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Texas Christian University
Strategic Plan

Envisioning the Future: Our Strategic Planning Process

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“It is a remarkable time to be a Horned Frog. For over 150 years, Texas Christian University has developed ethical leaders who shape and improve the world, and we're just getting started. Now, we write the next chapter of our story together."

- Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. and President Daniel W. Pullin

Process Overview

Following the successful completion of Texas Christian University’s historic Sesquicentennial in 2023, the Board of Trustees met in January 2024 for a Day of Dialogue to share ideas and perspectives as the university looks to the future and the next 150 years of advancing its mission. Trustees enthusiastically embraced opportunities in the areas of strategic growth, athletics, research and community engagement, noting TCU’s position of strength and strong momentum in each area. As an outcome of the Day of Dialogue, the Board of Trustees charged President Pullin with beginning an inclusive planning process to develop a new strategic plan to present to the Board for review and approval at the Fall 2024 Board of Trustees Retreat/Meeting.

Strategic planning efforts included input from more than 10,000 community members through surveys, town hall meetings, workshops and other focused stakeholder engagement sessions.  More than 200 TCU faculty and staff members, including members of the President’s Cabinet, Steering Committee and Core Strategy Team, were directly involved in designing the initiatives and authoring the plan. 

The inclusive process led to a plan reflective of our Mission, Vision and Values and the emerging priorities of TCU's diverse body of students, faculty and staff. After 10 months of envisioning the future together, TCU’s next strategic plan was presented to the Board by President Pullin at the Fall 2024 Board of Trustees Retreat/Meeting and was unanimously approved by the Board.

Guided by TCU's Values, LEAD ON: Values in Action is a bold, innovative strategic plan that builds on TCU’s momentum and position of strength to lead TCU to new heights and greater levels of student success and impact.

Engagement with the Campus Community

Thoughtful feedback from the campus community about the future of TCU was shared through stakeholder surveys, workshops, town hall meetings, listening sessions and the President's Share Your Idea form, as well as focused stakeholder engagement sessions throughout the planning process. Engagement sessions included:

  • Board of Trustees
  • Campus-based Governance Group Leaders
  • Student Government Association
  • Graduate Student Senate
  • Faculty Senate
  • Staff Assembly
  • President’s Cabinet
  • Administrative Council
  • Provost's Council
  • Academic Deans 
  • Department Leaders
  • Local community leaders
  • Alumni
  • Parents
  • Chancellor's Advisory Council
  • Young Chancellor's Advisory Council

Core Strategy Team & Steering Committee

To help guide the strategic planning process and ensure that perspectives from all campus stakeholders were incorporated, a Core Strategy Team was assembled in Spring 2024 to convene on a regular basis. Dr. Emily Lund, Dr. Kevin Knight, Dr. John T. Harvey, Dean Amy Hardison Tully and Senior Deputy Athletic Director Ryan Peck served as Co-Chairs, with Dr. Susan Weeks as Project Manager.
 
The team worked with members of the President's Cabinet and Steering Committee, as well as governance leaders, faculty, students, staff, alumni, employers, Trustees and the broader Fort Worth community to engage in workshops and listening sessions around four strategic pillars: 1) Growth and Student Experience, 2) Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities, 3) Athletics and 4) Community Engagement. Pillar working groups were led by:

  1. Growth and Student Experience: Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Kathy Cavins-Tull and Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Heath Einstein 
  2. Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities: Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Floyd Wormley and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Susan Weeks
  3. Athletics: Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati and Deputy Athletic Director Ryan Peck
  4. Community Engagement: Chief University Strategy & Innovation Officer Tom Wavering

Steering Committee Members

  • Chancellor Victor Boschini
  • President Daniel Pullin
  • Kathy Cavins-Tull, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
  • Yohna Chambers-Hastings, Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Jeremiah Donati, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Heath Einstein, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
  • John Harvey, Hal Wright Professor of Economics, AddRan College of Liberal Arts
  • Emily Lund, Associate Professor, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  • Kevin Knight, Director, TCU Institute of Behavioral Research and S. B. Sells Chair of Psychology, College of Science & Engineering
  • Bill Nunez, Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration
  • Ryan Peck, Senior Deputy Athletic Director
  • Jean Pickett, Chief of Staff
  • Merianne Roth, Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communication
  • Tracy Syler-Jones (Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communication Spring 2024)
  • Amy Hardison Tully, Teresa Ann Carter King Dean, College of Fine Arts
  • Tom Wavering, Chief University Strategy & Innovation Officer
  • Susan Weeks, Vice Provost, Academic Affairs 
  • Don Whelan, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
  • Floyd Wormley, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

2024 Timeline

Spring – Feedback-gathering phase with surveys, town halls, listening sessions and round tables with TCU community and broader community stakeholders.
Summer –Continue to seek feedback and community ideas. Late summer: Set goals and define initiatives based on feedback.
Fall – Develop collaborative plans under each initiative. Plan was presented and approved at the Fall 2024 Board of Trustees Fall Retreat/Meeting.

Strategic Planning Communications

Addison Clark statue

Mission, Vision and Values

Explore TCU’s mission, vision, and recently updated values to help inform your ideas for the future of TCU.

Meet TCU

At TCU, we’re doing more than dreaming of a new future – we’re leading it. Every day, we empower leaders to become a force for the greater good. Explore how.

Vision in Action: Lead On

TCU’s growth in size and national presence has been guided by our current strategic plan, Vision in Action: Lead On. Adopted in 2017, the plan includes four goals centered on: 1) strengthening the academic profile and reputation; 2) strengthening the endowment; 3) strengthening the TCU experience and campus culture; and 4) strengthening the workforce: both employees and graduates.