learning technologies that support student success. Current strategic initiatives in her portfolio include developing and supporting the UNC System’s strategic plan for AI across the System, undergraduate program planning, and scaling affordable learning through Open Educational Resources. Heather earned a Ph.D. in French Literature from Indiana University and an M.S. in Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has taught French and English at the university level in the US and France. She has also taught Communication Studies and International Studies in the US. She has also served as a faculty member in Digital Transformation and Digital Learning Leadership Institutes for other professional organizations.
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."
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