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STRATUS views planning as a creative process, which is different from the traditional formulaic approach.

For example, traditional strategic planning begins with a SWOT analysis that simply describes existing conditions and trends. STRATUS uses an inferential approach whereby SWOT findings are carefully analyzed to create an institutional “position”, strategic plan and unique programs and initiatives that will create distinction.

Our approach also identifies facility implications and incorporates strategies for funding the initiatives outlined in the strategic plan — partnerships, creative financing, foundations and other soft-dollar sources.

Upon completion, the consulting team prepares a report with the following elements:

• Current Status: Strengths, weaknesses, issues, opportunities
• External Drivers: Environmental forces, trends, needs
• Strategic Plan: Vision, mission, goals, objectives, programs and projects that seize opportunities to create competitive advantage
• Best Practice Models: Descriptions of similar successful initiatives
• Facility Implications: Spaces and physical qualities needed to realize the plan
• Funding Strategies: Financing options to convert vision to reality


Strategic Research And Opportunity Assessment
Strategic Research and Opportunity Assessment are the core elements of the STRATUS approach to planning.


Strategic Research
The purpose of Strategic Research is to gain a clear understanding of the institution and its external environment.

The breadth of the Strategic Research is tailored to match the needs of the institution. It can be targeted, such as when planning a specific program or project or to address an issue of particular importance to the future of the institution.

The primary elements of Strategic Research are:

Environmental Scan: Whether in preparation for a comprehensive planning process or for planning a specific program or project, STRATUS studies the general forces and trends facing higher education, with emphasis on forces and trends that will have the greatest implications for the institution.

Specialized Research: STRATUS conducts research on specific issues and questions of particular importance to the institution. We place particular emphasis on how the findings can be used to advance the institution in a particular area — enrollment, research, student success, etc.

Competition Analysis: STRATUS studies competitors and aspirational peers to determine where they are successful and where there are opportunities to offer programs that are different from, complement or surpass the competition.

Best Practices: STRATUS continually identifies models of successful programs and projects across all areas of the institution. And, we augment this with best practice research in areas of specific interest to the institutions. Results of our best practice research include descriptions of model programs and better-than-best options— improvements to the best practices that will create an even better model.

Benchmarking: STRATUS specializes in benchmark research on key performance indicators, space and funding.


Opportunity Assessment

The Opportunity Assessment connects the results of the Strategic Research in creative ways to identify strategies, programs and projects that result in quality, distinction and competitive advantage.

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