Strategic Plan of the Northwest School Board of Trustees

On June 4, 2006, the Board of Trustees adopted a new five year Strategic Plan. Through this Strategic Plan, The Northwest School sets the course by which the School will continue to bring to life our Mission and Values. Throughout a collaborative planning process, particularly during the 2006-07 academic year, the Board and faculty have envisioned what kind of school we want to be, not next year and the year after, but well into the future. At times, we have defined where we want to be forty years from now, and then thought "backwards" to identify what accomplishments are needed in the short term to make that future come true. Our strategic goals put into measurable and practical terms what we consider evidence that we are fulfilling our Mission.

Strategic Plan

Our Strategic Plan is divided into four major themes with seven accompanying strategic goals: People, Program, Place, and Permanence.

With the theme of People, we focus on our primary resource: the people who work in, learn at, and lead The Northwest School.

• Strategic Goal 1: Faculty and Leadership Excellence
• Strategic Goal 2: Faculty, Student, and Leadership Diversity

With the theme of Program, we focus on the processes and products of our efforts, the educational program that results in graduates "with historical, scientific, artistic, and global perspective" and who can make a "positive impact on the world."

• Strategic Goal 3: Dynamic Curriculum
• Strategic Goal 4: Cultural Competency

With the theme of Place, we focus on how we fit into our local, national, and global communities and how we become effective agents for change in the world.

• Strategic Goal 5: Environmental Stewardship
• Strategic Goal 6: Community Partnerships

With the theme of Permanence, we focus on how we manage our resources and our finances so that we remain a vibrant and healthy institution well into the future.

• Strategic Goal 7: Strong Financial Position

For each strategic goal, we identify strategies and short-term milestones during the next one to five years, particularly during year one and two. These milestones provide focus for our actions and a means by which we can measure our success. For each strategic goal, three champions - a member each from the Board, administration, and faculty - take responsibility for ensuring that milestones are achieved and for monitoring and reporting on our efforts. In order for the Strategic Plan to remain a dynamic document, responsive to changing circumstances, champions will report on our progress three times a year. Each June, the Board will review the Strategic Plan and vote on updates to milestones.