CWU releases first annual strategic plan accountability report

In July 2023, the Central Washington University Board of Trustees approved our strategic plan for 2023-2028, following a collaborative, inclusive effort from across the university to set ambitious, yet achievable goals for our future as an institution.

To ensure we are achieving what we have set out to do, a Strategic Plan Accountability Committee was formed, with the goal of producing an annual accountability report to track our progress and celebrate our successes.

The committee’s inaugural report was released September 27, detailing CWU’s current status in the areas of enrollment, retention, graduation rates, high-impact practices, and diversity. In his foreword to the report, CWU President Jim Wohlpart said the report serves as both a measure of our progress as well as a demonstration of goodwill and open communication between the university and the communities we serve.

“This inaugural report is an important first step in transparency and communication,” he said. “The report demonstrates the university’s commitment to our vision and mission and to accountability and strategic planning by fostering communication within the CWU community and with constituents across the State of Washington.”

The report showcases the changing demographics at CWU going back five years, in order to reveal the trends that drive our campus community. This includes a slow but steady rise in Hispanic/Latinx student enrollment, which has risen 4% since 2019, as well as a 4% increase in instructors of color within the same timeframe.

The Strategic Plan Accountability Committee is spearheaded by CWU Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Planning Jason Jones. His office will continue supplying the data and insights needed to understand where we stand, and where we are headed as a university.

"Making data related to our strategic plan publicly available is essential for fostering transparency and accountability,” Jones said. “By sharing our annual accountability report that is full of key performance indicators that are tied to the university’s strategic plan, we ensure that all stakeholders—students, staff, and the broader community—are informed and engaged in our progress. This collaborative approach empowers everyone to understand how our collective efforts are contributing to the university's goals and helps us align our initiatives for greater impact."

Both the strategic plan and the inaugural strategic plan accountability report are available online. The strategic plan accountability report will be updated annually.