A New Strategic Plan for Pacific Lutheran University

This strategic planning process began in December 2018 with the work of Dr. Patricia O’Connell Killen, PLU’s former Provost and Professor of Religion, through hundreds of stakeholder interviews with faculty, staff, students, and alumni, which gathered broad input into PLU’s current and future directions. This work was then shared with LRPC, who hosted numerous forums with campus constituents to solicit input on the draft in progress. 

The four goals of the plan consist of: 

    • Identity and Messaging
    • Environment and Well-being
    • Innovation and Change
    • Resources and Stewardship

The final version of the strategic plan was approved by the Board of Regents in May 2020.  

Past Long Range Planning at Pacific Lutheran University

In 1991, the Board of Regents first called upon us to engage in a conversation about the university’s future. That dialogue resulted in the comprehensive long-range plan “PLU 2000: Embracing the 21st Century.” Beginning in 2001, two years of collaborative work resulted in a reaffirmation and elaboration of our plans in “PLU 2010: The Next Level of Distinction.”

These two long-range plans have been important to the university’s progress over the past decade and a half. They have helped us clarify our identity and mission as a Lutheran university in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, it was from PLU 2000 that our current mission statement became: “Educating students for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership, and care – for other people, for their communities, and for the earth.” Together PLU 2000 and PLU 2010 charted a course for strengthening the university’s academic program, in particular our commitment to global education, student-faculty research and creative projects, and purposeful learning.

Annual Planning

Annually the leadership team develops institutional and divisional initiatives that guide the work of the institution for the year ahead. This Planning Report is shared with the faculty and staff when they gather at the annual campus-wide Fall Conference. Current and previous reports can be viewed below: