Strategic Planning Kickoff

Dear Friends,

The conversations I had with so many of you during my first year as president were immensely helpful as I considered how we approach Smith’s future together and how we can best fulfill our mission to be “a college of and for the world, develop[ing] global citizens and leaders to address society’s challenges.” I have heard from so many of you about your investment in the college’s work of education and your commitment to each other. Both will be invaluable as we begin to create a new strategic plan that will guide the college in the years ahead.

The strategic plan will affect each of us and our work, and so our community will be included in the process in multiple ways. A committee composed of representatives from Smith’s faculty, staff, students, board of trustees, and alum community will lead the process, assisted by Wellspring Consulting. Wellspring will solicit feedback from our entire community by facilitating listening sessions, conducting interviews, and administering a communitywide survey. In advance of Wellspring’s visit to campus on September 26 and 27, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to participate in focus group conversations; stay tuned for more information. There are already physical suggestion boxes on the first floor of the Campus Center near the café and in the facilities building immediately upon entering, and virtual suggestion boxes are available for you to provide input and share ideas. Later this semester, working groups made up of Smith community members will be created to address the issues identified in all of this feedback, allowing us to develop and hone particular initiatives. As we shape Smith’s future plans, your opinions will help us to explore how the college can continue to serve the world.

We anticipate that the Smith College Board of Trustees will approve the strategic plan by October 2025. In the meantime, regular updates will be published on the website and provided in various meetings.

Thank you in advance for participating in this crucial process for Smith’s future.

Sincerely,

President Sarah