Last semester we embarked on an important and ambitious planning effort to chart a path for Occidental over the next decade.

Updated October 19, 2022

Oxy’s Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP) will capitalize on our strengths and address key opportunities to ensure that we can continue to thrive and provide a transformative academic experience for our students. As we approach the end of the semester, we have reached an important phase of this initiative and are updating the campus community with our progress to date and next steps.

Occidental’s mission remains unchanged. Yet, the finished ISP will articulate a new vision statement to propel us forward to 2030. This emerging vision centers around building an exceptional urban liberal arts education by creating new harmonies between academic instruction, co-curricular activities, real-world experience and social change -- all of which is geared toward propelling students to be engaged global citizens and leaders who make an impact in the world. 

Learn more about the current status and where we go from here:

Environmental Scan

This stage of the process, carried out last fall, included internal data reviews, assessment of broader trends in higher education, as well as numerous community input sessions. Community input came from over 600 people through group forums and online submissions from students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents. With the findings from the environmental scan, the Steering Committee identified eleven key issues that the plan needs to address.

Working Groups

In early spring, the Steering Committee further considered how to address the priority considerations from the environmental scan. The committee is now constituting five working groups (listed below) to carry the ISP work forward. Each working group has two co-chairs and membership that includes staff, faculty and students.   

  • Financial Working Group (FWG): Putting Oxy on the strongest possible financial trajectory
  • Academic Working Group (AWG): Ensuring a transformative academic experience
  • Student Experience & Renewing Community (SERC) Working Group: Ensuring inclusion, belonging, and a vibrant and engaged student experience.
  • Los Angeles Working Group (LAWG): Maximizing engagement and mutually beneficial connections with the global city of Los Angeles.
  • Justice, Equity, Inclusion & Diversity (JEID) Working Group: Ensuring equitable opportunities, treatment, and outcomes for all, and activating the College’s Equity & Justice Agenda. 

Project Timeline

Working groups will have a kickoff meeting in May, with co-chairs continuing foundational work over the summer. During the Fall semester, working groups will focus on specific recommendations and development of proposed initiatives in accordance with the specific scopes that have been determined by the Steering Committee. President Elam will present an initial draft of the plan to the Board of Trustees in January 2023, and present a final version to the Board in April 2023 for their endorsement. We look forward to sharing the final plan with the Oxy community at that time.