Engage with Penn State’s Strategic Plan

Following the community review period, Penn Staters can still share feedback and questions with strategicplan@psu.edu.

Our Community-Informed Plan

Community members from every University unit, college, and campus helped shape the Penn State Strategic Plan. The goal, objectives, and measures below were guided by a review process from faculty, staff, and students during the fall of 2024 (September 24 – November 27, 2024). As a result, the goals became a stronger reflection of our shared aspirations.

See the impact of our community’s contributions in bold.

The measures in our Strategic Plan are meant to show progress and effectiveness towards achieving the objectives set forth in the plan. Measures may be updated or modified during the life of the plan to appropriately support data-informed decision making or to reflect changes in strategic objectives.

The revised Strategic Plan is pending final approval from the Board of Trustees.

Enhancing Student Success

Penn State will empower all students to reach their potential by preparing them to be informed, globally aware, engaged citizens, highly employable for in-demand careers and further education, and capable of driving positive change in an interconnected world.

What we want to achieve	How we will measure success
Academic advising, research advising, mentoring, and class experiences that prepare students for their academic and professional futures.	Advising, Mentorship, and Support Advising experience of students Outcomes of student engagement with high-quality academic advising services and mentorship Usage of student learning support services Cost of Education Overall debt and type of debt at time of departure from Penn State Overall student debt as percentage of median salary in graduate’s discipline Academic Performance and Progress Time and credit hours to degree completion for undergraduate and graduate students Junior graduation rate for undergraduates Term-to-term retention and graduation rates of students Credit hours attempted vs. earned per semester Underrepresented student group retention and graduation rates Student Learning Student involvement in curricular high-impact practices Student learning outcomes as measured through the General Education assessment process Student skills and competencies gained from experiences inside the classroom Post-Graduation Outcomes Student post-graduation outcomes within twelve months, such as employment and/or continued education Location of employment post-degree
Students’ co-curricular experiences align their passions, aptitudes, and ambitions to lead them to successful academic and professional futures.	Co-curricular Involvement and Experiences Student involvement in co-curricular high-impact practices Impact of student employment on academic outcomes Student Development and Competency Building Student skills and competencies for career readiness gained from experiences outside the classroom Career Development and Networking Student participation at involvement fairs, job fairs, networking events, and practice interviews Student participation in alumni mentorship programming
Student, faculty, and staff health and wellness are cultivated in a caring community focused on flourishing.	Student Wellness and Academic Impact Student stress and other factors affecting academic performance Student financial literacy and education Faculty and Staff Wellness and Contributions Faculty and staff perception of health and well-being

Growing (Inter)disciplinary Research Excellence

Penn State will leverage the breadth and depth of its scholarship and expertise to tackle the most pressing challenges facing the Commonwealth, nation, and world.

What we want to achieve	How we will measure success
Grow research that positively impacts lives in the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.	Research and Scholarly Impact Top-cited papers and books Measures of interdisciplinarity, such as co-authors and graduate student committees from various disciplines and colleges Creative practice and scholarship Licensing revenue and other tech transfer outcomes Number of licenses executed Industry partnerships, industry-sponsored research expenditures, and consulting activities Number and value of grants External recognition, utilization, and dissemination of faculty research and expertise Community Engagement and Impact Initiation and participation from Penn State in projects and initiatives with direct community benefits Stakeholder partnerships and engagement in participatory research Community trust level in Penn State research Research teams and projects that include Cooperative Extension Initiation and participation in projects with community benefits across disciplines and units Academic Leadership and Service Participation on review panels, editorial boards, and serving in academic and professional organization leadership roles Participation on policy committees and influence on public policy Number of international collaborations (measured by international co-authors, serving on international organization boards, leading research groups, curating international exhibitions/shows/performances) Student Achievements Student accomplishments, such as undergraduate research, competitions, performances, and the number and completion times of advanced degrees awarded Graduate student accomplishments, including graduate research, dissemination of student scholarly activities (such as performances and publications from theses), number and completion times of advanced degrees awarded
Become a top 15 research university.	Research Productivity and Impact Research expenditures Citation number and impact / Eigenfactor / h-index High-value, multiple principal investigator grants, including those with investigators from multiple disciplines/colleges Number of research graduate degrees awarded Scholarly impact measures such as engaged scholarship, professional service, contributions to the arts and humanities Recognition and Reputation Prestigious fellowships, awards, and other academic and professional honors (ex: National Academy Scholars) Disciplinary reputational rankings Number of faculty discipline-related awards Graduate and Post-Graduate Student Success Placement of graduate students post-graduation Rate of graduate students who accept offers to come to Penn State Faculty and Post Doc Success Rate of post docs and faculty who accept offers to come to Penn State Rate and time of Penn State faculty progression Post doc placement after Penn State

What we want to achieve

How we will measure success

Grow research that positively impacts lives in the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.

Research and Scholarly Impact

Top-cited papers and books
Measures of interdisciplinarity, such as co-authors and graduate student committees from various disciplines and colleges
Creative practice and scholarship
Licensing revenue and other tech transfer outcomes
Number of licenses executed
Industry partnerships, industry-sponsored research expenditures, and consulting activities
Number and value of grants
External recognition, utilization, and dissemination of faculty research and expertise

Community Engagement and Impact

Initiation and participation from Penn State in projects and initiatives with direct community benefits
Stakeholder partnerships and engagement in participatory research
Community trust level in Penn State research
Research teams and projects that include Cooperative Extension
Initiation and participation in projects with community benefits across disciplines and units

Academic Leadership and Service

Participation on review panels, editorial boards, and serving in academic and professional organization leadership roles
Participation on policy committees and influence on public policy
Number of international collaborations (measured by international co-authors, serving on international organization boards, leading research groups, curating international exhibitions/shows/performances)

Student Achievements

Student accomplishments, such as undergraduate research, competitions, performances, and the number and completion times of advanced degrees awarded
Graduate student accomplishments, including graduate research, dissemination of student scholarly activities (such as performances and publications from theses), number and completion times of advanced degrees awarded

Become a top 15 research university.

Research Productivity and Impact

Research expenditures
Citation number and impact / Eigenfactor / h-index
High-value, multiple principal investigator grants, including those with investigators from multiple disciplines/colleges
Number of research graduate degrees awarded
Scholarly impact measures such as engaged scholarship, professional service, contributions to the arts and humanities

Recognition and Reputation

Prestigious fellowships, awards, and other academic and professional honors (ex: National Academy Scholars)
Disciplinary reputational rankings
Number of faculty discipline-related awards

Graduate and Post-Graduate Student Success

Placement of graduate students post-graduation
Rate of graduate students who accept offers to come to Penn State

Faculty and Post Doc Success

Rate of post docs and faculty who accept offers to come to Penn State
Rate and time of Penn State faculty progression
Post doc placement after Penn State

Increasing Land-Grant Impact

Penn State will be a key contributor to the economic development, innovation environment, workforce growth, and the overall vitality of the Commonwealth.

What we want to achieve	How we will measure success
Leverage our assets and strategic partnerships to build resilient, sustainable communities for the betterment of our Commonwealth.	Community and Economic Impact Research and collaborative projects with business, industry, and non-profit groups Businesses started, assisted, retention rates, and economic impact Jobs created or retained Penn State led community-centered resilience and sustainability-oriented efforts/initiatives In-state students graduating and then working in Pennsylvania Licenses executed with external partners Number of research findings translated into actionable solutions for Commonwealth challenges Research and creative activities delivered related to health, education, and arts that engage Pennsylvania communities Tangible impacts of partnership projects, such as infrastructure improvements, public health advancements, or economic gains Workforce Development and Educational Opportunities Number of partners working with students on community-engaged scholarship and research programs Pennsylvania high school to Penn State pipeline rates Total number of learners enrolled in alternative credential programs Internships, placement rates, and workforce development pipelines Access and affordability of a Penn State education for in-state residents Social mobility measures Extension and Outreach Extension and Outreach educational programs delivered Number of constituents engaged through Penn State programming
Amplify the academic enterprise through partnerships with business and industry, non-profit groups, communities, and residents.	Industry and Community Collaboration Business, industry, community, and non-profit partnerships Experiential learning opportunities for students through business, industry, community, government, and non-profit partnerships Sustainability and Operations Number of sustainability upgrades to Penn State energy grid Sustainable operations data for Penn State locations Sponsorships Sponsorships for University training, professional development, events, and conferences Intellectual Property and Innovation Licenses executed, start-ups formed, and community-engaged research projects initiated
Galvanize an engaged and effective network of advocates and investors in Penn State.	Advocacy and Legislative Engagement for Institutional Support Registered Penn State advocates and active engagement Funding appropriation and per-student-funding parity, linked to Pennsylvania legislative performance-based measures Demonstrated economic and community impact to Pennsylvania legislators and the public Funding Overall fundraising numbers from donors University campaign goal progress Funding from businesses, industry, and corporate philanthropy

Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Penn State will be a place where all our students, faculty, and staff can flourish in an environment of inclusive excellence, incorporating the fullness of their identities and their whole self.

What we want to achieve	How we will measure success
Address institutional barriers to close student outcome gaps.	Student Success and Outcomes Student sense of belonging Progression, persistence, retention, and graduation rates Number of students who achieve the minimum GPA to maintain scholarships after first semester and first year Underrepresented student group retention and graduation rates Access and Inclusion Student access to and usage of academic and co-curricular opportunities Student Retention Inquiry, application, yield, and enrollment rates for undergraduate (including transfer students), graduate, and professional students Retention of underrepresented student groups across academic programs
Cultivate a deep sense of belonging for faculty and staff, with opportunities for professional development and an employee population that reflects the classrooms of tomorrow.	Workplace Engagement and Belonging Employee sense of belonging over time in career (1, 5, 10 years, for example) Hiring, retention, and progression across ranks and disciplines for faculty with a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences Employee participation in professional development and continuing education opportunities Hiring, retention, and progression for staff with a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences Employee Engagement Faculty and staff sense of belonging Net promoter score Hiring and Retention Hiring yield rates New hire turnover rates Promotion rates Turnover rates Retention rates Trainings offered on fair hiring practices and processes Outreach to a wide variety of potential applicants

What we want to achieve

How we will measure success

Address institutional barriers to close student outcome gaps.

Student Success and Outcomes

Student sense of belonging
Progression, persistence, retention, and graduation rates
Number of students who achieve the minimum GPA to maintain scholarships after first semester and first year
Underrepresented student group retention and graduation rates

Access and Inclusion

Student access to and usage of academic and co-curricular opportunities

Student Retention

Inquiry, application, yield, and enrollment rates for undergraduate (including transfer students), graduate, and professional students
Retention of underrepresented student groups across academic programs

Cultivate a deep sense of belonging for faculty and staff, with opportunities for professional development and an employee population that reflects the classrooms of tomorrow.

Workplace Engagement and Belonging

Employee sense of belonging over time in career (1, 5, 10 years, for example)
Hiring, retention, and progression across ranks and disciplines for faculty with a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences
Employee participation in professional development and continuing education opportunities
Hiring, retention, and progression for staff with a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences

Employee Engagement

Faculty and staff sense of belonging
Net promoter score

Hiring and Retention

Hiring yield rates
New hire turnover rates
Promotion rates
Turnover rates
Retention rates
Trainings offered on fair hiring practices and processes
Outreach to a wide variety of potential applicants

Transforming Health Care through Academic and Clinical Synergy has a separate planning process
Instead of pursuing its own trajectory, the goals outlined above will be supported by initiatives to Transform Internal Operations to help provide the necessary infrastructure and support for implementation