Strategic Plan 2013 to 2016
Author: Lumina Foundation for Education
Date: 2013-02-03
Type: Reports - Descriptive
Subjects: Strategic Planning,Institutional Mission,Philanthropic Foundations,Postsecondary Education,Educational Attainment,Educational Objectives,Educational Quality,Academic Degrees,Credentials,Public Policy,Educational Policy,Higher Education,Educational Change,Goal Orientation,Progress Monitoring,Outcomes of Education,Partnerships in Education,Achievement Gap,Disproportionate Representation,Financial Support,Models

In 2009, Lumina Foundation released its first strategic plan, based on the goal that 60% of Americans obtain a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential by 2025-- a goal now known as Goal 2025. Much has changed even in the short time since that plan was written, both in the external environment and in what has been learned from this work. This strategic plan--intended to guide this work for the next four years from 2013 through 2016--reflects those changes: (1) Throughout the nation, there is a much broader and deeper understanding of the need to increase postsecondary attainment. Some version of Goal 2025 has been adopted by or is a major influence on the federal government, a majority of states, national higher education associations, many individual colleges and universities, and communities around the U.S. including several large metropolitan regions. At the same time, however, the resources available to support new initiatives to increase attainment in traditional ways are severely constrained; and (2) Lumina Foundation has learned much about the challenges in increasing attainment, as well as promising approaches for doing so. The foundation knows the factors that influence student success in postsecondary education and how more students could receive the support they need to succeed. Lumina has learned how to help higher education institutions and systems become more productive to serve more students. Lumina has learned the necessity of assuring the quality of degrees and other credentials in terms of student learning and how this might be done. Lumina has also learned a great deal about influencing public policy at the state and federal levels and mobilizing higher education institutions, communities, and regions to increase attainment. As a result, Lumina has defined two high-level imperatives necessary for reaching Goal 2025. While distinct, these imperatives are interrelated and mutually supportive. They are: (1) &quot;Mobilizing to Reach Goal 2025&quot; is to mobilize action at the local, state, and national levels and in higher education systems and institutions throughout the nation. To reach the goal, thousands of educators (including faculty and administrators), elected officials, community leaders, business leaders, and other citizens must understand and accept as their own the need to increase attainment; and (2) &quot;Designing a 21st Century Higher Education System&quot; is to develop specific approaches to create the fundamental change needed in higher education to reach the attainment goal. Specific strategies for 2013 to 2016 that are organized around the two initiatives are explained in detail.