Forward Thinking

One of the challenges that Graceland has faced courageously and creatively is to identify what every student needs to be successful in today’s world, even amidst an array of personal and career goals.

How to communicate effectively, analyze and evaluate information, use digital resources and relate effectively to the natural and cultural world around us — all students need these competencies for personal and professional development throughout life, whether they plan to be teachers, business executives, pediatric care nurses or sculptors. Together, the faculty and staff have accomplished exciting work to make all aspects of the Graceland experience — both in the classroom and through campus activities — a valuable learning experience that instills these essential lessons in every student.

Graceland has always been entrepreneurial, with leaders who claim the strength, inspiration and roots of the past to push into the future with new insight. Last fall, Graceland introduced the strategic vision for exceptional academics, experiences and value through growth. The vision included six pathways to focus forward movement as a leader in higher education.

POWER OF TOGETHER Strategic Pathways

1. Academics for the Future: Graceland will develop programs that are in demand, distinctive and that exemplify the value of Graceland.
2. Holistic Student Experiences: Graceland will prepare students to become change leaders by integrating exceptional academic, co-curricular and professional learning experiences.
3. Strategic Enrollment and Retention Growth: Graceland will establish and achieve strategic enrollment goals by building planned pipelines for recruitment and improved retention.
4. Financial Stability and Learning Environment: Graceland will ensure long-term financial stability while improving the physical and online learning environments through organizational efficiency and strategic partnerships, fundraising and reallocation of resources.
5. Distinctive Value: Graceland will share the value of its exceptional academic and co-curricular programs in the arts, athletic, professional and co-curricular programs in a safe location and an inclusive environment. Graceland will become a university where students seek to enroll for exceptional value.
6. Collaborative and Innovative Community: Graceland will build a collaborative, innovative and productive workplace culture to improve operations to enhance students’ experiences while keeping Graceland affordable.