Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Strategic Plan
2025-2028
Vision
A vibrant and engaged UAlbany community that positions all Great Danes to thrive and contribute positively to the world.
Mission: Connect, Collaborate, Support
Empower UAlbany Great Danes through meaningful connections, strategic collaboration and innovative support systems that drive enrollment, achievement, staff development and community engagement.
Values
Across our division, and throughout our work, we uphold our core values:
- Building Community: Foster a campus culture that prioritizes and cultivates authentic relationships, celebrates shared traditions and promotes a strong sense of belonging among students, staff and faculty.
- Holistic Wellness: Prioritize the physical, emotional, social and academic well-being of our community, recognizing wellness as foundational to one’s success and meaningful engagement.
- Social Responsibility: Instill a commitment to equity, service and civic engagement, encouraging students and staff to act with integrity and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
- Academic Success: Support student achievement by providing equitable access to resources, empowering students to navigate their academic journey and integrating developmentally supportive practices into all facets of the student experience.
- Leadership & Career Empowerment: Prepare students to lead with confidence and integrity by connecting them to growth opportunities, mentoring and real-world experiences that build career readiness and a sense of purpose.
Priority Areas
Priority Area 1: Elevate Student Affairs & Enrollment Employee Culture
Priority Area 1: Elevate Student Affairs & Enrollment Employee Culture
Goal 1: Strengthen and build trust and relationships throughout the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment.
- Strategy 1: Create multi-directional evaluation processes that align with divisional values and promote accountability.
- Strategy 2: Foster values-centered relationships across all levels of the division, prioritizing healthy engagement with our core values to guide actions and decisions.
- Strategy 3: Recognize staff and departments for high quality work in an authentic and consistent manner.
Goal 2: Maximize opportunities for staff development within the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment.
- Strategy 1: Collect, analyze and utilize data from the division to identify structures for professional development that align with Student Affairs and Enrollment competencies.
- Strategy 2: Promote engagement with teaching, learning and staff development.
- Strategy 3: Examine divisional staff development structures alongside divisional priorities, resources and gaps to identify opportunities for alignment.
Priority Area 2: Center Student Engagement and Belonging
Priority Area 2: Center Student Engagement and Belonging
Goal 1: Showcase and strengthen our institutional spirit through engaging, shared experiences.
- Strategy 1: Identify and promote engagement in seasonal University traditions that inspire a sense of belonging.
- Strategy 2: Amplify student events, accomplishments and traditions as symbols of institutional pride and success.
- Strategy 3: Collaborate with divisions across campus to strategically promote wellness, connection and belonging.
Goal 2: Enhance capacity for meeting students where they are while promoting holistic student development.
- Strategy 1: Establish Communities of Practice with students, faculty, and staff to better understand student needs and inform strategies for communicating and relating with them.
- Strategy 2: Integrate new knowledge gained from research and student feedback directly into Student Affairs & Enrollment operations.
- Strategy 3: Empower students to access and navigate policies and processes independently.
Priority Area 3: Emphasize Internal and External Collaboration
Priority Area 3: Emphasize Internal and External Collaboration
Goal 1: Increase collaboration and communication to improve the experience of individuals we serve.
- Strategy 1: Through an audience and channel assessment - identify key internal and external audiences, their communication preferences, and current barriers to effective information sharing.
- Strategy 2: Develop and implement a multi-tiered communication framework that standardizes messaging allowing flexibility and ensuring students have clear and immediate access to resources.
- Strategy 3: Build a culture of transparency and engagement through feedback loops. Foster trust and collaboration by regularly sharing updates and creating channels for input and dialogue.
Goal 2: Invest in data collection, management and sharing amongst constituencies we serve.
- Strategy 1: Develop a centralized, user-friendly data sharing platform that aggregates key metrics and insights in real time for internal and external stakeholders.
- Strategy 2: Establish a data storytelling and reporting strategy. Translate complex data into digestible insights through targeted, narrative-based reporting for different audiences.
- Strategy 3: Maximize current technologies to unite offices and increase collaboration.
Goal 3: Align departmental strategies with divisional mission, vision and priority areas to leverage resources and achieve divisional outcomes.
- Strategy 1: Position departmental missions to align with resource allocation.
- Strategy 2: Ensure that departments are trained and utilize technology to its fullest capabilities to best support departmental mission and achieve divisional outcomes.
- Strategy 3: Assess the implementation of strategies and priority areas to inform the development of the next strategic plan.
