University Planning Advisory Council
The University Planning Advisory Council, or UPAC, operates in an advisory capacity to the president and in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness in carrying out annual and strategic planning processes. UPAC members participate in a long-range, strategic planning process once every five years. During this planning year, institutional mission, vision, and core values are examined, and an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) is completed. At the conclusion of this study, UPAC members and other representatives from the faculty, staff, student body and Board of Trustees participate in a planning retreat. The retreat participants use the results of the year-long study to develop the long-range strategic plan that serves as a focal point for the University for the following five years.
Each year, UPAC members serve on a UPAC committee that is assigned one of the following initiatives from the current strategic plan:
- Promote a Christ-centered university
- Enrich the quality of life for SBU employees
- Promote our distinctive identity
- Support and strengthen academic excellence
- Plan for growth and stewardship of resources
- Plan for improved financial health
- Improve the SBU physical plant and environment
Committee members study their assigned initiative and make recommendations of potential annual objectives that would be implemented the following year. The President and Executive Cabinet along with the Director of Institutional Effectiveness consider the recommendations and from them identify strategic annual objectives to be voted on by UPAC and implemented the following fiscal year.
UPAC meets four times a year: September, November, December, and June.