What is the Strategic Compass?
The Division of Student Life at West Virginia University is a collaborative group of more than 20 unique departments and affiliates.
We offer diverse services and programs to students and the community, ranging from housing to recreation to leadership development to student engagement. Given this diversity, it became evident there was a need for a division-wide, collective plan to ensure progress toward a shared destination: enhancing the WVU student experience.
The Compass process was initiated in fall 2019, when Student Life embarked on a journey
to develop a strategic compass plan to reach that destination. Leadership within
the division committed to implementing a nimble, cyclical process that continually
recognizes the evolving nature of higher education while remaining goal-oriented
and data-informed. Recognizing the risk inherent in creating a static plan that
might end up gathering dust on a shelf, a Strategic Compass planning process was
used and integrated into Student Life's annual cycle of planning, assessment and
gatherings. Relying on input from Student Life staff, students and on-campus partners,
the Compass helps inform planning, resource prioritization and assessment efforts.
An insightful and accurate Strategic Compass helps the division remain an innovative
and effective contributor to the
mission of West Virginia University.
Learn About The Process
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Identify and Explore Landmarks
Landmarks are objects or features easily seen and recognized within the landscape. Familiarity with the landscape around us helps us understand our current position and identify more accurate and meaningful destinations. And the landmarks that guide our strategic process are:
- NASPA - Principles of Good Practice
- WVU Culture Survey Results
- Educational Advisory Board - Landscape of Higher Education
- National Survey of Student Engagement
- WVU Enrollment Management Trends and Strategy
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WVU Retention Trends and Strategic Effort
Visit the Office of the Provost Website - Student Conduct Trends
- WVU Wellbeing Data and Trends
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Take Our Bearings
When navigating, it is necessary to continually take your bearings so that you don’t get lost. Landmarks help triangulate our position; those who are working in the field – directly with students and our communities – must identify locations and inform our route toward our destination. The more staff, students and partners we have engaged in the process, the more accurate and complete Student Life’s Strategic Compass will be.
Over 100 Student Life employees and students participated in nine Taking our Bearings sessions during February and March 2020. The sessions, facilitated by volunteers from across the Division, invited staff and students to help visualize the future of Student Life at WVU as served as the initial starting point for the Compass Process.
The Strategic Compass has evolved as the Division made progress toward waypoints and as the landscape has changed and evolved. Additional staff input is gathered through staff pulse surveys and task groups. Assessment results from sources such as the American College Health Association and Gallup have contributed to the identification of new Waypoints.
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Establish “Waypoints”
Longer and more complex journeys progress toward an end destination that is often out of sight. The journey toward the fulfillment of Student Life’s Mission is just such an endeavor. Waypoints, or stops along the way toward the end destination, serve as smaller, concrete goals. Progress toward these waypoints is more easily tracked, accomplished and celebrated. As waypoints are reached, new waypoints are added to help define the path. Feedback from “Taking our Bearings” sessions, in conjunction with “Landmarks” were used to establish waypoints.
Compass Waypoints are organized under Aspirational Statements within the Four Compass Points. Waypoints have division-wide implications and often involve coordinated efforts and committees to see them through to completion.
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Journey Towards Our Shared Destination
It’s the Journey, not the Destination; Student Life recognizes that its work is ongoing and ever evolving. The Compass Process is intended to remain flexible and adaptive to the changing landscape of Higher Education while providing a sense of shared direction and concrete objectives for the diverse and multidisciplinary team which comprises the Division of Student Life.
Compass Waypoints will be reached, and new ones will be established. The environment and conditions under which we journey, as well as some of the crew members on the expedition will inevitably change over time. Embracing change and navigating purposefully during our journey remains a key feature of Student Life’s Strategic Compass.