Timeline and Process
Interim President David Bogen and Executive Vice President Betsy Newman appointed a Strategic Planning Steering Committee in July 2023 and charged them with designing and implementing a community engagement and dialogue process that results in a unified mission, vision, and strategic direction for Berklee.
The committee led an eight-month Berklee-wide engagement campaign that included more than 100 workshops and webinars and multiple surveys. Through this process, which prioritized transparency, inclusivity, and collaboration as guiding principles, they collected more than 5,500 community suggestions. These inputs were synthesized, along with historical plans, reports, and frameworks, to inform the development of the mission, vision, and draft strategic direction.
Unified Mission and Vision
Draft mission and vision statements were reviewed and iterated with the broader Berklee community through virtual and in-person workshops. After multiple rounds of review and refinement involving key stakeholders such as the President’s Cabinet, Provost’s Council, Executive Committee of the Board, and the Board of Trustees, the finalized statements were approved on April 26, 2024.
Strategic Direction
Building on the work led by institutional leaders over the past several years, 22 strategic working groups were created and led by members of the President’s Council and Academic Leadership Council to develop visionary aspirations, goals, and tactics within key focus areas. These inputs were synthesized into a draft strategic direction by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, which is being reviewed and refined by Berklee leadership. Once finalized, each learning environment will then design strategic plans to operationalize Berklee’s unified strategic direction.
Timeline
Spring–Summer 2023
Process Design
Design and begin implementing an engagement process for strategic planning. Engage leadership groups in dialogues to inform the process. Synthesize historical plans, reports, and data.
Stakeholders: Strategic Planning Steering Committee, President's Cabinet, President's Council, Provost's Council, the Board of Trustees, Academic Leadership Council, Student Enrollment and Engagement Council, and more
Fall 2023
Data Synthesis; Mission and Vision Drafting and Review; Strategic Framework Development
Berklee community engagement and dialogues inform the development and facilitate the review of draft mission and vision statements. The Steering Committee develops a framework for the strategic direction.
Stakeholders: Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Students, faculty, staff, President's Cabinet, Provost's Council, President's Council, Academic Leadership Council, Board of Trustees, alumni, families, donors, and more.
Spring 2024
Mission and Vision Approval; Strategic Direction Development
Draft unified mission and vision statements are refined by leadership. Community engagement continues and Academic and President’s Council working groups are activated to inform the strategy. The Board of Trustees votes to approve the unified mission and vision statements and review a draft strategic direction.
Stakeholders: Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Students, faculty, staff, President's Cabinet, Provost's Council, President's Council, Academic Leadership Council, and Board of Trustees.
Summer and Fall 2024
Draft Strategic Direction Refinement, Area Plan Development
Berklee leadership groups continue to develop the draft strategic direction. Area plans are developed to support the institutional plan.
Stakeholders: Strategic Planning Steering Committee, President's Cabinet, Provost's Council, President's Council, Academic Leadership Council, and Board of Trustees.
Spring 2025
Data Collection and Refinement of the Strategic Direction Framework
President Jim Lucchese conducts student-centric data and insights collection through a listening tour of the community. Key themes that emerged inform the refinement of the strategic direction framework, containing five main areas focused on serving students with a transformative education: artistic community, access and affordability, flexibility and innovation, career and completion, and creative environment.
Stakeholders: students, faculty, staff, alumni.
Summer 2025
Development of the Operational Strategic Plan
Leadership works to further refine the strategic direction framework, develop initiatives for each area on which to focus attention and resources, and turn it into an operational strategic plan for the institution.
Stakeholders: President’s Cabinet, President’s Council, Provost’s Council, Academic Leadership Council, Board of Trustees.
Fall 2025
Voting on the Strategic Plan and Sharing with the Community
The Board of Trustees votes on the Strategic Plan and it is rolled out to the community.
Stakeholders: Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff.