Strategic Planning

The purpose of the strategic planning process is to set the Division's collective direction for the years to come. In particular, it is the expectation that this process will result in outlining the vision, mission, values, and guiding principles for the Division. The plan will also establish strategic priorities to enhance the Division's services, resources, and programs to better serve our students while aligning with the University's recently outlined "Plan for Richmond."

Vision

Equip every student for a life of purpose 

Mission

We cultivate environments that encourage connection, embrace challenge, and support learning and growth so that every Spider develops the confidence, curiosity, and capacity to thrive.

Values

These are the values our Student Development staff espouse in their individual and collective work.

  • Community: building relationships that foster belonging, support, and shared purpose
  • Well-being: promoting environments of respect, care, empowerment, and health
  • Collaboration: working together and inviting each other’s voices and contributions in pursuit of our goals
  • Growth: investing in our potential and in one another
  • Accountability: taking responsibility for our actions and commitments
  • Innovation: creatively approaching our work and continuously striving to improve

Pillars & Priorities

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  • 1. Enrich the Holistic Student Experience

    Students design an individualized journey at UR, supported by key co-curricular involvement and activities — gaining knowledge and skills to lead lives of purpose.

    Key Priorities

    • Establish a clear developmental arc that outlines key milestones within students’ journeys, providing direction, skill-building, and opportunity at every stage
    • Partner with campus colleagues to provide and deepen opportunities for student learning and growth across curricular and co-curricular spaces
    • Elevate campus employment and leadership as meaningful developmental experiences tied to engagement, belonging, and student success
    • Align approaches and advance a culture that centers student well-being where programs, resources, services, and spaces support the development of habits and skills for healthy living

  • 2. Elevate Student Community

    Students are connected, valued, and empowered in environments that nurture belonging, meaningful engagement, and authentic relationships.

    Key Priorities

    • Illuminate UR’s shared definition of belonging by contributing to and creating environments where people know and feel they are valued, respected, included, and celebrated 
    • Expand pathways for students to access and form meaningful relationships with peers, staff, and faculty
    • Create and enhance avenues, with campus colleagues, for students to engage across difference, promoting a culture of ‘listening to understand’ and the thoughtful exchange of ideas

  • 3. Engage Collaboratively

    The Division collaborates through shared understanding, aligned processes, and clear communication.

    Key Priorities

    • Set clear expectations and shared approaches that make cross-unit collaboration consistent, sustainable, and aligned with divisional goals
    • Bolster key relationships and campus partnerships to further divisional and institutional imperatives and priorities
    • Develop and implement a plan for connecting with parents and families that strengthens their engagement with UR and promotes student success
    • Build and enhance communication strategies and channels with students, student leaders and groups to share information, solicit feedback, and support a community of care

  • 4. Enhance Staff Development

    The Division is committed to supporting staff learning across a diverse and talented team.

    Key Priorities

    • Offer professional development that advances growth and retention to support staff across all roles
    • Increase internal visibility of roles, expertise, and unit functions through intentional opportunities for staff to learn from and engage with one another
    • Promote a professional culture rooted in shared learning, mentoring, community, and staff well-being
    • Provide ongoing and consistent training on supervision, management, and leading teams

  • 5. Embed Organizational Excellence

    The Division stewards its resources wisely, aligning and optimizing its resources, promoting transparent and inclusive practices, and effective and efficient operations.

    Key Priorities

    • Align and steward resources — staff, fiscal, space, technology, and policy — through assessment and planning
    • Establish clear and consistent practices and review processes that inspire continuous improvement and innovation
    • Strengthen communication across a variety of approaches — electronic, in-person meetings and gatherings, committees and working groups — to provide updates, foster collaboration and community, and deepen investment in shared priorities